Where to Cruise in December
Sun in the Caribbean, summer in the south, and the holidays at sea.
Get Free Cruise QuotesWhere to Cruise in December
Where to cruise in December depends on whether you want sun, festivities or an adventure in the southern summer. December is when the cruise map flips: the northern seasons have closed, the Caribbean dry season is starting, and ships in the southern hemisphere enjoy their best weather. It is also the month of holiday sailings, which fill early.
Caribbean and Bahamas
Hurricane season ends on 30 November, and the drier, breezier months begin. Short Bahamas cruises from Florida are easy to fit around the holidays. See Eastern Caribbean Cruises, Western Caribbean Cruises and Southern Caribbean Cruises.
Mexican Riviera
Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta are warm and dry at this time of year, a short sail from Los Angeles or San Diego. More on Mexico Cruising.
Hawaii
Year-round island round trips, with the whale season getting under way. Cruise Hawaii covers the islands and ports.
Southern hemisphere
Australia and New Zealand, Tahiti, and South America from Buenos Aires around Cape Horn to Chile. Cruising South America explains the routes.
Antarctica
The expedition season runs through the southern summer, mostly from Ushuaia in Argentina. Cruising Antarctica explains how it works.
Arabian Gulf
Dubai and Abu Dhabi host winter cruise programs, timed for the months when Gulf temperatures are mild.
Christmas and New Year at Sea
Ships decorate for the season, and most lines plan holiday menus, carols and a countdown party for New Year’s Eve. The busy weeks are the ones between Christmas and New Year, when families sail together during the school break. If you want a quieter ship, the first half of December is often calmer. Our sister site Holiday Cruise Groups covers the holiday weeks for families and friends sailing together.
Panama Canal and Longer Voyages
December is a good month to transit the Panama Canal, either on a full ocean-to-ocean voyage between Florida and California or on a partial transit that enters the locks, visits Gatun Lake and turns back. These cruises suit people with time: they are often two weeks or longer. The first world cruises also begin in early January, so December is when many long voyages are finalized; World Cruise News follows them.
A December checklist
- Book holiday weeks early, ideally a year or more ahead for suites and connecting cabins.
- Fly in at least a day before the ship sails; winter storms can delay northern airports.
- For the southern hemisphere, remember that December is summer there, with long days and strong sun.
- Check passport validity; many destinations in this list need one.
December Cruise Questions
Where is it warm to cruise in December?
The Caribbean and Bahamas, the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, the Arabian Gulf from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Canary Islands, and the southern hemisphere: South America, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Are Christmas and New Year cruises more expensive?
Holiday weeks are the busiest of the winter and usually sell for more than the weeks around them, and the best cabins go early. The first two weeks of December are often among the quieter weeks of the Caribbean season.
Can you see whales on a December Hawaii cruise?
Humpback whales spend the winter in Hawaiian waters. NOAA notes that they are seen mostly from about December through April, with the peak usually in the first months of the year.
Find a December Cruise
Tell us whether you want a holiday sailing, warm weather or a southern adventure, and your flexible dates. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will send free quotes for December sailings.
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