Where to cruise in August

• 65°F avg high

  Alaska

  August is the top month for bears fishing salmon streams, and humpbacks are often bubble-net feeding in Icy Strait and Chatham Strait. It’s still mild, but rain becomes more frequent late in the month, especially around Ketchikan. Darkness returns at night, bringing the first chance of spotting the northern lights from the deck.

• 75°F avg high

  Canada & New England

  August is warm and reliable, with Acadian Day on August 15 bringing noisy tintamarre parades to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and peak whale watching in the St. Lawrence. Late in the month the first hurricane remnants can churn up the Gulf of Maine, but summer sailings rarely change course.

• 66°F avg high

  Northern Europe

  Edinburgh hosts the Fringe and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo all month, filling the city on British Isles calls. The Baltic stays warm and Iceland’s season is at its peak, while Norway’s nights begin to darken again by month’s end. A strong month everywhere, though still busy and expensive.

• 52°F avg high

  Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic

  Svalbard’s sea ice is near its yearly minimum, giving expedition ships the best chance of reaching far north. Reykjavík’s Culture Night fills the streets with concerts and fireworks. Puffins leave their cliffs during the month, and northern-route transatlantic voyages begin sailing late in August.

• 73°F avg high

  Tahiti & the South Pacific

  Often the driest month, with humpbacks common around Moorea and Tahiti, best seen with licensed whale-watching operators. Trade winds can make lagoon passes choppy on some days. French families on summer holiday add to the crowds in Bora Bora and Moorea.

• Southern Caribbean85°F / 82°F · 3.7 in rain

  Barbados crowns Crop Over with Grand Kadooment on the first Monday of August, and Grenada’s Spicemas carnival follows a week or so later. Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire are hot, sunny and largely outside the storm belt, so ABC itineraries are the top choice from Florida this month. Volcanic islands farther north are wetter and more exposed.

• Bermuda84°F / 73°F · 3.9 in rain

  August is the warmest month, and the water is at its best for snorkeling wrecks and reefs. Hurricane activity rises, and Bermuda sits in a part of the Atlantic where many storms curve north, so the occasional sailing is delayed or rerouted. Fares soften once schools return toward the end of the month.

• Hawaii81°F / 72°F · 1.9 in rain

  August is among the hottest months, with the warmest sea and, in some years, tropical storms passing south of the islands. Hawaii marks Statehood Day on the third Friday of the month. Crowds thin once mainland schools resume late in August, and humid days make early starts on the volcano and canyon tours worthwhile.

• Galápagos Islands

  August is among the coolest and roughest months, with water in the upper 60s °F and swells on overnight crossings. Sea lion pups are born on many islands, Galápagos hawks court, and seabirds are busy. Family travel keeps demand high.

• Mediterranean87°F / 75°F · 1.2 in rain

  Busy, hot and expensive. Much of Italy takes its holiday around Ferragosto on August 15, so some family-run shops close while beaches and ferries overflow. The Aegean’s meltemi wind can make Greek island tender stops bumpy. The upside is the warmest swimming of the year and long, lively evenings ashore.

• Western Europe75°F / 62°F · 1.8 in rain

  Parisians head for the coast, so Paris itself is quieter while Normandy, Brittany and Biscay resorts are packed. Bilbao’s Aste Nagusia festival takes over the city for nine days in the second half of the month. Weather is the warmest of the year, and the Bay of Biscay is usually at its calmest.

• Japan86°F / 77°F · 9 in rain

  Summer festival season: Aomori’s Nebuta Matsuri parades giant illuminated warrior floats from August 2 to 7, fireworks light up summer nights and Kyoto’s mountainside bonfires on August 16 mark the end of Obon, the mid-August holiday when domestic travel peaks. Heat often tops 90°F (32°C), and typhoons become more likely.

• Transatlantic79°F / 71°F · 2.7 in rain

  Late August brings the first northern-route voyages from Northern Europe to New England and Canada via Iceland and Greenland, with long daylight and icebergs drifting in Greenland’s fjords. Queen Mary 2 crossings continue. Atlantic hurricane season ramps up, which can affect southern routes passing near Bermuda.

• Danube River

  Hungary’s St. Stephen’s Day on August 20 ends with a huge fireworks display over the Danube in Budapest. The Salzburg Festival brings opera and concerts within reach of Linz. Late summer is when low water becomes more likely after dry spells, so watch for itinerary changes.

• Rhine River72°F / 60°F · 2.8 in rain

  Rhine in Flames moves to Koblenz, with boats processing past illuminated castles before a big fireworks finale. Late summer brings the highest risk of low water around Kaub after dry spells. Riesling grapes ripen on the steep slopes above the gorge.

• Seine River71°F / 61°F · 2.2 in rain

  Many Parisians leave on vacation, so some bakeries and restaurants close for weeks, while Paris Plages sets up sand and deck chairs along the riverbanks. Normandy’s beaches fill with French families, and Giverny’s dahlias are in full bloom.

• Mekong River87°F / 80°F · 13.4 in rain

  High-water season brings the river to a broad, brown flood and lifts floating villages on their pontoons, while rice paddies glow green. Showers are frequent but rarely last all day. Ships can often reach more of the river, and fares remain lower than in peak season.

• Columbia & Snake Rivers70°F / 57°F · 0.7 in rain

  August is the hottest, driest month, and wildfire smoke can occasionally hide the Gorge cliffs and Cascade volcanoes. The Palouse wheat harvest turns the hills gold, and Columbia Valley winemakers prepare for harvest. Pack a hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle for shore excursions in the high desert.

• Bears and salmon in Alaska

  Late summer salmon runs bring bears to streams near ports like Ketchikan and Juneau. Bear-viewing tours are popular.

• Northern Europe festivals

  Summer festivals across Scotland, Scandinavia and the Baltic make for lively port days.

• Warm Mediterranean sea

  Sea temperatures peak in late summer, which is ideal for beach and swim stops, though it's hot ashore.

Ports in regions that are in a good or best month in August, ranked by average daily high (2015–2024).

Departure ports whose home region is in season. Each guide covers terminals, parking and getting there.

• Cruises from Bayonne (Cape Liberty)
• Cruises from Boston
• Cruises from Honolulu
• Cruises from Montreal
• Cruises from New York City
• Cruises from Quebec City
• Cruises from San Juan
• Cruises from Seattle
• Cruises from Seward (Anchorage)
• Cruises from Vancouver
• Cruises from Whittier (Anchorage)
• Cruises from Amsterdam
• Cruises from Athens
• Cruises from Barcelona
• Cruises from Copenhagen
• Cruises from Dover
• Cruises from Hamburg
• Cruises from Istanbul
• Cruises from Kiel
• Cruises from Lisbon
• Cruises from Papeete (Tahiti)
• Cruises from Reykjavík
• Cruises from Rome
• Cruises from Southampton (London)
• Cruises from Tokyo (Yokohama)