High season for Carnival Caribbean cruises is from February to mid-April, late June to August and Christmas and New Year's weeks. According to Cruise Critic, "the two main groups of cruisers sailing in the peak season are families off from school and northerners seeking a respite from the cold."
Summer is a great time for families to travel together, and many children's programs and activities are on board. Carnival plans many festive events during the Christmas and New Year's weeks, making them a prime travel time. The main drawback to traveling during high season is the price; most Carnival cruises will charge full rate.
Low season for Carnival Caribbean cruises--the time when fewer people are booking cruises--is from late April to May and from September to early January, with the exception of holiday weeks. This is a great time to travel with Carnival because fares are often reduced by hundreds of dollars, the ships are far less crowded and the number of children on board is greatly reduced.
June to November is hurricane season in the Caribbean, with the highest risk being from August to November. You won't find many discounts from June to August as this is a popular time for families to travel; however, after Labor Day, Carnival reduces prices. Vance Gulliksen, public relations manager for Carnival Cruise Lines, said in a 2006 USA Today article that although there is some risk traveling during these months, the cruise line "has 1,300 voyages per yea r... very few of those are impacted by hurricanes."
In the case of a hurricane or tropical storm watch, the ship's itinerary will change and guests will be taken to a safer port. Carnival will reimburse guests $20 to $25 a day for each missed port, and guests will receive a credit for missed days or canceled cruises.
