Where to cruise in August
August is still high summer in Alaska and Europe. In the Atlantic, hurricane activity typically starts building toward its peak from mid-August to mid-October, which lines plan around by adjusting itineraries.
Prime season in August
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Alaska
Average in Juneau, Alaska (downtown): high 62°F, low 51°F
Glaciers, fjords, wildlife and frontier towns on a summer-only season through the Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska.
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Northern Europe & Baltic
Average in Copenhagen, Denmark: high 71°F, low 57°F
Scandinavian capitals, medieval old towns and long summer days around the Baltic and North Sea.
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Norwegian Fjords
Average in Bergen, Norway: high 67°F, low 54°F
Sheer cliffs, waterfalls and tiny villages on some of the most scenic sailing in the world.
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British Isles
Average in Dublin, Ireland: high 67°F, low 56°F
Castles, coastlines and pubs around England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Shoulder season: fewer crowds, mixed weather
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Mediterranean
Average in Barcelona, Spain: high 82°F, low 73°F. Hottest and busiest month
Rome, Barcelona, the Riviera and the Adriatic: the most history you can see in one week at sea.
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Hawaii
Average in Honolulu, Hawaii: high 89°F, low 76°F. Warmest month
Four islands in a week from Honolulu, or a long Pacific crossing from the West Coast.
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Canada & New England
Average in Halifax, Nova Scotia: high 74°F, low 59°F
Lobster towns, lighthouses and fall foliage from Boston and New York to Nova Scotia and Quebec.
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Greek Isles
Average in Mykonos, Greece: high 82°F, low 76°F. Meltemi winds most frequent
Whitewashed villages, ancient ruins and Aegean blue, from Santorini and Mykonos to Rhodes and Crete.
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Transatlantic
Average in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal: high 79°F, low 68°F
A week or more at sea between North America and Europe, with island stops on many routes.
Cruises run, but it is off-peak
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Caribbean
Average in San Juan, Puerto Rico: high 89°F, low 78°F
Warm water, short flights and the widest choice of ships and itineraries anywhere in cruising.
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Bahamas
Average in Nassau, Bahamas: high 91°F, low 77°F
The quick escape: short cruises from Florida to Nassau, Freeport and the cruise lines' private islands.
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Mexican Riviera
Average in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: high 90°F, low 76°F
West Coast sunshine: Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan on easy round trips from Southern California.
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Eastern Caribbean
Average in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands: high 90°F, low 80°F
Beach-hopping through the Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico, with some of the calmest sailing in the region.
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Western Caribbean
Average in George Town, Grand Cayman: high 90°F, low 79°F
Maya ruins, barrier reef snorkeling and jungle adventures in Mexico, Central America, Jamaica and Grand Cayman.
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Southern Caribbean
Average in Oranjestad, Aruba: high 92°F, low 81°F
The far islands: Aruba, Curacao, Barbados and St. Lucia, with more port days and drier weather in the south.
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Bermuda
Average in Bermuda (L.F. Wade International Airport): high 86°F, low 77°F
Pink-sand beaches and British island charm, two days' sail from the Northeast, with ships docked overnight.
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Australia & New Zealand
Average in Sydney, Australia (Sydney Airport): high 66°F, low 49°F
Sydney Harbour, Tasmania and New Zealand's fiords on a cruise timed for the southern summer.
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Asia
Average in Singapore: high 89°F, low 78°F
Japan, Southeast Asia and beyond: big cities, temples and food, with the ship as your moving hotel.
What to watch in August
- Late August can bring better pricing as some schools restart.
- Itinerary changes are more common in the Caribbean during the hurricane peak; lines may swap ports.
- Northern Europe and the fjords are in their warmest weeks.
Usually no or very few cruises in August: the Panama Canal, Antarctica.
Seasons and temperatures come from our destination guides, which cite their climate sources. Averages are long-term and any given week can differ.
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