Author’s Note: I’ve been on dozens of Caribbean cruises and in many different months. I’ve had adventures on every one, from hiking to snorkeling, horseback riding, kayaking, and exploring history and culture. I’ve even experienced a major hurricane. My conclusion is that you’ll always have a good time in the Caribbean; it’s just a matter of managing expectations. And if it rains, the underwater world is still spectacular.
The best time to cruise the Caribbean is purely a matter of choice. These lush, sunny islands are the most traveled cruise destination in the world, with opportunities to explore by ship throughout the year.
The Caribbean is a cruiser’s dream vacation in every season; you just have to pick where you go and manage your expectations. Are you tied to school vacations? Or do you want to escape the winter and visit during the holiday season?
Are you looking to visit during the quieter summer months? Or do you have your heart set on a particular festival? Here are the pros and cons of every month to consider when planning your Caribbean cruise.
January
Barbados
January is peak season in the Caribbean, with beach space at a premium at the beginning of the month over the New Year’s holiday. However, you’ll find idyllic tropical weather, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the low 80s and low humidity. If there is rain during your cruise vacation, it’s likely to come in the form of short, sharp showers in the early evening, which clears the air.
Visit the Bahamas on your January cruise and you could be plunged straight into the Junkanoo celebrations, a time of music, parades, and general festivity.
January is a good month to spot humpback whales around Turks and Caicos; this is when these magnificent marine mammals arrive to give birth. The Dominican Republic is another great spot to take a whale-watching tour.
Author’s Note: While January is typically warm and dry, you can still be taken by surprise. On one relentlessly wet January cruise, I found myself snorkeling in the rain in Barbados and kayaking in the rain in Antigua. I didn’t particularly mind, and the weather improved as we headed further south, but needless to say, I returned home without a tan.
Read: Best Places to Cruise in January
February
St. Maarten
Dry, sunny days continue throughout February, with generally calm seas and low humidity. February is Carnival season in many parts of the Caribbean, in the period leading up to Ash Wednesday, which precedes Lent.
Some of the best islands on which to join the celebrations are St. Maarten, Aruba, Puerto Rico, and Curaçao, with street parades, dancing, costumes, and general revelry.
February is also Valentine’s Day, so what better excuse for a romantic tropical getaway? You could be exploring the tumbled boulders and hidden lagoons of The Baths on Virgin Gorda together, or enjoying a romantic catamaran cruise along the shores of St. Maarten.
March
Snorkeling in Grand Cayman
During the month of March, the best beaches in the Caribbean attract a rush of spring breakers and families looking to take advantage of school breaks.
Of course, it’s no surprise why travelers flock to the Caribbean during the early spring months. The weather is often blissful, with temperatures fluctuating between the mid-70s to the low 90s. Plus, March and April are still well within the dry season, so you won’t have to worry about getting rained on.
March is a good time for diving and snorkeling, too; head for Grand Cayman, which has magnificent reefs to explore and optimum water clarity in spring. Or, if you want to absorb some local culture, take a cruise to the Dominican Republic, where Semanta Sana, or Holy Week, just before Easter brings colorful but somber processions in every town and city.
Bamboo Beach, Jamaica
What you should be aware of is that spring breakers can be noisy and rowdy. Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic are all popular spring break destinations, and favored bars and beaches will be packed. There’s always somewhere quiet, though, so don’t be put off.
Read: Fun Family Spring Break Ideas
April
Grand Cayman
Peak season is coming to an end in April, although this is still an excellent time to visit the Caribbean, particularly the first half of the month. If Easter falls in April, expect the region to be busy with families and students on spring break.
April continues to see fine weather across the region. In Grand Cayman, for example, April sees low rainfall, an average of 10 hours of sunshine daily, and sea temperatures of a blissful 80.6°F, or 27°C. On Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, April is the driest month of the year.
Antigua
April is also a fantastic month to visit Antigua. The latter half of the month brings the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, when graceful vintage yachts gather in English Harbour for a series of races against a festival background. Antigua Sailing Week comes immediately after, with the best crews and fastest yachts in the world gathering to compete.
Author’s Note: If you get a chance to head down to English Harbour during Sailing Week or the Classic Regatta, do take it. I’ve been lucky enough to race in the Classic Regatta, and the glamor and fun of the occasion can’t be underestimated. It’s one big party—and the yachts are a sight to behold.
May
Cozumel
If you’re looking for decent weather but fewer crowds, one of the best months to cruise the Caribbean is May, the beginning of shoulder season, between the winter peak and the quieter summer months.
Depending on where you go, the weather is still near perfect, particularly in the Southern Caribbean islands, with lots of sunny days and balmy evenings perfect for a moonlit stroll on deck.
