Where to cruise in July
July is peak summer: Alaska, Northern Europe, the Norwegian fjords and the Mediterranean are all in high season, and Caribbean ships are full of families.
Prime season in July
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Alaska
Average in Juneau, Alaska (downtown): high 63°F, low 52°F. Warmest month
Glaciers, fjords, wildlife and frontier towns on a summer-only season through the Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska.
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Bermuda
Average in Bermuda (L.F. Wade International Airport): high 85°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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Northern Europe & Baltic
Average in Copenhagen, Denmark: high 73°F, low 57°F. Warmest month
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. Warmest month; rain still common
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 68°F, low 56°F. Warmest month; showers still likely
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 81°F, low 72°F
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 88°F, low 75°F
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 58°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
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 76°F, low 66°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 77°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 79°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 90°F, low 80°F
The far islands: Aruba, Curacao, Barbados and St. Lucia, with more port days and drier weather in the south.
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Australia & New Zealand
Average in Sydney, Australia (Sydney Airport): high 64°F, low 47°F. Southern winter
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 July
- Fourth of July week is among the busiest of the year.
- Mediterranean ports can be very hot and crowded; an early start or a cooler Northern Europe itinerary helps.
- Hurricane season is active but historically the peak comes later.
Usually no or very few cruises in July: 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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