American Cruise Line has fun options for the fall. (American Cruise Lines)
Are you thinking about taking a cruise vacation in the late fall?
Cruising during the autumn affords some fantastic seasonal sailings. From checking out the changing colors while sailing along the Northeast to celebrating warmer weather down in the Caribbean, here are some of fall's best cruise trips.
Fall for foliage.
Like cruises to Alaska, those in Canada and New England are offered seasonally, usually in the summer from around May to October. But now is the time to book travel to catch fiery fall foliage as the autumn leaves change color. Cruise options in these parts include smaller expedition ship adventures and larger ones aboard mainstream lines.
Intimate itineraries can be found on American Cruise Lines’ American Star. Its eight day Hudson River Cruises itinerary roundtrip from New York City visits Poughkeepsie, Troy/Albany, Kingston, West Point, Sleepy Hollow and more. The dramatic Catskill Mountains and Taconic and Berkshire Hills skirt the river route. Rates aboard the 100-guest ship start at $3,545 per person.
To save some money, travelers can opt to sail on a larger ship, like the Regal Princess from Princess Cruises, which is offering North American trips beginning at $599 per person. The five day voyage also departs roundtrip from New York City with fewer stops at Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Disney offers fun fall cruises. (Disney Cruise Line)
Halloween on the high seas.
If warmer weather is more your speed, don a crazy costume and celebrate the Halloween holiday at sea, where parties and other activities are hosted on board several lines including Carnival Cruise Line to Disney Cruise Line.
Carnival fleet guests will be in for a spooky good time as its ships feature everything from costume contests and pumpkin carving to Halloween film screenings and photo-ops. The line’s Carnival Breeze, for example, leaves from Galveston, Texas for a weeklong voyage on Oct. 30 with prices beginning at $469 per person. Guests will enjoy Halloween on a sea day before visiting Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico.
On the Disney Cruise Line, its signature Halloween on the High Seas festivities will be under way with Mickey Mouse and friends dressed up alongside passengers for family-friendly fun. Only on Disney will you also find Jack Skellington and Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” along for the ride. A three-night Oct. 28 sailing on the premium Disney Dream starts at $1,650 per person. Cruises are also scheduled on the Disney Magic and Disney Fantasy. The Disney Wonder is sitting the 2016 holiday out as it’s redesigned with new features during this time.
Enjoy Thanksgiving Turkey on board this ship. (Royal Caribbean)
A Thanksgiving cruise feast.
This holiday season, be thankful for a little vacation. Celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends on one of many cruise lines putting out the spread like Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.
West Coast residents will enjoy Norwegian’s five day Mexican Riviera departure roundtrip from Los Angeles on Nov. 20 with rates beginning at $519 per person. Besides enjoying all of the fixings – which the line says includes “festive-themed menus and sumptuous array of dinner and dessert options” – guests will visit Cabo San Lucas before returning home.
Also serving up turkey day meals is Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas. The trip leaves from Miami on Thanksgiving day, for a five night roundtrip out to Key West, Fla. and Cozumel, Mexico, before sailing back to Miami. Prices start at $198 per person.
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