Fwer packed ports, fewer queues, special festivals, no heatwaves, but the best thing about low-season cruising is the price.
, but the topic is worth revisiting as travellers continue to look for ways to avoid the worst tourist crowds, and reduce their travel expenditure without forgoing travel.
There are good reasons for cruising in low seasons: fewer packed ports, fewer queues, special festivals, no heatwaves. You can enjoy tulip or cherry blossom time. The biggest advantage is that you get more value, with lower airfares and cruise fares – though not as low as they used to be, as more travellers recognise the low-season advantage. You’re also likely to find offers such as cabin upgrades, onboard credit or other inclusions.
At the time of writing, for example, Viking Cruises’ eight-day Iconic Western Mediterranean itinerary is priced from $8795 a person for a September 8 departure this year, but $5795 a person for a December 5 departure. An eight-day Rhine Highlights cruise with Scenic is $7390 if you want to step aboard on June 2, 2026, but only $4695 a person for a November 17 departure.
The main disadvantage of low-season cruising is, of course, more unpredictable or at least colder weather, or wetter weather in the tropics. At worst, in places such as the Caribbean, you run the risk of hurricane cancellation. Shorter daylight hours and less attractive scenery denuded of summer green are other downsides. If you’re a culture vulture, however, cooler weather or even rain in the Mediterranean won’t stop you enjoying palaces and museums.
Cruise lines have been responding to demand by expanding operations further into the year. River-cruise lines now offer November and December cruises on Portugal’s Douro River, for example. Avalon Waterways has increased its off-season river cruises by 88 per cent since 2023, and has seen special demand for wine-themed autumn cruises and winter Christmas-market cruises in Europe. Wine cruises were bolstered from seven departures last year to 18 this year.
On the ocean, Viking now has a range of Quiet Season Mediterranean cruises with departures between November and April. Many other cruise lines, such Celebrity, Emerald, Explora Journeys, Princess, Seabourn and Silversea, have extended into the winter. Even the Baltic and Norway are getting more winter cruise visitors, many on the hunt for the Northern Lights. There’s no universal low season in cruising because it depends on the destination.
In the Caribbean, low season runs June to October, with a May shoulder season. In the Mediterranean, it’s November to March, while in much of Asia it is May to October, which is hotter and wetter. Some destinations have no low season because cruises cease entirely, such as Alaska, which does have shoulder seasons in May and September, and the South Pacific, where the shoulder season is April to May, though some ships do visit year-round.
In Europe, the lowest season for river cruises is October to November and January to March, but with a spike in December owing to the popularity of Christmas market cruises. The little-known option that saves you thousands on car hire in EuropeHotel breakfasts are a big rip-off.
Here’s how I get them for freeseemed destined to become a travel writer: he is an Irishman born in Nigeria and raised in Switzerland, who has lived in Britain and China and now calls Australia home.
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