Best time to cruise · Best time to go
Eastern Caribbean cruises in December
December brings the brisk ‘Christmas winds’, strong trades that cool the islands and raise whitecaps on open crossings. St. Croix’s Crucian Christmas Festival and St. Kitts’ Sugar Mas fill the holidays with parades and steel bands, and Old San Juan glows with lights. Holiday sailings sell out far ahead; the first half of the month is much better value.
- Best time to go
- Avg high 82°F
- 11 hrs daylight
Photo: Fred Hsu ( Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Caribbean in December: Best time to go
December brings the brisk ‘Christmas winds’, strong trades that cool the islands and raise whitecaps on open crossings. St. Croix’s Crucian Christmas Festival and St. Kitts’ Sugar Mas fill the holidays with parades and steel bands, and Old San Juan glows with lights. Holiday sailings sell out far ahead; the first half of the month is much better value.
Across Eastern Caribbean cruise ports, December brings average highs around 82°F (28°C) and lows near 78°F, with about 1.9 inches of rain over the month and roughly 11 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- Best time to go
- Season
- Year-round; best December to April. This route is the most exposed to Atlantic hurricanes, especially August to October.
- Average high / low
- 82°F / 78°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 1.9 in
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 nights from Florida or San Juan; 8 to 12 nights from the Northeast
What to pack: light, breathable clothes, swimwear, a sun hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen, plus a light layer for air-conditioned rooms.
How December compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: Best time to go
- Feb: Best time to go
- Mar: Best time to go
- Apr: Best time to go
- May: Good time to go
- Jun: Good time to go
- Jul: Good time to go
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: Good time to go
- Dec: Best time to go
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Eastern Caribbean weather in December
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 8127 | 8127 | 8127 | 8328 | 8429 | 8529 | 8530 | 8630 | 8630 | 8630 | 8429 | 8228 |
| Low °F (°C) | 7725 | 7625 | 7625 | 7825 | 8026 | 8127 | 8228 | 8228 | 8228 | 8228 | 8027 | 7826 |
| Rain in (mm) | 1.539 | 1.539 | 1.434 | 1.948 | 2.870 | 2.255 | 2.870 | 3.486 | 4.5114 | 4.3109 | 5.0127 | 1.949 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
December weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Thomas | 82°F | 80°F | 1.5 in | 11 h |
| St. Maarten | 81°F | 80°F | 1.1 in | 11 h |
| San Juan | 83°F | 77°F | 2.3 in | 11 h |
| Puerto Plata (Amber Cove & Taíno Bay) | 83°F | 78°F | 3.7 in | 11 h |
| Tortola | 82°F | 80°F | 1.3 in | 11 h |
| St. Kitts | 81°F | 80°F | 1.2 in | 11 h |
| Antigua | 82°F | 80°F | 1.8 in | 11 h |
| Grand Turk | 80°F | 79°F | 1.7 in | 11 h |
| St. Croix | 82°F | 80°F | 1.0 in | 11 h |
| Virgin Gorda | 82°F | 80°F | 1.3 in | 11 h |
| Samaná | 85°F | 74°F | 3.3 in | 11 h |
| La Romana & Catalina Island | 85°F | 75°F | 3.0 in | 11 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
- 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
- Southeast & East Asia in December
See every destination for December, with a port weather map →
Eastern Caribbean in December: FAQs
Is December a good time to cruise Eastern Caribbean?
Yes, it's one of the best months. December brings the brisk ‘Christmas winds’, strong trades that cool the islands and raise whitecaps on open crossings. St. Croix’s Crucian Christmas Festival and St. Kitts’ Sugar Mas fill the holidays with parades and steel bands, and Old San Juan glows with lights. Holiday sailings sell out far ahead; the first half of the month is much better value.
What is the weather like on a Eastern Caribbean cruise in December?
Across Eastern Caribbean cruise ports, December brings average highs around 82°F (28°C) and lows near 78°F, with about 1.9 inches of rain over the month and roughly 11 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
What should I pack for a Eastern Caribbean cruise in December?
Pack light, breathable clothes, swimwear, a sun hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen, plus a light layer for air-conditioned rooms. Check your cruise line's dress code for evenings.
When is the best time to cruise Eastern Caribbean?
Year-round; best December to April. This route is the most exposed to Atlantic hurricanes, especially August to October.. The best months are usually January, February, March, April, December.
Where else can I cruise in December?
December is also a top month for Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Mexican Riviera & Baja, Panama Canal & Central America.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.