Cozumel
On Mexico’s east coast, where the island of Cozumel lies, May is hot, with temperatures in the 80s and over 11 hours of sunlight daily. Sunbathe on pristine white-sand beaches or get active with watersports like jet skiing and parasailing over the beautiful blue Caribbean Sea. The water clarity is excellent, too.
You could spot sea turtles laying their eggs on remote beaches—and on snorkeling expeditions, you may be lucky enough to see huge but harmless whale sharks. Prepare for an increase in humidity, though, as the month progresses.
June
St. Kitts
June is relatively quiet in the Caribbean; schools are not yet on vacation, and official hurricane season has begun. So it’s a matter of thinking about what you want from your Caribbean cruise when planning a June trip.
This can be a great month to visit Aruba, for example, if you’re into windsurfing and kite surfing; the winds are optimum in June for experienced surfers.
If you visit Cozumel in June, you’ll still find excellent water clarity for snorkeling. But do be aware that this is when a lot of seaweed is often washed up on the beaches.
The Southern Caribbean generally sees a lull in rainfall in June; both May and July receive more precipitation on islands such as St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. So head for this part of the region and you stand a good chance of plenty of dry, sunny days.
July
St. Lucia
Looking for an antidote to a too-crowded summer vacation? A summer cruise to the Caribbean may be just the ticket. July sees less crowded beaches and restaurants, and the whole region has a more relaxed vibe.
The Caribbean is one of the most fun places to go in the summer with your family since the kids are out of school. While the weather will be hot and humid during this time of the year, with some islands reaching 90 degrees on average, temperatures tend to cool down a little in the evenings, when they can hit a comfortable range within the low-70s.
Make sure to bring a rain jacket or poncho in case you get caught in some showers. Don’t forget the bug spray either, as high humidity and rain typically mean there are more mosquitoes, too.
Jamaica
In parts of the Caribbean, July is actually an anomaly in the rainy season, as many islands see a dip in precipitation between the much bigger rains of June and August. Jamaica, for example, sees 2.1 inches or 55mm of rain in July, compared to 2.5 inches or 65mm in June and 3.9 inches or 100mm in August.
July is also party time in some islands. St. Lucia celebrates its Carnival now, with two weeks of parades, dazzling costumes, and feasting.
August
Snorkeling in Bonaire
August is a great month to consider a cruise to the Southern Caribbean, which receives much less rainfall than the islands further north. Explore Fort Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Willemstad, Curaçao, then shop the vibrant open-air markets and sample the Dutch take on waffles. Snorkel or scuba on Bonaire, one of the world’s most celebrated and pristine diving spots.
While the weather is hot and humid elsewhere, the party spirit carries on; in fact, low season is a great time to travel to see locals at their most relaxed. August is usually when Barbados celebrates its Crop Over festival, marking the end of the sugar cane harvest. This is a joyous time to be on the island, with a week of parades, feasting, live bands, and lavish costumes.
If your travels take you to the British Virgin Islands in the first week of August, you’ll find the celebrations for the Emancipation Festival, remembering the islands’ emancipation from slavery, in full swing.
Read: Best Caribbean Islands to Visit in August
September
Curacao
Hurricane season takes off in September and lasts until early November. If you’re looking for a great special offer on a cruise, look for cruises during this time period.
The ABC Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, are popular destinations with cruise vacationers during the early fall, especially during the later part of hurricane season, since they’re outside of the Caribbean hurricane zone. Barbados, too, is a long way east and usually dodges the worst storms.
Bathsheba Beach, Barbados
If you don’t mind a little bit of unpredictability and tropical rain, the early fall season is also one of the best times to visit the rest of the Caribbean. Yes, it will be humid, but you can still spend your days splashing around in the sea and retreat to the air-conditioned cool of your ship in the evenings.
Come prepared with a waterproof jacket in case you do encounter some showers, and don’t forget to pack anti-nausea aids or medication to prevent seasickness in case the weather makes sailing choppier than usual.
October
Aruba
October, the later part of shoulder season, is one of the rainiest months in the Caribbean region and also the most likely time for hurricanes to sweep through. If you want to enjoy a cruise in October, the ABC Islands in the far south of the region are the best place to go.
While October is still one of the rainier months of the year here, actual precipitation is a fraction of what you’ll encounter further north. Aruba, for example, receives an average of 75mm of rainfall in October, but still enjoys eight hours of sunshine daily. The humidity is tempered by the trade winds, too.
Read: Warm Places to Visit in October
November
Cozumel
November sees the official end of hurricane season, with calmer weather being ushered in all over the region as the month progresses and the heavy rains ease off. This is still the low season, until Thanksgiving, after which everything starts to pick up again.
Late November and early December is the best time to cruise the Caribbean, East or West, for a dose of tropical sunshine before the Christmas crowds arrive.
The beginning of November is a great time to visit Mexico for a unique cultural experience. November 1 and 2 brings the Day of the Dead festivities, when the deceased are honored with candlelit vigils, parades, and family picnics in graveyards.
