Many people automatically look at cruises during the busiest and most expensive times of year – school holidays, summer and Christmas. They assume that must be the “best” time to go.

Experienced cruisers usually do the exact opposite.

Regular cruisers intentionally book cruises for the “shoulder season.”

This is the period either side of the peak times – but before the off-season starts.

Shoulder season cruising offers a much better balance of:

• Price
• Weather
• Crowds
• Availability
• Overall experience

I don’t like to sail during peak season, when ships often sail at full capacity, and ports are at their busiest.

Summer holiday cruises in the Mediterranean or the Canary Islands can be unbearably hot for me – I prefer things a little cooler!

Some of my favourite cruises have actually been during the shoulder season, because the ships felt calmer and destinations were far more enjoyable.

What Is The “Shoulder Season” In Cruising?

The shoulder season is the time just before or just after the busiest travel periods.

Examples are:

Caribbean

• April to early June
• September to early December

Mediterranean

• April to May
• September to October

Alaska

• May and September

Northern Europe and the British Isles

• May and September

Australia and New Zealand

• October to November
• March to April

The shoulder season sits between:

• Peak season (most expensive/busiest)
• Off-season (cheapest but often worst weather)

Cruises Are Often Much Cheaper

Cruise fares can drop dramatically outside peak school holiday periods.

It is all about supply and demand. Cruise lines know that there are many passengers who will have to pay a premium to travel during the school holidays – they have no choice.

Travelling out of peak season can have many perks, including:

• Lower cruise fares
• Cheaper flights to get to your cruise
• Better cabin upgrade opportunities because the ship might not be sailing at full capacity.
• More included extras and promotions, as the cruise line are trying to fill all available cabins.

You might find that Balcony cabins cost less than inside cabins during the peak season.

There are better last-minute deals to be had. The cruise lines still want ships full, so they often add incentives such as free onboard credit or discounted drink packages.

The Ships Feel Less Crowded

It is no fun going to a crowded cruise ship buffet, trying to dodge all of the other passengers who are also trying to get food, then struggling to find anywhere to sit and eat your food when you have it!

By travelling in the shoulder seasons, you are likely to find:

• Plenty of theatre seating.
  • No need to arrive mega early to secure your spot.
• Shorter buffet lines.
  • You can actually see what’s available and make better choices, rather than just joining a queue and ending up with whatever food is on offer when you reach the front!
• Less competition for loungers.
  • Nothing worse on a sunny day than struggling to find somewhere to sit outside.
• Quieter pool decks.
  • I never swim when the pool is crowded. I tend to swim in the evenings, or avoid the pools altogether if it is very busy onboard.
• Easier embarkation.
  • Fewer passengers often mean a quicker embarkation.

A ship at 85% occupancy can feel dramatically different from one sailing completely full during school holidays.

Often, in the school holidays, every berth is full. Many cabins have four passengers in them. This can make a huge difference to the number of people in the public areas of the ship.

Families travelling in the school holidays are usually replaced by couples, retired travellers and more experienced cruisers once the peak season is over.

The Weather Can Actually Be Better

Be aware that “peak season” does not always mean “best weather.”

Mediterranean summers can be unbearably hot for me. I would rather travel before the heat gets too intense.

If things get really hot, I don’t have the energy to go out and explore; I just want to stay inside where the air conditioning is good! That seems a terrible waste…

Caribbean summers can feel extremely humid; you may be better off visiting slightly out of peak season.

Popular ports become exhausting in extreme heat. I simply don’t feel like walking miles – I am dodging from one bit of shade to the next!

The shoulder season often gives:

• Warm but comfortable temperatures
• Cooler evenings
• Easier and more enjoyable sightseeing
• More pleasant walking conditions

There is so much to see in fascinating capital cities, such as Rome, Athens or Barcelona.

It’s great to be able to get on a hop-on, hop-off bus to explore. You can get around all the interesting sights in good time.

It’s not so good when you are waiting in the hot sun at a bus stop. When you get on the bus, the seats are so hot they burn your backside when you sit on them! There is no shade on the top deck, and if you sit downstairs in the shade, the temperatures make it hot and stifling.

