Caribbean/Mexico cruise in the summer?

My kids are probably too little to appreciate Alaska, and the only big vacation we have scheduled for next year is a summer cruise. It appears that because it’s hurricane season, that would be a bad time to go cruising. Has anyone visited since then, and if so, how was it? I was considering that late June by the Pacific Ocean might work. :thinking:

9 Likes

Here’s a native of Los Angeles. The Mexican Riviera differs greatly from Mexico’s other coast. The Mexican Riviera in June is quote beautiful. Humidity won’t be an issue until you pass Ensenada. The mid-to upper-80s are the typical June temperature. You’re not sweating profusely as you would be anyplace off the Atlantic, nor is it as hot as the Caribbean.

6 Likes

Contrary to what a lot of people are reporting, the weather does not vary that much in the Caribbean throughout the year. It will be slightly hotter in summer, but not by much. You would want to stay away from Mexico or Central American itineraries, but if you do the islands it should be fine. Keep in mind that hurricane season is in full swing in August, so we always did cruises in June. Temperatures are largely in the 80s. Due to ocean breezes, it does not get much hotter assuming you go to an island. You would want to stick to either E or S Caribbean, as W will take you to places like Yucatán, Belize, Honduras, etc that may get hotter.

There are not a lot of cruises going to either area because the W Coast ships are in Alaska and E Coast ships typically head over to do Mediterranean or N Europe options before coming back in early or late fall depending on whether they add in some other itineraries in the interim.

7 Likes

@Nidal It’s encouraging to learn about the weather and storm avoidance timeline. The South Caribbean islands are said to be hurricane-free. This explains why it’s difficult to find summer cruises to both that area and New England. I’ve located a handful. Have you taken a summertime cruise to the East Coast with children?

6 Likes

It sounds so sexy :hot_face: to me

6 Likes

Traveled to Mexico and the Caribbean in August, when the heat was unbearable. At five in the morning, it was ninety degrees Fahrenheit and quite humid. Don’t suggest.

5 Likes

@Alain That’s not safe and it’s too hot! I appreciate the information.

5 Likes

This summer, I took two cruises to the Bahamas, Honduras, and Mexico. For both, we were able to dodge hurricanes. It’s not a big concern if the ports are modified, as cruise lines rarely cancel due to hurricanes; instead, they will typically simply redirect the ship to visit other ports where the cyclone isn’t. Of course, it wasn’t that much hotter in the summer than it would have been to cruise in the winter!

4 Likes

@Meech I’m grateful. What was the temperature at that time? Why there aren’t more sailings around the east and west coasts is beyond me.

4 Likes

In the summer, there are very few options available on the Mexican Riviera (Pacific side). Many ships sail Alaska in the summer, then relocate to Los Angeles, Long Beach, or San Diego for the winter.

But there are still choices! Next June, Carnival will depart from Long Beach on four ships for three to eight nights. In May 2025, Ovation of the Seas will begin 3-6 night sailings starting May 2025, joining the short trips that Royal Caribbean already operated with Navigator of the Seas out of Los Angeles.

3 Likes

@Mboks Is the popularity of Alaska the primary reason for the limited number of sailings to Mexico, or is it also due to the extreme heat and humidity? Only in the fall and winter, when it’s bright and in the eighties, have I traveled to Mexico.

4 Likes

@Mitchelle Due to the short season and high demand, Alaska is highly sought after. I found 36 distinct ships from mainstream and luxury cruise operators after doing a fast search for July 2025. Princess and Holland America are the two main contenders; between them, they will be operating 13 different ships in Alaska come July.

I’ve taken several cruises down the Mexican Riviera. Not because I adore the ports, either. There’s hardly much variation; four ports are typically visited on most voyages. But since I live in the Pacific Northwest, traveling to Los Angeles to enjoy some much-needed warmth and sunshine during the winter is a breeze. Winter is also the best season to see whales in Cabo!

3 Likes

What age are your children? When we were 3 and 5, we went to Alaska with ours, and we had a blast. They relished the train ride in Skagway, the stroll through the rainforest and bear viewing in Ketchikan, the gondola ride to the summit of Juneau’s mountain, and more. They also had a great time in the kids club in the evenings and on sea days. Summertime in the Caribbean is way too hot, so I would absolutely avoid it.

2 Likes

@Banice My eldest, who is ten, simply struggles with hikes and guided excursions. He gets bored soon and wants to return to the ship, which is where all the excitement is. They do enjoy going to the zoo, so viewing the animals would be enjoyable for them. However, they don’t have a lot of time for sightseeing because Alaska is heavily port-dependent. That yours went so well is wonderful to hear! I’m torn between an Alaskan outdoor cruise (many have advised us to hold off till they’ll really enjoy it) and a warm trip with loads of entertainment and time to unwind.

2 Likes

I understand the challenges of sailing with kids, my kids grew up on cruise ships and now we take them as adults and the grandkids. I will just say that the Caribbean is very hot and humid in the summer. We find it unbearable and none of the family wants to go then. As another poster said, sailing out of LA to Mexico in the summer is very limited due to so many ships being in Alaska.

1 Like

@Jordan If I could locate a cruise to Mexico in July, would it be bearable? I want no part of this terrible heat. Why can’t I discover any cruises along the east or west coast? That would be really enjoyable!

1 Like

@Mitchelle Tolerance is essentially the determining factor in this. South Texas is where I call home. Going to the Caribbean was nicer than going home because it was above 100 degrees in July. It may not be comfortable for you, though, if you’re from the Midwest, where it’s cooler. Still, keep in mind that you’ll be spending ninety percent of your time on the ship, where you’ll have a fantastic time, and a few warm hours on a stunning Caribbean island aren’t too awful.