Best December Cruises from Florida: Itineraries and Prices
Short answer: The best December cruise from Florida depends on your time and budget: choose a 4- or 5-night sailing for a shorter Bahamas-area or western Caribbean trip, or a 7- to 12-night cruise for more Eastern or Southern Caribbean ports. Sample December 2026 itineraries depart from Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa, with listed starting fares ranging from $371 to $2,767 per person in the examples below.
December brings options from short island trips to longer holiday voyages. The main trade-offs are trip length, route, and departure date. The examples below are scheduled for December 2026, and listed fare examples are as of October 30, 2026.
What are the best December cruises from Florida?
The best fit is a 4-night Fort Lauderdale cruise for a short break, a 5-night Tampa cruise for a western Caribbean route, or a 7-night sailing from Port Canaveral or Miami for a longer island itinerary. If you have more time, the Fort Lauderdale examples include 10- and 12-night Southern Caribbean voyages.
| Trip style | Sample sailing | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Short break | 4 nights from Fort Lauderdale; Key West and Bimini | A compact itinerary with two named calls |
| Western Caribbean | 5 nights from Tampa; Grand Cayman and Cozumel | Travelers looking for a five-night cruise |
| Eastern Caribbean | 7 nights from Port Canaveral; St. Maarten, San Juan, and Perfect Day at CocoCay | A full week with a mix of island calls |
| Longer Caribbean | 10 nights from Fort Lauderdale; Tortola, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis | More nights and a broader port list |
These are examples, not a complete schedule of every line or departure. A sample 8-day Miami cruise adds Half Moon Cay, San Juan, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas; a 12-night holiday sailing from Fort Lauderdale lists Southern Caribbean ports including St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Barbados, and Curaçao.
For a family comparing holiday plans, browse our family Christmas vacation ideas. If you are planning time in the Keys before or after sailing, see our guide to a December beach vacation in Key West.
Which Florida cruise port should you choose?
Choose the port that best matches your departure point and preferred itinerary; there is no single best Florida port for every traveler. Miami has dedicated cruise terminals for lines including MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line, while Port Canaveral lists Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, MSC, Princess, Celebrity, and Norwegian among its homeported lines.
Tampa is another option, with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, and Margaritaville at Sea listed as homeported cruise lines. The sample Tampa sailing is a 5-night Carnival Paradise cruise scheduled for December 21–26, 2026, with Grand Cayman and Cozumel as calls.
For a short Fort Lauderdale sailing, the sample 4-night Celebrity Reflection itinerary departs December 14, 2026, and calls at Key West and Bimini. PortMiami’s official cruise terminal information and Port Canaveral’s homeported cruise line list can help you check which lines operate from those ports.
What are December cruise itineraries from Florida like?
December itineraries range from short Bahamas-area trips to longer Eastern and Southern Caribbean routes. The sample 4-night Fort Lauderdale sailing visits Key West and Bimini, while the 5-night Tampa example visits Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
For a week-long option, a Royal Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral on December 5, 2026, is listed as a 7-night round trip, returning December 12. Its calls include St. Maarten, San Juan, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The Miami sample is an 8-day cruise scheduled for December 18–26, 2026, with Half Moon Cay, San Juan, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.
Longer trips can reach farther south. A 10-night Celebrity Eclipse sailing from Fort Lauderdale is scheduled for December 12, 2026, with calls including Tortola, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis. The December 22 holiday sailing is 12 nights and includes Southern Caribbean calls such as Barbados and Curaçao. Cruise lines can change ports for weather, safety, or operational reasons, so check the current itinerary when booking and before departure.
Compare the Royal Caribbean 7-night Port Canaveral cruise with Celebrity’s 10-night Southern Caribbean sailing.
What is the weather like on a Florida cruise in December?
Florida departure weather can be mild or cool, so plan for layers rather than assuming every embarkation day will feel like beach weather. Tampa’s 1991–2020 December climate normals show an average high of 73.9°F, an average low of 55.9°F, and an average temperature of 64.9°F.
South Florida climate normals are available through the National Weather Service for Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Naples. In the Florida Keys, the National Weather Service describes December through April as the dry season, accounting for just under 25% of the Keys’ annual rainfall. Climate normals provide seasonal context; check local conditions close to your trip.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. December is outside those dates, but the National Hurricane Center notes that tropical cyclone activity can occur beyond them. For seasonal context, consult the National Hurricane Center’s hurricane season information and the National Weather Service South Florida climate page.
Are December cruises from Florida warm enough for swimming?
Some itineraries include beach destinations, but whether swimming feels comfortable depends on the day and conditions at the beach or pool. The sample routes include calls such as Bimini, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Caribbean islands, so you can plan for beach time without assuming every stop will have the same weather.
Pack a swimsuit if swimming is part of your plan, along with a light layer for the ship and Florida embarkation day. For a land stay around Key West, our Key West December guide covers the seasonal context for that destination.
How much do December cruises from Florida cost?
In the sample fares listed as of October 30, 2026, starting prices ranged from $371 to $2,767 per person, or $741 to $5,534 per room for two guests. The examples vary in length and date, so this range compares specific sailings rather than like-for-like prices for the same cruise.
| Sample cruise | Listed starting fare | As of |
|---|---|---|
| 4 nights, Fort Lauderdale, December 14, 2026 | $371 per person; $741 per room | October 30, 2026 |
| 7 nights, Port Canaveral, December 5, 2026 | $873 per person; $1,745 per room | October 30, 2026 |
| 10 nights, Fort Lauderdale, December 12, 2026 | $1,324 per person; $2,647 per room | October 30, 2026 |
| 12 nights, Fort Lauderdale, December 22, 2026 | $2,767 per person; $5,534 per room | October 30, 2026 |
The listed fare pages stated that taxes and fees were included for these examples. Compare the exact cabin category, dates, and checkout total rather than relying on the starting fare alone. The holiday sailing is one example of a longer Christmas-week trip at a different price point from the shorter early-December cruises.
For more ways to compare seasonal trip budgets, see our affordable December getaway ideas.
How should you choose a December cruise from Florida?
Start with the number of nights your travel group can take off. A 4- or 5-night sailing keeps the trip shorter, a 7-night cruise gives you a full week, and 10 or 12 nights work for travelers who want a longer route and more port calls.
- Choose by route: Pick an itinerary you are excited about, not only the ship or departure port.
- Compare dates: Check early-December dates against the exact holiday dates you can travel.
- Check the total: Compare the cabin category and checkout price for the same number of guests.
- Plan for mixed temperatures: Bring swimwear and light layers, including a warmer top for cooler Florida conditions.
Simple packing list: swimsuit, lightweight layers, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, any required medications, and a small day bag for port stops. Check the forecast for your Florida departure city shortly before leaving.
Frequently asked questions
Which Florida port has the best December cruise itineraries?
It depends on the route and cruise line you want. The examples include short Fort Lauderdale trips, a 5-night Tampa cruise, and 7-night options from Port Canaveral and Miami.
Are there 4- or 5-night December cruises from Florida?
Yes. The examples include a 4-night Fort Lauderdale sailing to Key West and Bimini and a 5-night Tampa sailing to Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
Is December a good time to take a Caribbean cruise from Florida?
December offers itineraries from Florida to the Bahamas and Caribbean, and it falls outside the official Atlantic hurricane season dates. Florida weather can still vary, so check the forecast and itinerary close to departure.
Are December cruises more expensive around Christmas and New Year's?
The sample December 22 holiday cruise had a higher listed starting fare than the shorter sample sailings earlier in the month. Compare exact dates, trip length, cabin category, and checkout price because prices vary by sailing.