Explore the hidden benefits of cruising outside peak travel periods, such as fewer crowds, better deals, and unique itineraries.
You can take a cruise vacation throughout the year, but there are some great advantages to going during a less busy time.
According to Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty, he expects cruise prices to go up over the next few years, which means finding a lower fare cost will become more difficult.
One strategy to go on a cruise while spending less is to book a cruise in the off season or shoulder season.
I always book a few Caribbean cruises in September or October because there are lower prices. The combination of peak hurricane season and kids restarting school brings a welcome price dip after the busy summer season.
All forms of travel see ebbs and flows, and going when others cannot travel is a top strategy for getting a better deal.
No matter where in the world you want to take a cruise, you'll find times of the year when demand wanes and that's good for consumers.
Here's a look at the hidden benefits of cruising outside peak travel periods.
When are off season cruises?
Depending on which region of the world you want to take a cruise, there are a few months to target for off peak demand.
One common thread among all off season times is the fact that school is in session. Family cruising is a big component to cruise demand. Even if the kids aren't going on the cruise, a lot of parents skip vacations because they are unwilling to pull them out for a trip.
The shoulder season and off peak times to cruise by region are:
- Caribbean: September and October, January, May
- Alaska: May or September
- Europe: April, May, September, October
- Australia: October, November, March, and April
Read more: When is the best time to go on a cruise?
In the Caribbean, cruising during hurricane season (especially after August) is a double edged sword. On the one hand, you'll get better prices than earlier in the summer. However, you run a higher your itinerary being modified or completely changed because of a tropical storm.
Don't worry, your ship will avoid the worst of any storm, if there is a hurricane present. Royal Caribbean actually has its own meteorologist on staff to provide expert guidance of where ships should go if there are any weather issues.
Better deals
If you take a cruise during any of these months, there's consistently lower prices. It's even when you might be able to find a last minute cruise deal.
In general, pricing tends to be lower for an off season cruise because less people want to sail. It could be because of school or work schedules, or cooler temperatures.
If you're very flexible, you could watch Royal Caribbean's Going, Going, Gone rates for a super last minute deal. I find consistently every year great prices on Alaska cruises in September or European cruises in October and November. However, it requires you to be nimble in the booking process.
When you compare the price of a summer season sailing vs one earlier or later, it could save you hundreds of dollars.
As an example, a 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska on Anthem of the Seas September 5, 2025 starts at $811 per person, whereas the same cruise on July 11, 2025 starts at $1235 per person.
That's $2,469.68 for two people in July vs $1,621.88 in September. And that's just for an inside cabin, which will cost more since a lot of people prefer a balcony on an Alaska cruise.
You'll often find Kids Sail Free deals on a cruise during these lower demand times, which can really rack up savings for families.
Off season cruising has other financial benefits beyond the cruise fare.
There's a good chance your flights will be cheaper too, as peak summer pricing affects airfare just as much as cruise fare. Ditto for hotels for a pre- or post-cruise stay.
If you happen to go during the tail end of a season (September in Alaska or Europe), you may find deals on end of season merchandise too.
Smaller crowds
I love going to Alaska in May or Europe in September because of how uncrowded the places your ship visits will be.
While saving money is indeed a great reason to pick an off season cruise, I think the lower crowd numbers is the best reason.
What you'll discover during the shoulder seasons is there are fewer ships, as well as fewer land tourists to contend with. This means less people in your port, and shorter waits for museums, natural wonders, tours, and more.
In Alaska it's very apparent the difference between a cruise in June vs July when you walk into a port like Sitka or Skagway and notice far fewer tourists.
With smaller crowds, you can do more with less wait and my satisfaction rate with the experience is much better.
Unique itineraries
Another advantage of going on a cruise at the very beginning or very end of the cruise season are the special sailings you can book.
Seasonal cruise markets have to move ships into position, and then return them at the conclusion of their time there. This means cruise lines will offer repositioning cruises that begin in one region, and end in a different one.
You could sail from Australia to Hawaii, or Hawaii to Vancouver. There are also transatlantic crossings that feel like the classic ocean liner voyages of the past.
These cruises visit ports not usually included on a typical sailing, and in some cases it's the only opportunity to go to these places on a cruise ship.
Plus, repositioning cruises are longer cruises, which means they tend to be cheaper per night than other cruises and it's a great way to earn more loyalty program points.
