Cruise Planning Guide
What a cruise actually costs once the extras are counted, how long to sail, when to book, and what to do with the eight hours you get in each port. Plus our port guides, which tell you what is walkable from the dock and what is worth booking ahead.
How do you plan a cruise?
Start with the region and season, because that decides everything else: the Caribbean sails best December to April, Alaska only May to September, and the Mediterranean May to October. Then pick the length - seven nights is the standard - and book six to twelve months ahead for popular seasons, or during wave season in January to March for the best perks. Budget for the extras that aren't in the fare, mainly drinks, shore excursions, wifi and gratuities, and book the excursions that sell out as soon as your ports are confirmed.
The best time to go on a cruise, by region
Cruise regions run on tight seasons, and the shoulder weeks at either end usually give you the same itinerary for less money with fewer ships sharing your port.
| Region | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Caribbean & Bahamas | December to April | Dry, warm and calm. Hurricane season runs June to November, when prices drop. |
| Alaska | May to September | The whole season. June to August is warmest and busiest; May and September are cheaper and quieter. |
| Mediterranean | May to October | June and September dodge both the August heat and the worst of the crowds. |
| Northern Europe & fjords | May to August | Long daylight and the mildest weather. Northern lights sailings run the opposite season, autumn to early spring. |
| Panama Canal | October to April | The dry season. Transits book out early because sailing dates are limited. |
Cruise port guides and shore excursions
A port day is short. These guides cover what is walkable from the dock, what needs a shuttle or a tour, and which excursions sell out - so you spend the day well instead of working it out on the pier.
More port guides are on the way. In the meantime, our things to do guides cover many cruise ports, and best time to visit helps you pick a sailing season.
What a cruise costs beyond the fare
The advertised fare is rarely what you pay. Budget separately for gratuities, which many lines charge automatically per person per night, drinks beyond tea and water, speciality restaurants, wifi, and shore excursions, which are the biggest variable of the lot. Two people on a seven-night sailing can easily add several hundred to the fare before they have bought a single souvenir.
Two things bring it down. Sail in the shoulder weeks at either end of a region's season rather than its peak, and book excursions with independent local operators instead of through the ship, leaving a comfortable buffer before all-aboard. Flights are the other lever: getting to the embarkation port cheaply matters as much as the cabin price, and arriving the day before is worth it on any itinerary where a delayed flight would mean missing the ship.