Where to Find a Cruise Weather Forecast

Ever been frustrated trying to find a cruise weather forecast? Sometimes you plan for more than a year and make payments every week. You choose excursions carefully and make restaurant reservations. And then, it’s time to figure out what the weather will be for your long-awaited vacation with family and friends.

But how are you supposed to know what to pack when you can’t find a cruise weather forecast for your future departure date? Plus your 7-day cruise stops in several different locations that will have different weather.

Your heart tells you it will be bright sunshine and perfect temperatures for those new shorts and shirts you purchased. But your brain tells you that the weather rarely cooperates according to your best laid plans.

TWO TYPES OF CRUISE WEATHER

There are two kinds of weather you need to prepare for on a cruise:

1. Weather at the ports – when you’re boarding and exiting the ship and when you’re stopping along the way for an excursion
2. Weather along the route – when you’re enjoying an “at sea” day or heading from one port to the next

Because you know where your ship plans to stop on which date, you can look for a cruise weather forecast for those dates 10-14 days in advance. Most weather apps go out about two weeks but anything longer than that isn’t reliable.

ACCURATE CRUISE WEATHER FORECASTS ARE SHORT-TERM

Most TV forecasters and weather apps only show you up to a 7-day forecast, because according to NOAA’s Scijinks site, 7-day forecasts are about 80% accurate. Anything beyond seven days is more of a lucky guess than an educated guess. Some two-week forecasts perform “okay” but are highly weighted with climatology and yearly averages. They focus more on what the weather “should be” rather than what it “will be.”

90-day forecasts are just plain ridiculous and pretty much pointless when you’re looking for specific daily information. Don’t rely on those outlooks or the Farmer’s Almanac to help with your cruise weather forecast.

So, months before your cruise begins, how are you supposed to pack? You aren’t.

Say what?!

PROCRASTINATE WITH PACKING

I know for you organized planners (like me!) this is a tough one, but try to wait and pack within a week from the start of your cruise. Then use a reputable phone app to get an “idea” of what kinds of cruise weather you can expect.

If you need to get a head start, think layers. Whether you’re headed to the Caribbean or Alaska, prepare for all kinds of weather. Here are a few ideas:

• Sweaters, jackets, hoodies that can slip on or off as you need them
• Umbrella, hat, rain coat or poncho in case of rain during your excursions
• Hat, sunglasses, shirts with UV protection and/or moisture-wicking for the hot, sunny days
• All the shoes: comfortable walking shoes for excursions, dressy shoes for evening dinners, cool shoes for the pool, warm shoes if you’re headed to a cold spot

Of course, most cruise line’s websites have a what to pack section with ideas on what to wear on specific excursions and on special themed days on the ship. Be sure to read carefully before finalizing the suitcase.

BEWARE OF CRUISE WEATHER FORECASTS FROM AN APP

Weather apps are only as accurate as the computer model used to make its forecasts. Real people don’t add real forecast numbers to every app forecast you see. If you’re using an app to see what it will be like on a specific date three weeks from now in Nassau, Bahamas, know that the app WILL be wrong. You can get an “idea” of the weather by looking at normals and averages for a certain location at a certain time of year, but remember that the weather is rarely normal or average.

As I write this from Orlando, the average high temperature in July is 92°. Only ONE day so far, from July 1-16, has been 92° in 2024. Weather is rarely normal or average every single day. But if your cruise leaves from Port Canaveral, FL in July, it helps to know that the AVERAGE high is 92° versus the average high of 72° in January.

Many popular phone weather apps are free and include a forecast from three days up to 10-14 days. Most also include real-time radar (to see where it’s raining now) and other features like watches and warnings worldwide, lightning alerts and hurricane trackers. Just be sure to download them to your smart phone before you get on the ship to save on WiFi/data fees onboard. You can use in advance to help with packing, or onboard to see current weather in real-time.

WHAT ABOUT CRUISE WEATHER WEBSITES?

A few websites break down cruise weather using general climate data. (Again, think, “What weather should I expect?” NOT, “What weather will I get?”) You can do an internet search for “cruise weather” to see several different websites. Some promise a forecast for a year from now. That’s not really a forecast. It’s going to be based on average weather, not actual weather, for that location.

You can find average temperatures for cruise home ports in the United States on the U.S. Climate Data website.

If you’re looking for average weather in other parts of the world, check Climates to Travel. This site also has the average hours of sunshine, best months to travel, and ideas on what to pack.

PAY ATTENTION TO BIG WEATHER EVENTS LEADING UP TO YOUR CRUISE

You might see on your local newscast that a big weather event is occurring near your cruise destination: a hurricane headed toward the Caribbean or rain flooding cities in Australia.

Listen for weather alerts or warnings for the area of your voyage. Many of the notices will come directly from your cruise line. Some cruise companies have text alerts and email notifications if you sign up on their websites.

Also, news reports often use broad terms rather than specifics. For instance, 700 islands make up the country of The Bahamas. If you hear a hurricane is headed to “the Bahamas,” pay attention to which islands will be impacted. It’s totally possible that only a few islands will feel effects from the storm, and it may not be anywhere near your port of call.

BE PREPARED AND STAY FLEXIBLE

Even if you’re a “packing pro,” Mother Nature does what she’s going to do. Weather constantly changes. That means the cruise weather for which you planned might have changed, too. Your ship’s Captain and crew will avoid rainy areas while at sea and in route if possible in order to provide the best sailing experience.

Of course, the onboard team also looks to avoid thunderstorms and hurricanes which can sometimes lead to an itinerary change. 

Keep these tips in mind to prepare for both port cruise weather and route cruise weather:

1. Pack for all types of weather (even if the forecast says “sunshine” every day)
2. Know that your Captain and ship’s crew are trained to keep you safe
3. Remember ships can withstand (and steer clear of) many types of inclement weather
4. Stay flexible knowing your itinerary could change to avoid wind or rain
5. Listen to alerts before your cruise and to announcements while on board
6. Purchase travel insurance “just in case”

Now that you have a handle on how cruise weather forecasts work – and don’t work – go finish packing, be safe, and HAVE FUN!

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~ Meteorologist Amy Sweezey serves as a Weather Contributor for Carnival Cruise Line.