I knew I wanted to take a cruise to Northern Europe this summer, but I also wanted to avoid the worst months to go there.
Ever since I took my first cruise in Europe a couple of years ago, I've jumped at the chance to try it again. This year will be my third year in a row heading overseas to go on a cruise.
I'm booked on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas for two cruises in a row, where I'll visit cities in Northern Europe as well as sail the Norwegian fjords.
When I was picking out my cruises, I knew there were better months than others to sail, and I wanted to avoid the hot and crowded times of the year.
I think I picked the best time to cruise to Northern Europe that balances weather, prices, and crowds.
Worst time to cruise Northern Europe: May, July and August
There are definitely a few months of the summer cruise season that are probably not the ideal time to cruise around Northern Europe.
I live in Florida and don't need to go anywhere that can be just as hot as where I live. But that doesn't mean I want it frigid either.
Royal Caribbean sails ships between May and September across Europe, but not all months are created equal and I think the weather is a major factor.
While it won't get as hot as the Mediterranean, there can still be plenty warm months. Considering I want to do a lot of outdoor activities, I'd prefer it to be comfortable.
On the flip side, I didn't want it to be unnecessarily chilly either.
When I took a Norwegian fjords cruise in May, it was downright chilly most days and you needed a jacket.
I think the sweet spot for a European cruise is right around mid June. You're out of the danger of a spring chill hitting, but not quite into the depths of summer.
The summer months have the highest pricing
If you want to save money on a Northern European cruise, the best prices tend to be in the shoulder season.
Another reason I was drawn to June was the pricing, as I found much better prices for a June cruise compared to later in July.
This is because of the family cruise component. Once you're in July, kids are out of school everywhere and that drives up demand considerably.
High season ends in mid-August, and while going later may see less crowds, it's also the beginning of seasonal closures and the summer tourism industry drawing to a close.
The two cheapest months to cruise in Northern Europe will be May and September. These months are when school is back in session, and it's also at the very start and end of the season.
Both of my cruises take place in June, and I'll wrap up both cruises at the start of July.
June is the best month for a Northern European cruise
Not only is June a great value, it also offers the most sunlight of the year.
The summer solstice takes place during this time, and that provides more sunlight than any other time of the year. The more sun you have, the more comfortable the outdoor temperatures can be too. That makes for great viewing late at "night" during the longest days of the year.
Unlike the end of the summer cruise season, in June you don't have to worry about seasonal closures, and the possibility of seeing the midnight sun is a unique advantage.
If you have a clear night, it's well worth staying up until midnight to watch the sun dip and start back up without setting.
One more advantage of June is you can still enjoy beautiful waterfalls with a lot of water coming down from the melting snow still occurring.
Flexibility is so important, regardless of the "best" or "worst" month
You can do all the research in the world and speak to a lot of experts, but ultimately weather and crowds are going to be a variable that you can't control.
I always caution anyone that asks for a recommendation of when to cruise anywhere that just because it was the case in the past, doesn't mean it will occur again.
More importantly, I'm a firm believer in a cruise is what you make of it. You can choose to have a great cruise anytime of the year, or allow gripes to "ruin" your vacation.
No temperature or crowd can prevent you from enjoying a stunning view, ancient site, or incredible culinary experience if you don't let it.
Ultimately, I'd choose to cruise any month in Northern Europe over not cruising at all. You just have to come in with a good plan, prepare for certain possibilities, and be flexible with your plans when the rain, temperature, or crowds don't cooperate.