Author’s Note: Thanksgiving in the Caribbean is worth considering. While it’s a major holiday, it’s also a family occasion, and many people prefer to stay home. If you have no ties at home or are in the mood for a change, you could still be feasting on turkey and pumpkin pie on your Celebrity ship, but you may well find a bargain. I’m British and here, we always look for cruise deals around Thanksgiving as we know there will be availability.
December
Christmas celebration aboard Celebrity Cruises
Starting in late November, peak season in the Caribbean takes off again. Holiday cruises fill up quickly, so it’s wise to book as early as possible to get the stateroom, dining time, specialty dining reservations, and shore excursions you want.
After hurricane season ends in early November, you can expect ideal weather at all Caribbean cruise ports, with average temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s during the day, low humidity, and little chance of rain. From the beginning of December, islands begin to prepare for their tropical Christmas, with lights and decorations springing up.
New Year’s Eve aboard Celebrity Cruises
One of the highlights of taking a cruise to the Caribbean during the holidays is celebrating with Celebrity Cruises on board. On Christmas cruises, expect holiday decorations, carolers, and visits from Santa. Sail with Celebrity on New Year’s Eve and party on with music, cocktails, and dancing late into the night.
FAQs
When is the best time to cruise to the Western Caribbean?
Playa Mia, Cozumel
If you want to cruise to the Western Caribbean, consider traveling during peak season, December through April, to experience spectacular weather in the low to mid-80s, the lowest humidity, and almost no rain.
If you’ve always wanted to see Mayan ruins, hike a tropical rainforest, or simply lie on a powdery white-sand beach listening to clear blue water lapping at the shoreline, this is the best time to visit the Western Caribbean on a cruise.
Duval Street in Key West, Florida
Go biking around Duval Street in Key West with a stop for a refreshing Key lime pie ice cream cone. Watch the sunset from your ship after a day of hanging in a hammock on a Cozumel beach. Shop designer and duty-free boutiques in Grand Cayman. Experience the best of these incredible Western Caribbean destinations.
When is the best time to cruise to the Eastern Caribbean?
St. Thomas
Warm, dry weather, abundant sunshine, calm seas, and delightful ports of call make peak season, December through April, the best time to book an Eastern Caribbean cruise.
Whether you’re a sun worshipper who wants to kick back on the powdery white sand beaches of each Caribbean port, passionate about scuba diving or snorkeling, or interested in delving into the history and culture of the places you’ll visit, the weather throughout the Eastern Caribbean during peak season is ideal for all activities.
Orient Bay, St. Maarten
Cruise Eastern Caribbean itineraries in July, August, and September, the low season, and you’re likely to find lower fares and fewer crowds, as this is the hot, humid, and rainy season. But with school out for the summer, and a slower pace in general, families are increasingly taking advantage of this time to travel together.
Rain doesn’t matter if you’re on a snorkel tour or splashing around in a water park. Plan on early morning beach time (as rain tends to fall in the afternoon), swimming with dolphins or stingrays, snorkeling, diving, and other water sports.
When is the best time to cruise to the Southern Caribbean?
Bonaire
The best time to cruise to the far Southern Caribbean, the ABC islands, is the summer months of July, August, and on to September; this far south, the humidity and rainfall are much less pronounced. This trio of islands is, of course, an excellent place to cruise year-round, but if you’re tied to the summer months, it’s your best bet for fine weather.
Some Southern Caribbean cruises depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico, visiting the British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts & Nevis, Barbados, and Antigua. These islands are best enjoyed during the winter and spring months, from December to early April, when the weather is fine and dry, perfect for wandering around colorful Old San Juan or riding the vintage St. Kitts Scenic Railway.
Which Caribbean islands are best to visit in winter?
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
There’s no easy answer to this question as all the Caribbean islands are at their best in winter, the peak season. It’s really a matter of personal taste. Do you want the sizzle and flavors of Cozumel? Or the British heritage of Barbados and Antigua?
Are you looking for the dreamy beaches of the Virgin Islands? The lush greenery of adventure-packed Dominica? Or the sophistication of Grand Cayman?
The best thing is to decide what you want from a Caribbean cruise—history, culture, adventure, lazy days in the sun—and pick an itinerary that incorporates as many of these as possible.
Are there any months to avoid cruising the Caribbean?
Puerto Rico
You can cruise the Caribbean every month of the year. Many people avoid the months most likely to bring hurricanes, which are from August to November, but it’s important to remember that even during storm season, there will be sunshine.
You’ll encounter fewer crowds, and prices will be lower. And if a storm is forecast, your captain will take every precaution necessary and divert the ship if needed. This is one of the joys of cruising as opposed to hotel stays; ships can be moved.
St. Thomas
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