| When is the best time to take a cruise | | | | seasonal for cruise lines. You can cruise to |
| vacation? Actually, it's anytime. No matter | | | | Alaska and Europe's Baltic region only |
| the time of year -- spring, summer, fall or | | | | between May and September; to Bermuda between |
| winter -- there are cruise vacations for | | | | May and October; through the Panama Canal |
| every taste and budget. Of course cruise | | | | between September and April; to Canada and |
| lines, like most businesses, set their | | | | New England during September and October (the |
| pricing by supply and demand, so the season | | | | peak season for the region's spectacular fall |
| you choose will affect the cost of your | | | | foliage); and to Asia and Oceania during the |
| cruise vacation. For example, if you book a | | | | winter months. Some of the best times of the |
| cruise during the busiest vacation seasons, | | | | year to take an Alaska cruise are during the |
| which are usually over the holidays an during | | | | 'shoulder months' of May and September. If |
| early spring and summer, the price will be | | | | you do cruise during these months, it is |
| higher than at other times of year. | | | | advisable to pack extra warm clothing, as the |
| Conversely, if you book during the slower | | | | temperatures can fall into the 40s at night |
| cruise periods, i.e. in fall, late spring and | | | | and on cooler mornings; high temperatures are |
| after popular holidays, the price will | | | | generally in the 50s. Value season During the |
| usually be lower. Year-round destinations The | | | | spring and fall, cruise lines move their |
| Caribbean islands, Hawaii and French | | | | ships from one seasonal port to another in a |
| Polynesia (Tahiti) are blessed with a warm, | | | | strategic fleet movement that's called |
| tropical climate all year long, so it's | | | | 'repositioning.' Of course, those ships don't |
| almost always a good time to visit these | | | | move around empty; instead, they embark on a |
| destinations. There are some seasonal | | | | 'repositioning cruise' - a unique, one-way |
| considerations, however. For example, Tahiti | | | | itinerary that is available only once a year. |
| and Hawaii have a rainy season that typically | | | | In spring, the most common repositioning |
| extends from November through March; that's | | | | itineraries are from the Caribbean to Europe |
| probably not the best time to visit, | | | | and from the Caribbean to Alaska; in fall, |
| especially if you are thinking of trekking | | | | these itineraries are reversed. Repositioning |
| through the rain forests! Similarly, some | | | | cruises are long and sometimes leisurely. For |
| travelers may wish to avoid the Caribbean | | | | example, repositioning cruises to Alaska |
| during hurricane season, especially during | | | | commonly include popular stops on the cruise |
| the most active period, from late August to | | | | line's eastern, western, and southern |
| early October. Does this mean you shouldn't | | | | Caribbean itineraries and stops along the |
| cruise during September? Not really. Some of | | | | Mexican Riviera, as well as a transit of the |
| the best cruise rates are offered during this | | | | Panama Canal. Repositioning cruises can offer |
| period. And one of the benefits of traveling | | | | good value. They may cost less per day than |
| by cruise ship during this season is that the | | | | other sailings on the same ship. This is |
| storms are constantly monitored and | | | | partly because longer cruises do not suit |
| alternative courses are charted away from the | | | | everyone's schedule and partly because these |
| inclement weather. When a hurricane begins to | | | | cruises sail during the shoulder seasons, |
| blow, cruise ships simply transit to calmer | | | | when fewer people travel and demand is |
| waters. Europe's Mediterranean region used to | | | | correspondingly lower. In the end, the best |
| be a seasonal cruise destination, but that | | | | time to cruise is when you are ready to go. |
| changed with the advent of newer cruise ships | | | | Consider all the factors, plan ahead and plan |
| that offer such season-lengthening amenities | | | | well, then enjoy your cruise vacation, |
| as retractable domes and solariums that allow | | | | whatever the season. |
| guests to use the pool and enjoy the sun all | | | | |
| year round. The Mexican Riviera is now a | | | | Anita Dunham-Potter is a Pittsburgh-based |
| year-round cruising destination, too, though | | | | travel journalist specializing in cruise |
| you might want to rethink cruising to the | | | | travel. Anita is a weekly travel columnist |
| Baja region during the summer months, when | | | | for and Tripso, and she is a contributor to |
| desert temperatures reach into the 100s! | | | | Fodor's "Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises |
| Seasonal destinations Other destinations are | | | | 2007". |