Best time to cruise · Best time to go
Southern Caribbean cruises in December
Aruba’s Christmas season brings gaita music and holiday lights to Oranjestad, and Curaçao sees out December 31 with pagara, enormous strings of firecrackers set off outside businesses. Dry, breezy weather settles across the region, ideal for hiking St. Lucia or Grenada. Holiday sailings are the priciest of the year, while early December is quiet.
- Best time to go
- Avg high 83°F
- 11 hrs daylight
Photo: UpstateNYer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southern Caribbean in December: Best time to go
Aruba’s Christmas season brings gaita music and holiday lights to Oranjestad, and Curaçao sees out December 31 with pagara, enormous strings of firecrackers set off outside businesses. Dry, breezy weather settles across the region, ideal for hiking St. Lucia or Grenada. Holiday sailings are the priciest of the year, while early December is quiet.
Across Southern Caribbean cruise ports, December brings average highs around 83°F (28°C) and lows near 80°F, with about 2 inches of rain over the month and roughly 11 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- Best time to go
- Season
- Year-round; best December to April. The ABC islands stay a good bet even in hurricane season (June 1 to November 30).
- Average high / low
- 83°F / 80°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 2 in
- Daylight
- About 11 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 nights from San Juan; 8 to 14 nights from Florida
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: Good time to go
- 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
Southern Caribbean weather in December
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 8228 | 8228 | 8228 | 8328 | 8329 | 8429 | 8429 | 8530 | 8630 | 8530 | 8429 | 8328 |
| Low °F (°C) | 7926 | 7826 | 7826 | 7926 | 8127 | 8127 | 8228 | 8228 | 8328 | 8328 | 8228 | 8027 |
| Rain in (mm) | 1.436 | 1.026 | 1.229 | 1.538 | 2.359 | 3.077 | 3.282 | 3.794 | 3.999 | 4.8121 | 4.8121 | 2.052 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
December weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aruba | 83°F | 81°F | 1.4 in | 11 h |
| Curaçao | 83°F | 81°F | 1.9 in | 11 h |
| Bonaire | 82°F | 81°F | 1.8 in | 11 h |
| Barbados | 82°F | 81°F | 1.7 in | 11 h |
| St. Lucia | 83°F | 81°F | 1.2 in | 11 h |
| Grenada | 82°F | 81°F | 4.1 in | 11 h |
| Dominica | 82°F | 80°F | 2.5 in | 11 h |
| Martinique | 82°F | 80°F | 2.1 in | 11 h |
| San Juan | 83°F | 77°F | 2.3 in | 11 h |
| Antigua | 82°F | 80°F | 1.8 in | 11 h |
| Guadeloupe | 82°F | 79°F | 2.6 in | 11 h |
| Cartagena | 86°F | 81°F | 1.2 in | 12 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
- 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 →
Southern Caribbean in December: FAQs
Is December a good time to cruise Southern Caribbean?
Yes, it's one of the best months. Aruba’s Christmas season brings gaita music and holiday lights to Oranjestad, and Curaçao sees out December 31 with pagara, enormous strings of firecrackers set off outside businesses. Dry, breezy weather settles across the region, ideal for hiking St. Lucia or Grenada. Holiday sailings are the priciest of the year, while early December is quiet.
What is the weather like on a Southern Caribbean cruise in December?
Across Southern Caribbean cruise ports, December brings average highs around 83°F (28°C) and lows near 80°F, with about 2 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 Southern 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 Southern Caribbean?
Year-round; best December to April. The ABC islands stay a good bet even in hurricane season (June 1 to November 30).. 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, Eastern Caribbean, Western 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.