Cruises in August 2027: where to go and what to expect

Where to cruise in August 2027

The best places to cruise in August are in the north, plus Bermuda. No region is at its peak this month, but most summer routes are still running. Each region below links to its full guide, with the lines that sail there and the ports they leave from. Ratings follow the “best time to go” advice in our destination guides.

Also in season

• AlaskaStill warm with good wildlife, but more rain and shorter days.
  From $476 per personChecked October 2026
• BermudaWarmest water and the most families aboard.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• Canada and New EnglandWarm, cheaper than foliage season, fewer crowds late in the month.
  From $539 per personChecked October 2026
• Mediterranean and EuropeHot and crowded in the south; heat waves are common.
  From $441 per personChecked October 2026
• GreeceHot and crowded early in the month; windy.
  From $441 per personChecked October 2026
• Northern Europe, Iceland and NorwayStill warm by northern standards; Iceland and Arctic routes running.
  From $1,240 per personChecked October 2026

Possible, with trade-offs

• The CaribbeanHurricane season builds from mid-month; low fares.
  From $1,012 per personChecked October 2026
• HawaiiPride of America only; warm and dry.
  Fares change daily; check current prices
• MexicoHot, humid, hurricane season; lower fares.
  Fares change daily; check current prices

Holidays and school breaks

There is no U.S. public holiday in August, and Labor Day falls on Monday, September 6, 2027. School years start district by district. Many districts go back in the first half of August and others wait until after Labor Day, so family demand drops through the month. Late-August sailings are usually quieter than July’s, with fewer children aboard.

Alaska cruise in August: weather and what to pack

August is the start of the slide toward fall in Alaska. Travel Alaska, the state tourism office, gives Juneau an average range of 50 to 60°F for the month, says rain becomes more common, and puts daylight at about 14 to 15 hours. The first signs of fall show near the end of the month. Fares are usually below July’s peak, and September is cheaper still.

What to wear on an Alaskan cruise in August is the same as in any summer month, with more weight on rain gear:

• a waterproof jacket with a hood, and shoes that can get wet
• a warm mid-layer such as a fleece
• a hat and gloves for the glacier day, when you stand on deck for hours
• binoculars
• one smart outfit if your line has dressy evenings

Layers work better than one heavy coat, because a dry afternoon in port can feel mild and a morning at a glacier does not. Our best cruise lines for Alaska ranking covers which line to pick, and most round trips leave from Seattle or Vancouver.

Europe in August: go north

The Mediterranean is hot and crowded in August, and heat waves are a real risk in Greece and southern Europe. If August is your only window, Northern Europe is the better choice: Norway, Iceland and the British Isles are still mild by northern standards and most routes are running. The midnight sun is over on the Norwegian mainland by then (it ends at the North Cape on July 29), but evenings stay light. It lasts until August 22 only in Svalbard.

One date stands out in 2027: a total solar eclipse on August 2. Princess has two 14-day sailings timed to be at sea for it, Sky Princess from Southampton and Enchanted Princess from Civitavecchia (Rome). Both leave in late July, so look for them among July departures. Our Europe cruise guide has the full season.

Hurricane season: the Caribbean, Bermuda and Mexico

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center puts the peak at September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. For a Caribbean cruise, that makes the first half of August a lower-risk choice than the second. Fares are usually among the lowest of the year from late August, which is the trade.

Bermuda is at its warmest: Go To Bermuda gives an average of about 85°F in August, with the water peaking at 84°F. It sits inside the same hurricane season, so a late-August sailing carries more risk of a changed route than one in June or July.

On the Pacific side, the season runs from May 15 to November 30 with a smaller peak in late August, so Mexico is hot, humid and exposed to storms this month.

Late August: Canada and New England start up

The fall Canada and New England season begins in late August. In 2027, Princess and Norwegian both start their sailings then, from New York, Boston and Philadelphia. These first weeks are warmer and cheaper than the foliage sailings of late September and October, without the fall color.

Sample August 2027 sailings

August cruise FAQ

Other months: July, September. See every month on our cruises by month page.