Where to cruise in September

September is the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season and the start of fall foliage cruising in Canada and New England. With kids back in school, demand and crowds usually ease.

Prime season in September

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  Mediterranean

  Average in Barcelona, Spain: high 77°F, low 67°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 67°F, low 53°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 78°F, low 72°F. Sea at its warmest

  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 77°F, low 66°F

  A week or more at sea between North America and Europe, with island stops on many routes.

Shoulder season: fewer crowds, mixed weather

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  Alaska

  Average in Juneau, Alaska (downtown): high 56°F, low 46°F. Wetter, cooler, season winds down

  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 84°F, low 76°F. Peak of hurricane season

  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 63°F, low 52°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 61°F, low 50°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 63°F, low 52°F

  Castles, coastlines and pubs around England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Cruises run, but it is off-peak

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  Caribbean

  Average in San Juan, Puerto Rico: high 89°F, low 78°F. Peak of hurricane season

  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 90°F, low 76°F. Peak of hurricane season

  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. Rainy season and peak Pacific storm risk

  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 89°F, low 80°F. Peak of hurricane season

  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 89°F, low 78°F. Peak of hurricane season

  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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  Panama Canal

  Average in Panama City, Panama: high 89°F, low 72°F

  A full day rising through the locks between two oceans, with Caribbean and Central American ports along the way.

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  Australia & New Zealand

  Average in Sydney, Australia (Sydney Airport): high 71°F, low 53°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 77°F

  Japan, Southeast Asia and beyond: big cities, temples and food, with the ship as your moving hotel.