Cruises in January 2027: where to go and what to expect
January is one of the best months of the year for a warm-weather cruise: the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and the Panama Canal are all in their best season, and fares drop after the New Year peak. Alaska, Northern Europe and most of the Mediterranean are out of season.
Book it if
- You want the Caribbean at its most settled.
- You'd like Hawaii in whale season.
- Your dates are flexible outside the MLK weekend.
Skip it if
- You need a Europe or Alaska itinerary.
- You can only travel over the MLK long weekend and want a deal.
- Cold sea days put you off: departures from the Northeast start in winter weather.
Where you can cruise in January 2027
Regions with the most departures in January 2027, from the sailings we track. Each button opens Cruisebound with that region and month already filtered.
Caribbean
294 sailings, from $264 per person
See Caribbean in JanuaryEurope
221 sailings, from $130 per person
See Europe in JanuaryBahamas
201 sailings, from $139 per person
See Bahamas in JanuaryMexico
146 sailings, from $199 per person
See Mexico in JanuaryMediterranean
139 sailings, from $130 per person
See Mediterranean in JanuaryPanama Canal
16 sailings, from $798 per person
See Panama Canal in January
Prices checked October 2026; fares change daily. See every cruise departing in January 2027
Where to cruise in January 2027
Best this month: The Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal. 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.
Best this month
- The CaribbeanMost settled weather of the year, after the holiday price peak.From $264 per personChecked October 2026
- HawaiiMain season for mainland round trips, and humpback whale season.From $1,150 per personChecked October 2026
- MexicoDry season on the Mexican Riviera; Western Caribbean at its best.From $199 per personChecked October 2026
- Panama CanalDry season: less rain on canal day, busiest and priciest.From $798 per personChecked October 2026
Possible, with trade-offs
- Mediterranean and EuropeVery few ships; western Med and Canary Islands only.From $130 per personChecked October 2026
Holidays and school breaks
Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, January 18, 2027, so sailings around that long weekend fill first. The rest of January has no federal holiday, and most schools are back after the New Year break, which is why fares usually drop once the New Year week is over. For the holiday weeks just before, see our Christmas and New Year cruise picks.
Hawaii in whale season
Humpback whales are usually in Hawaiian waters from November to April, and NOAA puts the peak from January through March. A January Hawaii cruise lands in the middle of it. Our Hawaii cruise guide covers the round trips and the longer sailings from the West Coast.
Sample January 2027 sailings
| Departs | Line and ship | Nights | Itinerary | From | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2027 | costa, Costa Pacifica | 7 | 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise (from Barcelona Spain) | $583 | Check price |
| Jan 1, 2027 | costa, Costa Toscana | 7 | 7 Night Western Mediterranean Cruise (from Civitavecchia (Rome) Italy) | $931 | Check price |
| Jan 1, 2027 | MSC Cruises, MSC Bellissima | 4 | 4 Night Far East Cruise (from Keelung (Taipei) Taiwan) | $607 | Check price |
| Jan 1, 2027 | MSC Cruises, MSC Fantasia | 7 | 7 Night Canary Islands Cruise (from Las Palmas Gran Canaria Canary Islands) | $847 | Check price |
| Jan 1, 2027 | MSC Cruises, MSC Opera | 14 | 14 Night Caribbean Cruise (from Fort-de-France Martinique) | $1,858 | Check price |
| Jan 1, 2027 | MSC Cruises, MSC Preziosa | 7 | 7 Night Europe - Northern Cruise (from Southampton England) | $726 | Check price |
| Jan 1, 2027 | MSC Cruises, MSC World Asia | 7 | 7 Night Mediterranean - Western Cruise (from Barcelona Spain) | $961 | Check price |
| Jan 2, 2027 | AmaWaterways, AmaNubia | 11 | 11 Night Secrets Of Egypt & The Nile (from Luxor/Karnak (Safaga) Egypt) | $7,089 | Check price |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Breeze | 4 | 5 Day Western Caribbean (from Galveston Texas) | $466 | Check price |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Freedom | 4 | 5 Day Bahamas (from Port Canaveral Florida) | $344 | Check price |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Panorama | 7 | 8 Day Mexican Riviera (from Los Angeles California) | $488 | Check price |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Carnival Cruise Line, Mardi Gras | 6 | 7 Day Eastern Caribbean (from Port Canaveral Florida) | $598 | Check price |
January cruise FAQ
Is January a good time to cruise?
Yes, for warm-weather routes. It’s dry season in the Caribbean, on the Mexican Riviera and along the Panama Canal, and fares usually fall after New Year.
Where is the best place to cruise in January?
The Caribbean for most people, Hawaii for whale season, and the Panama Canal for a longer trip in the dry season.
Other months: February. See every month on our cruises by month page.