If you’re like many people, summer is your favorite time of year. During the months of June, July and August, you can’t get enough outdoor cookouts, nature hikes, bike rides and water fun. You hate to see the season end, but if you’re wondering how to extend your summer, there’s nothing better than a fall cruise to a tropical climate. Discover why cruising is the best way to make summer seem endless.
Island Weather is Warm and Balmy
When it comes to endless summer weather, few cruise destinations beat the Caribbean Islands and The Bahamas. In these tropical locales, average temperatures hover near 80 degrees Fahrenheit year round, which allows you to engage in all sorts of summertime activities like sunbathing, swimming, hiking, biking, fishing and picnicking. You can find better deals on cruises to these beautiful destinations to extend your summer, including islands in the southern Caribbean Islands like Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.
Spend Time Just Soaking Up Sun
If you’re hoping to relax and soak up the sun, there’s no shortage of places to do it on a tropical island cruise in autumn. Start with your ship. Whether you’re into lounging by the pool while the kids swim or relaxing in a cabana at the adults-only retreat, cruise ships offer plenty of options.
When your ship pulls into your dream destination, you may find a variety of beautiful beaches swathed with sugar-like sand. You can spend your time sunbathing and exploring lighthouses or opt for an indulgent shore excursion featuring private chefs and bartenders and your choice of lounge chairs, beach beds or hammocks.
Opportunities for Water Activities
On board your cruise ship or on shore, the opportunities for water fun are many. Kids and adults enjoy zipping down twisty waterslides, and some cruise ships even have side-by-side slides for the most enjoyable racing challenge. If a day at the pool sounds just right, many Carnival cruises offer two pools, each with unique features. Aft pools have dramatic views of the sea and the ship’s wake, and mid-ship pools feature activities of all kinds. Many ships even feature dive-in movies. You can watch blockbuster flicks from the pool, or settle into a comfy lounge chair on deck with a cozy blanket and popcorn.
At featured ports of call, cruise passengers relish a variety of unique opportunities for fun in the water including snorkeling through colorful coral reefs, swimming with stingrays or dolphins and riding horses through the surf. For more water adventures, try fishing, body surfing, diving, sailing, boating, kayaking and riding in semi-submersible submarines.
Tropical Locations Offer Stunning Natural Scenery
Part of the fun of summer is connecting with nature. On a fall cruise, you’ll spend most of your time outdoors enjoying various natural environments, including sand, sea, mountains, rivers, rain forests and botanical gardens. Just a few activities offering stunning, natural views include:
- Touring islands by bicycle or rail
- Sail the day away on a luxury yacht
- Riding camels through the desert
- Kayaking through mangrove forests
- Parasailing through Key West
- White water rafting
- Watching for whales by boat
- Exploring mountain trails by ATV
- Taking a coastal Jeep safari
- Swimming in forest Cenotes
- Boarding aerial rides on ship and shore
Cruising is Fun and Relaxing
Summertime is all about relaxing and having fun, and a fall cruise prolongs that experience. In addition to the Caribbean and The Bahamas, sunny locales like Hawaii and the Mexican Baja also offer a laid-back vibe, perfect for stretching out your summer. While visiting these warm-weather destinations, you can spend your time tasting the local cuisine, shopping at outdoor markets, listening to live bands on the beach, exploring ancient ruins and touring more historic sites.
While you’re onboard, find your bliss with a massage at the spa, enjoy music and cocktails at the rum bar, channel your inner chef with a cooking class, play a rousing game of ping pong or chill out in a lounge chair with a good novel.
A Variety of Summertime Treats Keep You Cool
On a tropical autumn vacation, there’s nothing like a cold adult beverage for keeping cool. Rum punch in The Bahamas, sunset cocktails in Aruba or iced margaritas in Mexico — there’s something to suit every traveler, and your choices get even better on board the ship. With an array of brew pubs, bars and mixology activities, it’s easy to wet your whistle with a frosty beverage.
Kids can also cool off in a number of delicious ways. Carnival cruise ships offer frozen yogurt and soft-serve ice cream 24-7 at Swirls on Lido deck, and the Shake Spot serves up a variety of handcrafted milk shakes and tasty floats. With the Bottomless Bubbles program, your kids can visit the lobby to have all the soda and juice they desire for the entire length of your cruise.
Stretch Out Summer and Save Money
Stretching out your summer doesn’t have to break the bank. If you book early, you can get an up to 20 percent discount off the price of your fall cruise. Just think of all the summer fun you can have with the money you’ll save.
Although summer may be coming to a close in your neck of the woods, the weather is balmy year round in other parts of the world. If you want to revel in the magic of summer for a bit longer, consider cruising to warm and sunny destinations for that endless summer feel.
Note: Onboard activities, shore excursions, and dining options may vary by ship and destination.