In my experience, cities like these are far more enjoyable in April or October than in August.

Ports Feel More Authentic

During peak season, popular ports can feel packed.

Visiting places like Mykonos in Greece can be overwhelming. The pretty cobbled streets and alleys are jam-packed full of people, so you can’t really get a feel for the place or see it properly.

Portofino in Italy was another place I visited that was mega crowded. We visited on the Celebrity Edge.

There were so many people in the small town that we had to “go with the flow” and follow the crowds along the water’s edge, rather than go off and do our own thing. After a slow dawdle around in the sun, we were glad to get back to the relative calmness of the ship.

In Portofino, Italy, it was hard to just walk about. There were people everywhere. I was glad to get back to the calmness of the air-conditioned ship!

We took that cruise in peak season – end of June, early July. I am sure it would have been far more enjoyable in April!

Have a look at the lovely Celebrity Edge in the video below:

Popular attractions may have huge queues or need to be booked in advance.

Beaches become crowded, and you might struggle to find a spot.

Public transport can get chaotic – and very hot.

Travelling in shoulder season can make destinations feel far more relaxed and enjoyable.

I think that locals are often overwhelmed too. So many visitors arriving in your small town and taking over must make it hard for residents to get on with their everyday lives.

There Are Some Downsides…

Weather can be less predictable outside of the peak season, and you may get more rainy days.

But in many places in the world, the weather is hard to predict anyway!

Hurricane season overlaps with part of the Caribbean shoulder season, so do some research on when the best time to travel is to avoid them.

If you travel out of peak season, some attractions may be operating shorter hours or only be open on certain days of the week.

You may occasionally get rougher seas – but again, the weather is generally unpredictable.

For many cruisers, these trade-offs are worth it for a more enjoyable overall cruise experience.

Why Experienced Cruisers Love Shoulder Season

When I cruise, I prioritise:

• Value
• Comfort
• Atmosphere
• Enjoyment of the destinations

I’m not interested in simply chasing the hottest weather. I like to explore and enjoy different experiences and cultures, not sit in the sun.

Once you have experienced a quieter ship, lower prices, cooler temperatures and less crowded ports, you might find it hard to go back to peak season cruising.

Best Shoulder Season Cruises To Try

Alaska in September

Alaskan ports are small and can get very crowded in peak season.

I visited in September, and it was far more enjoyable.

Have a look at that wonderful Alaskan cruise on Norwegian Encore here:

Mediterranean in April or October

The weather is far warmer than in the UK in the spring and autumn, so you can get some great out-of-season deals and still enjoy sunny weather.

Norwegian Fjords in May or September

The weather in Norway is unpredictable, no matter when you travel!

People often describe Norway as having “four seasons in one day” – you never know what you are going to get next!

Why not take advantage of the cheaper prices, and travel in May or September?

I took a shoulder-season cruise to Norway, Svalbard, and Iceland on Norwegian Star. Port towns and cities weren’t crowded, and we had a really enjoyable cruise.

Have a look at that interesting cruise here:

Caribbean in early December

Sailing in the Caribbean in early December is ideal because it falls perfectly between the end of hurricane season and the expensive, crowded, peak Christmas season.

You could get perfect weather, warm waters, and make significant savings on the cruise fare.

Canary Islands in Spring or Autumn

The Canary Islands are another place where the weather is much warmer year-round than in the UK.

It is very popular with UK travellers, as it isn’t far from Britain, but when it comes to sunshine, you could be a million miles away.

The Canary Islands can get crowded and hot in peak season, but they are perfect for me in the spring or autumn.

I know that many people are tied to peak-season holidays because of their jobs, or they have school-age children. But if you aren’t, I highly recommend a shoulder season cruise!

Before You Go

When is the best time to book to get the cheapest cruise deals? Find out here:

Booking A Cruise Last Minute Vs Early – Which Is Actually Cheaper?

Lots of people worry about catching something when they are on a cruise. I personally feel more unsafe in a hotel on land. Find out all about the cleanliness of cruise ship buffets here:

Are Cruise Ship Buffets Actually Clean?