Where to cruise in February

• 80°F avg high

  Caribbean

  February brings the most dependable sunshine of the year, which is why Presidents’ Day week and mid-winter school breaks sell out early. Carnival season, which peaks in February or early March depending on when Easter falls, fills the streets of Aruba, Curaçao, Cozumel and the French islands. If your dates are fixed, reserve well ahead; flexible travelers find better value in the first week of the month.

• 69°F avg high

  Hawaii

  February continues peak whale-watching, and Maui’s whale festival season keeps the harbors busy with boats. Temperatures sit in the upper 70s to low 80s °F, with cooler evenings and passing showers. Presidents’ Day week and Valentine’s getaways push up demand on Pride of America sailings, so reserve early.

• 81°F avg high

  Mexican Riviera & Baja

  Mazatlán’s Carnaval, one of the largest in Mexico, fills the Malecón with parades and fireworks in the days before Lent, and Ensenada and La Paz hold their own celebrations. Whale watching remains excellent, and the weather is consistently dry. Presidents’ Day week fills up quickly.

• 85°F avg high

  Panama Canal & Central America

  Panama’s Carnival, among the biggest in Central America, fills Panama City and Las Tablas with parades and water-soaked street parties in the days before Lent. February is reliably dry, with clear views of the locks and jungle, and it’s prime time for Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Book early for peak dates.

• 73°F avg high

  South America

  Rio’s Carnival, usually in February, transforms the city with Sambadrome parades and neighborhood street parties, and dedicated cruises overnight in port. In Patagonia, young penguins begin to fledge and whale sightings increase in the channels. It’s still peak season, so cabins sell out early.

• 

  Galápagos Islands

  February is one of the warmest months, with water close to 80 °F and calm seas ideal for snorkeling. Flamingos nest on Floreana, and green sea turtle eggs begin hatching. Afternoon showers are brief, and the islands are lush and green.

• 64°F avg high

  Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles

  Carnival month in most years. Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas stage two of Europe’s biggest street carnivals, with costume parades and all-night parties, timed by the date of Easter. Almond trees blossom in Tenerife’s and Gran Canaria’s hills. Occasional calima days bring Saharan dust and a hazy, warm sky.

• 66°F avg high

  Antarctica

  By February, penguin chicks gather in crèches, then begin molting into adult feathers, and some fledge to sea. Humpback and minke whales grow more numerous as krill swarms build, and fur seals spread along the beaches of the South Shetlands. Less sea ice lets ships explore farther south, and long, golden evenings delight photographers.

• 80°F avg high

  Southeast & East Asia

  Lunar New Year usually falls in late January or February, bringing lion dances, lanterns and red decorations to Singapore, Penang, Hong Kong and Vietnam, where it’s called Tết. It’s festive, but many shops and restaurants close for several days and transport is packed. Weather stays dry and sunny across the Gulf of Thailand.

• 76°F avg high

  Australia & New Zealand

  Often New Zealand’s most settled month, with long, warm days and a better chance of calm conditions in Fiordland. With schools back, ships carry fewer families and fares ease slightly. Waitangi Day on February 6 draws big crowds and ceremonies to the Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands.

• 79°F avg high

  Dubai & the Arabian Gulf

  Still pleasant, with highs in the mid-70s °F (24–25°C). Winter shamal winds occasionally blow sand haze across the coast, and brief rain is possible. Ramadan begins in February in 2027 and in late January in 2028, moving about 11 days earlier each year, so check whether it overlaps your dates.

• 84°F avg high

  Africa & the Indian Ocean

  Often Cape Town’s hottest month, and the grape harvest begins in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The Maldives are dry and calm, with excellent visibility for snorkeling. The southwest Indian Ocean’s cyclone season peaks, so Mauritius and Madagascar calls can be rearranged at short notice.

• 69°F avg high

  World cruises

  February usually brings the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand at the height of their summer, with lagoon stops in French Polynesia and long, restful sea days between them. Ships often cross the International Date Line this month. It’s the most popular time to join a segment between Los Angeles, Auckland and Sydney.

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  Nile River

  Around February 22, crowds gather at Abu Simbel before dawn to watch the sun light the statues in the temple’s inner sanctuary. Days are warm and sunny, near 77°F (25°C). Ramadan begins in February in 2027, which can shorten site and shop hours, so check your dates.

• 83°F avg high

  Mekong River

  Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, usually falls in late January or February. Sa Dec’s flower villages supply blooms for the holiday, and towns fill with decorations, though many businesses close for several days. Skies stay dry and sunny, and low water may begin to limit how far upstream ships can sail.

• Bahamas75°F / 73°F · 1.2 in rain

  February is dry and mild, perfect for walking Nassau’s forts and Bay Street, though the water is still cool enough that some swimmers stick to the pool. Valentine’s and Presidents’ Day long weekends fill 3-night sailings fast. Private-island lagoons and water parks are sheltered, so a breezy day matters less there than on open beaches.

• Mississippi River65°F / 52°F · 3.7 in rain

  Mardi Gras season fills New Orleans with parades in the weeks before Lent, and some cruises start or end around the big parade weekends, so you can catch a krewe rolling down St. Charles Avenue. The weather is mild in Louisiana, though cold snaps happen. Hotels for Mardi Gras weekend sell out early and are expensive.

• Carnival season

  Carnival dates move with Easter. When it falls in February, ports like Rio, Port of Spain and New Orleans (Mardi Gras) are at their liveliest, and busiest.

• Whale season continues

  Humpbacks in Hawaii and gray whales off Baja are still around, and February is often one of the best months to see them.

• Panama Canal crossings

  The dry season on the isthmus runs from roughly December to April, which suits a full or partial canal transit.

Ports in regions that are in a good or best month in February, 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 Baltimore
• Cruises from Fort Lauderdale
• Cruises from Galveston (Houston)
• Cruises from Honolulu
• Cruises from Jacksonville
• Cruises from Long Beach
• Cruises from Los Angeles
• Cruises from Miami
• Cruises from Mobile
• Cruises from New Orleans
• Cruises from Norfolk
• Cruises from Palm Beach
• Cruises from Port Canaveral (Orlando)
• Cruises from San Diego
• Cruises from San Juan
• Cruises from Tampa
• Cruises from Auckland
• Cruises from Buenos Aires
• Cruises from Cape Town
• Cruises from Dubai
• Cruises from Hong Kong
• Cruises from Santiago (San Antonio & Valparaíso)
• Cruises from Santos (São Paulo)
• Cruises from Singapore
• Cruises from Sydney
• Cruises from Ushuaia