Off Peak Europe & Alaska Cruises

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Author: Ralph Grizzle / Avid Cruiser
Posted: 16 Jul 2009 04:53 AM PDT

MISSED YOUR CHANCE TO CRUISE IN EUROPE OR ALASKA THIS YEAR? Perhaps not.
While Europe and Alaska cruises fill fast for the summer months, you can often find space available during the spring and fall (or in the case of Alaska, late summer). There are a number of reasons to cruise these popular destinations during the off-peak season. For starters, you’ll likely pay less for your cruise in the spring and fall when kids are in school than you’ll pay for cruising during the peak summer months when everyone is vying for the same itineraries and guestrooms. With fewer families cruising outside the summer months, there is generally less competition for berths. Plus, by cruising at the “bookends” of the cruise season, you’ll avoid the crowds.
For Europe cruises, off-peak runs from September to November and again from March until May. In Alaska, off-peak runs for only about a month at each end of summer, during May before the peak cruise season and during September after the cruise season.
Weather for off-peak cruises typically is not an issue in either Alaska or Europe. May, in fact, tends to be one of the sunniest and driest months in Alaska. In Europe, the weather varies by region, but the Mediterranean climate is usually warm and dry during the off-peak months.