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Destinations

Cruise destinations worldwide

28 regions with month-by-month weather, packing lists, ports, cruise lines and visa advice.

Quick answer

The most popular cruise regions are the Caribbean (December–April), the Mediterranean (May–October), Alaska (May–September) and Northern Europe (May–September). Southeast Asia, the Gulf, Australia and the Nile peak in the northern winter; Antarctica sails November–March.

Ocean regions

Mediterranean

Season Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best: May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Northern Europe & the Baltic

Season May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug

Norway, Iceland & the fjords

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug

British Isles & Ireland

Season Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug

Caribbean & Bahamas

Season Year-round

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec

Alaska

Season May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Best: Jun, Jul, Aug

Canada & New England

Season May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Best: Sep, Oct

Hawaii, Mexico & the Pacific coast

Season Year-round

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

South America, Patagonia & the Panama Canal

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Feb, Dec

Southeast Asia

Season Year-round

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec

Japan, Korea & China

Season Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov

India, Sri Lanka & the Maldives

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec

Arabian Gulf & Red Sea

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Feb, Dec

Africa & the Indian Ocean islands

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Australia & New Zealand

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Tahiti, Fiji & the South Pacific

Season Year-round

Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

World cruises, transatlantic & repositioning

Season Jan, Apr, May, Oct, Nov

Best: Apr, May, Oct, Nov

Expedition & polar

Antarctica

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Dec

Arctic, Svalbard & Greenland

Season Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Best: Jul, Aug

Galápagos Islands

Season Year-round

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Dec

Rivers & canals

European rivers (Danube, Rhine, Seine, Douro)

Season Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Apr, May, Sep, Oct

The Nile

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec

Mekong & Irrawaddy

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Yangtze & China's rivers

Season Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best: Apr, May, Sep, Oct

India's rivers: Ganga, Brahmaputra & Sundarbans

Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec

Mississippi & US rivers

Season Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Best: Apr, May, Oct, Nov

The Amazon

Season Year-round

Best: May, Jun, Jul, Aug

European canals & hotel barges

Season Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

Best: May, Jun, Sep

Month-by-month planner