Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
Canada & New England cruises in December
There are no Canada and New England cruises in December. Ships have repositioned to the Caribbean, Quebec’s old town glows with Christmas markets and snow, and Boston and Portland enter winter. Next year’s foliage schedules are usually on sale, and the earliest choices come with the best cabin selection.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 35°F
- 9 hrs daylight
Photo: Giacomo Barbaro, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Canada & New England in December: No regular sailings
There are no Canada and New England cruises in December. Ships have repositioned to the Caribbean, Quebec’s old town glows with Christmas markets and snow, and Boston and Portland enter winter. Next year’s foliage schedules are usually on sale, and the earliest choices come with the best cabin selection.
Across Canada & New England cruise ports, December brings average highs around 35°F (2°C) and lows near 24°F, with about 4.7 inches of rain over the month and roughly 9 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- May to October; fall foliage late September to mid-October, warmest July and August.
- Average high / low
- 35°F / 24°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 4.7 in
- Daylight
- About 9 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 5 to 7 nights round trip; 10 to 14 nights one way to Quebec City or Montreal
How December compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: No regular sailings
- Feb: No regular sailings
- Mar: No regular sailings
- Apr: No regular sailings
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Good time to go
- Jul: Best time to go
- Aug: Best time to go
- Sep: Best time to go
- Oct: Best time to go
- Nov: Shoulder season
- Dec: No regular sailings
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Canada & New England weather in December
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 30-1 | 30-1 | 373 | 478 | 5815 | 6719 | 7424 | 7524 | 6921 | 5814 | 457 | 352 |
| Low °F (°C) | 17-8 | 16-9 | 24-4 | 331 | 446 | 5312 | 6116 | 6217 | 5613 | 468 | 341 | 24-4 |
| Rain in (mm) | 4.2106 | 3.590 | 3.896 | 3.998 | 3.282 | 4.1104 | 3.9100 | 3.794 | 3.896 | 4.5115 | 4.2106 | 4.7119 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
December weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | 39°F | 29°F | 6.1 in | 9 h |
| Bar Harbor | 37°F | 26°F | 6.5 in | 9 h |
| Quebec City | 27°F | 13°F | 4.1 in | 9 h |
| Saint John | 34°F | 20°F | 4.9 in | 9 h |
| Portland, Maine | 41°F | 33°F | 6.5 in | 9 h |
| Boston | 41°F | 28°F | 5.0 in | 9 h |
| Newport, Rhode Island | 44°F | 33°F | 5.2 in | 9 h |
| Charlottetown | 34°F | 25°F | 3.4 in | 9 h |
| Sydney, Nova Scotia | 37°F | 29°F | 4.7 in | 9 h |
| Montreal | 30°F | 16°F | 3.4 in | 9 h |
| Saguenay | 23°F | 8°F | 2.7 in | 8 h |
| St. John's, Newfoundland | 37°F | 31°F | 3.9 in | 9 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in December
- Caribbean in December
- Eastern Caribbean in December
- Western Caribbean in December
- Southern Caribbean in December
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in December
- Panama Canal & Central America in December
- South America in December
- Galápagos Islands in December
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in December
- Antarctica in December
See every destination for December, with a port weather map →
Canada & New England in December: FAQs
Is December a good time to cruise Canada & New England?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. There are no Canada and New England cruises in December. Ships have repositioned to the Caribbean, Quebec’s old town glows with Christmas markets and snow, and Boston and Portland enter winter. Next year’s foliage schedules are usually on sale, and the earliest choices come with the best cabin selection.
What is the weather like on a Canada & New England cruise in December?
Across Canada & New England cruise ports, December brings average highs around 35°F (2°C) and lows near 24°F, with about 4.7 inches of rain over the month and roughly 9 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
When is the best time to cruise Canada & New England?
May to October; fall foliage late September to mid-October, warmest July and August.. The best months are usually July, August, September, October.
Where else can I cruise in December?
December is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Mexican Riviera & Baja.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.