Why are Cruise Lines Beginning to Ditch Summer in the Caribbean?

I actually like sailing the islands better in warmer months. Here’s why…

We cruised the Western/Southern Caribbean in January and July 0f 2025. I actually enjoyed the summer sailing better, and so did my husband.

So, I was surprised to learn Princess is not venturing anywhere in the Caribbean between May and September anymore. Instead they will head to Europe and Alaska. I get it. People are sick of the heat and want cooler destinations. But not everyone!

We sailed the Enchanted Princess for a ten day Southern Caribbean itinerary in January, 2025, and then boarded the same ship for a seven day Eastern Caribbean cruise out of Fort Lauderdale in July.

Both times, the ship docked in Princess Cays in Eleuthera, Bahamas. I remember the water was a little too cold to swim in January, but in July, it was perfect. As much as we like walking on the beach, swimming is our thing.

Even as far south as Antigua, the ocean was a little cool right after the new year. But towards the end of summer, we enjoyed a perfect beach day in the Dominican Republic. The ocean breeze kept us cooler than if we had spent the summer at our home in Southwest Florida.

Will Other Cruise Lines Follow Princess’ Lead?

Not yet, but Royal Caribbean has cancelled around 20 Caribbean sailings between early May and late September, starting in 2027. 

I understand that the companies can charge more for European, Alaskan and even Asian itineraries. Still, what about the rest of us who want to bask in the sun near the equator instead of admiring a bunch of old relics in some museum in Italy?

Not to knock European culture or anything, but some of us just like to kick back and relax in the Bahamas or hike through a rain forest. Maybe they do have those in Japan? I’m not sure. But eating barbecue on the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas sure beats dining on sushi or something unrecognizable on one of those Japanese islands I keep hearing about ad nauseam.

Call me low-brow, unadventurous or not cultured, I don’t care. We like what we like. And Hubby and I will continue to sail the Caribbean islands all year long (providing there is still a cruise line going there.)

I’m being overly dramatic. No one is giving up going south of the border. After all, RC is investing a lot of money in new private island destinations in Mexico and the Bahamas.

So, brush up on your Spanish. Cruise lines look to be expanding their presence in Mexico southward, at least during the winter months.

If the Heat Lets up will Cruise Lines Return?

I’m not sure, given there are only so many ships, and the fascination with Asia and Alaska isn’t waning any time soon.

I don’t get the whole Alaska in the summer excitement. The people I talked to who came back from there described the landscape as “breathtakingly beautiful.” 

But, come on. Wearing cold-weather clothes in the summer just seems, well, unnatural. And if you can’t swim on the ship, what are you going to do? There are only so many shows you can watch. And walking the track on deck 12 in my winter coat? No thanks.

I just think of cruising as a hot weather vacation. I mean, would you be eating soft serve ice cream on the pool deck in 40 degree weather in Iceland? I think not.

Let’s hope that as soon as those European river cruisers get tired of traveling up and down the Rhine or the Danube, they will be back, wanting to soak up the sun in Antigua, just like us.