Are you thinking of going on a cruise but hesitant because it’s during hurricane season? Hurricane season is long, spanning five months from June 1 to November 30. Should you avoid cruising altogether during those five months? Is it even safe to go on a cruise during hurricane season? Below, we will discuss the pros and cons of going on a cruise during hurricane season.
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It’s a Gamble
When you go on a cruise during hurricane season, it’s really a gamble. You might be fortunate to experience beautiful weather while cruising. On the other hand, you might find yourself in the midst of a storm. The unpredictability is the most challenging part, and the worst part is, that you won’t know until a few days before due to the sudden nature of the storm and hurricane predictions.
Better Price
One of the main reasons to go on a cruise during hurricane season is the potential for amazing cruise deals. Sometimes, you can score a cruise deal that is hard to resist, even with the possibility of a hurricane.
Especially for Caribbean and Mexico cruises during the off-season from September to November, you might see an incredible deal that makes cruising during hurricane season worthwhile.
It Might Not Be Beach Weather
When you go on a cruise during hurricane season, know that there is a high chance that you will encounter bad weather. Instead of lounging by the beach sipping a cocktail, you might find yourself cooped up indoors on the ship due to rainy and overcast days.
During my recent Bahamas cruise during hurricane season, we were rained out in Nassau. Rather than sunny beach weather, we faced a torrential downpour. It was disappointing since we only had one day in Nassau, and the bad weather made it feel like we missed out on experiencing the port altogether.
We could only manage a bit of souvenir shopping downtown before rushing back to the ship! We ended up spending the rest of the day at the buffet and indoor pool instead of exploring Nassau and relaxing by the beach!
When cruising during hurricane season, you need to keep an open mind and manage everyone’s expectations that things will most likely not go according to plan.
Miss Ports of Call
One of the things about going on a cruise during hurricane season is that there is a chance that you will not make it to your ports of call. In order to keep you safe, the captain will adjust the route to avoid storms and hurricanes, which may result in the cancellation of some ports.
If you’re fortunate, the cruise may substitute a different port of call, so you still get a day at port. But, it’s more likely that you’ll have an extra day at sea instead.
For example, many cruise ships had to change their itineraries to avoid Hurricane Beryl. The challenging part is that you may not be informed about these changes until the last minute. Typically, you won’t learn about the new itinerary until you’re already onboard the ship.
That’s why it’s important to stay flexible when cruising during hurricane season since missing ports of call is a definite possibility.
Get Ready for Rough Seas
When you’re going on a cruise during hurricane season, the chances are high that you will encounter rough seas. It’s not going to be fun when that happens and you need to know how to control your seasickness before it spirals out of control!
For example, I’ve been on a New England and Canada cruise during hurricane season where I was so sick I threw up in the hallway and could not take care of my toddler! Thankfully, my dad was not affected by the rough Atlantic Ocean and was able to watch my daughter.
So, it really depends. If you’re lucky, you might not even encounter rough seas, or you might be like my dad and unaffected by seasickness.
Should You Go on a Cruise During Hurricane Season?
Is it a good idea to take a cruise during hurricane season? It’s a bit of a toss-up. If you see an amazing cruise deal, it might be worth the gamble of potential bad weather, missed ports, and choppy seas.
Or, if you are going with family and friends and the only time everyone is available to vacation is during hurricane season, then it could be worth it.
If you can handle rough seas and don’t get seasick, then go ahead and book a cruise during hurricane season. But if you’re prone to seasickness, then you might want to think twice.
It’s also important to note that cruising during hurricane season doesn’t necessarily mean stormy weather. You might get lucky and enjoy a week of smooth sailing and perfect weather, all at a great price. Check out: Cruise without Seasickness: Genius Tricks You Need to Know
Cruise Essentials
Cruise Lanyard
Bring cruise lanyards; to make your life easier so you are not constantly looking for your cruise card!
Towel Bands
Towel bands are great in keeping your beach towels in place! So, they are slipping off the pool lounge chairs!
Power Strip
Definitely bring a cruise-approved power strip so you have more outlets for charging your devices. Cruise cabins never have enough outlets!
Packing Cubes
Make cruise packing easier by using packing cubes. These cubes will help keep your clothes organized. And unpacking is easy because you just need to take them out of your luggage and put them in the drawers and shelves- so easy! Assign a color for each person in your cabin so you are not getting your cubes mixed up.
Luggage Tags
For safety, make sure every luggage and bags are labeled with a luggage tag. I like these custom luggage tags that you can order and personalize with your information.
Magnetic Hooks
Bring magnetic hooks to organize your cabin and keep it clutter-free. These hooks are for hanging baseball caps, cruise lanyards, goggles, bathing suits and towels.
Detergent Travel Packets
These detergent travel packets are great for handwashing bathing suits in the sink.
Anti-Seasickness
This anti-seasickness medicine is a go-to to combat seasickness on a cruise. If you have kids, make sure you bring the chewable version. If you are looking for a natural solution, try these acupressure bands.
Hanging Toiletry Bag
Cruise cabin sinks are notoriously small. Get a hanging toiletry bag to make it easier!
Cruise Travel Planner Printable
Get our 25 page cruise travel planner to stay organized before and during your cruise. It includes pre-cruise and post-cruise itineraries, a cruise port planner, sea days planner, packing lists, cruise budget tracker and more!
Check out these free cruise printables
Mediterranean cruise packing list
16 Cruise Packing Mistakes You’ll Regret Making
11 Anti-Theft Cruise Tips that Every Cruiser Needs to Know
I’ve Been on over 25 Cruises, Here are 17 Things I’ll Never Do on a Cruise