Best Places to Cruise in June
Psst. Want to know a secret?
June is actually one of our favourite months to cruise.
Weather is sun-drenched and balmy (not too hot yet!), landscapes are dappled in shades of gold, those far-flung destinations that sometimes exhibit more extreme conditions are at their mildest and most accessible….what’s not to love?
What’s more, the summer holiday crowds are not flooding these travel hotspots just yet, you can look forward to a more tranquil experience and better opportunities to immerse yourself in culture, landscapes and wildlife without queues of tourists waiting to do the exact same thing. Keep reading to learn more about our favourite cruising destinations for June.
FRENCH POLYNESIA
To be honest, there’s never a bad time to visit paradise so we don’t imagine you’ll need much persuading. But we had to pick the actual, definitive best time, we’d say June.
Not only is it the beginning of dry season (a.k.a. the best weather of the entire year) but you’ll also beat the hordes of French and American tourists who descend on the region later in the summer. That’s right, you’ll practically have Bora Bora’s cerulean lagoons, Tahiti’s lush rainforest trails and all the villages, snorkelling spots and beaches of this jewelled region to yourself. And you won’t be looking over your shoulder for sudden storms either.
That’s right. This June, you could be waking up in a new paradise every single day. Who could refuse?
BRITISH ISLES
Whilst we understand that a cruise around the British Isles may not be your first thing that springs to mind when you’re planning your next getaway, allow us to convince you.
First of all, you won’t have to waste any of your precious holiday faffing around with flights and airports. You can set sail from close-to-home ports like Liverpool and Southampton. We’ll never say no to that kind of convenience.
You don’t have to travel far to traverse the teal waters that have been the setting for so much history, to explore craggy landscapes, neolithic landmarks and crumbling castles, to experience exciting wildlife encounters you would never have expected to find on home turf. Key stops include the folklore-rich Isle of Skye, Cork’s vibrant harbour and the seal-strewn beaches of Mull. June marks the Summer Solstice and with it, lengthy days of what Shetland communities call ‘simmer dim’—a kind of perpetual twilight.
Also, it’s good news for heatwave haters, as temperatures in this region rarely get about 30
Plus, if hot weather is really not your thing, then a British Isles cruise is the best option, with temperatures rarely getting above 30°C.
CANADA
If Canada has been on your bucket list, we’d recommend visiting in June—just before peak tourist season with pleasantly temperatures and extended daylight hours.
If Canada has been on the bucket list, we’d recommend visiting in June, which is just before peak tourist season with pleasantly warm temperatures and long daylight hours. Plus, this month also marks Canada’s National Indigenous History Month, offering unparalleled opportunity to take a deep dive into the heritage of Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. Culture vultures take note!
Intrigued? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to Canadian cruises, with a range of itineraries and ports on the table. You may want to tour British Columbia, hitting the modern metropolis of Vancouver before moving on to the stunning 19th century architecture of Victoria and Prince Rupert’s rugged landscape, where you’ll find the best whale-watching spots in the region. Of course, you might opt for a New England cruise, which will take you through the breathtakingly romantic vistas of Quebec and Novia Scotia or maybe even an expedition adventure in the Great Lakes. It’s all there for the taking in Canada and June is the time to do it.
MEDITERRANEAN
You can’t really go wrong with a classic Mediterranean cruise, can you? We must say, Italy, Spain and Portugal are all especially lovely at this time of year and if that’s the direction you’d like to go in, you’re best off going in June rather than waiting until July or August. Sun-drenched (yet breezy) bougainvillea-lined avenues are waiting for you to wander down them. Palaces, museums, cathedrals and ruins are waiting to be explored. The most delectable seafood and gelato is waiting to be sampled, wine is waiting to be sipped, beaches are waiting to be sunbathed upon. It’s all waiting for you….and June is your last chance to experience it before the heat and crowds really ramp up for the summer.
THE DANUBE
Why travel to a place when you can travel through it? That’s right, if you’ve been longing to uncover the treasures of Eastern and Central Europe, a Danube cruise is the only way to do it, in our opinion. Your days will be spent hiking through fairytale-esque landscapes, sipping crisp beers in locally run breweries, marvelling at gothic palaces and architecture and truly getting to the heart of some of Europe’s most iconic cities, including Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. With a diverse array of Danube itineraries hitting ports from Belgrade to Osijek, there’s never been a better time to book. Oh, and June also ushers in the start of peak season, meaning open-air concerts, festivals and cultural events.
THE FRENCH RIVIERA
Glitz and glamour is the name of the game down in the south of France and there’s no better time to visit than June. Just picture it: you could be spending sun-drenched days catching the rays on one of St Tropez’s jaw-dropping beaches, sipping rosé as a superyacht drifts by in Cannes or trying your hand at poker in Monaco’s famous Casino de Monte Carlo. If you’d like to spice up your getaway, June also brings a plethora of cultural events including yacht regatta Les Voiles d’Antibes, the countrywide Fête de la Musique and of course, the Monaco Grand Prix, which attracts travellers from all around the globe.
Weather conditions mirror those in the wider Mediterranean, with sunny days and warm temperatures—why not combine this trip with additional ports like Corsica and Portofino?
Itching to book that June cruise? We don’t blame you. You can find out more here!
