Best time to cruise · No regular sailings

Greek Isles cruises in December

No regular island cruises sail in December. Athens lights a huge Christmas tree in Syntagma Square, and many towns display illuminated boats, a Greek holiday tradition older than the tree. If Greece in winter appeals, plan a land trip and leave the island-hopping for spring.

No regular sailings
Avg high 62°F
10 hrs daylight

Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Greek Isles in December: No regular sailings

Across Greek Isles cruise ports, December brings average highs around 62°F (16°C) and lows near 55°F, with about 3.8 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight.

Verdict: No regular sailings
Season: April to early November; best late May–June and September
Average high / low: 62°F / 55°F
Rainfall (month): 3.8 in
Daylight: About 10 hours
Typical cruise length: 3 to 7 nights from Piraeus; 7 to 12 nights on wider Eastern Med routes

How December compares with the rest of the year

No regular sailings
Shoulder season
Good time to go
Best time to go

Greek Isles in November Greek Isles in January

Greek Isles weather in December

Average monthly weather in Greek Isles cruise ports
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F (°C)	5814	5915	6216	6720	7423	8228	8731	8831	8328	7624	6820	6216
Low °F (°C)	5111	5211	5312	5814	6418	7222	7625	7725	7323	6719	6116	5513
Rain in (mm)	4.4112	2.564	2.564	1.026	0.923	0.821	0.39	0.411	1.436	1.948	3.486	3.897
Daylight (hrs)	10	11	12	13	14	15	15	14	12	11	10	10

Average daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall for 2015–2024 from NASA POWER for the area around Greek Isles cruise ports, adjusted to sea level; daylight is calculated for mid-month. Real weather on any given day varies.

December weather port by port

Port	Avg high	Avg low	Rain	Daylight
Athens	60°F	50°F	3.0 in	10 h
Santorini	62°F	59°F	3.2 in	10 h
Mykonos	61°F	58°F	3.7 in	10 h
Rhodes	64°F	60°F	4.3 in	10 h
Heraklion, Crete	63°F	58°F	3.2 in	10 h
Chania (Souda Bay), Crete	63°F	57°F	2.4 in	10 h
Corfu	60°F	54°F	4.6 in	9 h
Kuşadası (for Ephesus)	60°F	43°F	4.3 in	10 h
Patmos	61°F	58°F	4.3 in	10 h
Nafplio	61°F	48°F	3.6 in	10 h
Katakolon (for Olympia)	62°F	58°F	4.3 in	10 h
Argostoli, Kefalonia	61°F	58°F	4.6 in	10 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

See every destination for December, with a port weather map →

Greek Isles in December: FAQs

Is December a good time to cruise Greek Isles?

Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. No regular island cruises sail in December. Athens lights a huge Christmas tree in Syntagma Square, and many towns display illuminated boats, a Greek holiday tradition older than the tree. If Greece in winter appeals, plan a land trip and leave the island-hopping for spring.

What is the weather like on a Greek Isles cruise in December?

Across Greek Isles cruise ports, December brings average highs around 62°F (16°C) and lows near 55°F, with about 3.8 inches of rain over the month and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.

When is the best time to cruise Greek Isles?

April to early November; best late May–June and September. The best months are usually May, June, September.

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.