At a glance
- September brings calm seas, warm days and fewer crowds across the Med, making it the ideal time for culture-rich itineraries
- Arctic sailings offer the last chance to spot polar bears, walruses and whales before the ice sets in
- River cruises along the Rhône and Danube reach peak harvest season, with vineyard tours and wine festivals
- End-of-summer warmth across Canada and New England creates the perfect setting for golden-leaf cruising
- Short UK-based sailings offer easy, good-value breaks for couples and solo travellers
Why trust us?
World of Cruising, along with our sister publication, Cruise Trade News, has one of the UK’s most experienced teams of cruise journalists and contributors. Our experts have racked up hundreds of nights at sea and sailed with most cruise lines. Most weeks, one of our writers will be at sea or on a river. Here, that expertise informs our list of the best cruise destinations for September.
Is September a good time to cruise?
Absolutely. In Europe, September is arguably the best month to cruise – the seas are calm, the temperatures gentle and the summer crowds have thinned. It's also harvest time along rivers like the Rhône and Douro, while up north, Arctic wildlife is making its last appearances before the freeze. Over in North America, meanwhile, Canada and New England are just beginning their golden autumn shift.
Whether you’re after a relaxed no-fly sailing or a far-flung expedition, September offers that perfect mix of sunshine, serenity and shoulder-season savings.
Best September cruise for sunshine: Western Mediterranean
Why here, why now: September is the Mediterranean at its best. The sweltering heat has eased off, the crowds have largely gone home and cities like Rome and Barcelona are at their most enjoyable – finally breathable. Think leisurely museum visits without the queues, markets brimming with late-summer produce and café terraces made for long, lazy lunches. With sea temperatures still warm and the skies reliably blue, it’s a golden moment for culture, sunshine and swimming.
Weather: Expect highs of 24-28C, with low rainfall and warm evenings.
Top Ports: Barcelona for Gaudí masterpieces and breezy beach bars, Marseille for Provençal markets and calanque hikes, Civitavecchia (Rome) for Vatican treasures and gelato by the Pantheon and Palma de Mallorca for cathedral views and citrus-scented old town strolls.
Who to sail with:Celebrity Cruises offers stylish seven-night Med itineraries with excellent dining and excursions. Virgin Voyages delivers adults-only itineraries with late port stays and an edgier vibe.
Price: Weeklong Celebrity Cruises sailings in the Western Med start from about £1,200 per person. Expect to pay around £2,100 per person for a 10-night sailing with Virgin Voyages.
Best no-fly cruise for September: British Isles
Why here, why now: Back-to-school season brings smoother seas, gentler fares and more peaceful ships – perfect for a quick no-fly escape. September’s mild days are ideal for strolls along Guernsey’s flower-filled lanes or exploring Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, while onboard, everything feels calmer post-summer. It’s a great time for solo travellers or couples craving an easy win.
Weather: Highs of 16-20C, with gentle breezes and long daylight hours.
Top Ports: Southampton for easy departures, St Peter Port (Guernsey) for boutiques and cliff walks, Belfast for industrial history and pub lunches and Liverpool for a warm welcome and Beatlemania.
Who to sail with: Ambassador Cruise Line offers superb-value mini-sailings. Saga offers luxury sailings for guests 50 and over (though companions aged over 40 may join them).
Price: Ambassador offers British Isles mini cruises from £300 per person and 12-night sailings from around £1,400. Saga offers all-inclusive luxury sailings in September from around £4,050 per person.
Best expedition cruise for September: Arctic Expedition
Why here, why now: September marks the final chapter of the Arctic cruise high season – a last-chance saloon for spotting polar bears hunting on the ice, beluga pods slipping through fjords and seabirds soaring over glacier edges. The landscape is cinematic, with golden twilight and silvery seas. It’s also quieter: fewer ships, fewer people and more space for true expedition experiences, from Zodiac landings on black-sand beaches to epic tundra walks with expert guides.
Weather: Highs of 2-6°C, with crisp air and long golden evenings; it can be considerably colder depending on where you sail.
Top Ports: Longyearbyen (Svalbard) for ice-edge wildlife and glacial fjords, Scoresby Sund (Greenland) for towering icebergs and Inuit heritage, and Ísafjörður (Iceland) for dramatic cliffs and seabird colonies.
Who to sail with:HX offers small-ship, science-led voyages with Zodiac landings. Silversea’s luxury expeditions include fine dining and expert lectures.
Price: HX sailings from £6,000 per person for 15 days; Silversea’s 10-night itineraries start at around £7,800 per person.
Best river cruise for September: Rhône River, France
Why here, why now: In September, the Rhône Valley is at its most intoxicating – quite literally. It’s grape harvest time, and river cruises glide from vineyard to vineyard under golden light. Wander Avignon’s papal palaces, sample truffle omelettes in Tournon and sip Châteauneuf-du-Pape at its source. This is France in slow motion: no rushing, just wine, food and cobbled streets warmed by the late-summer sun.
Weather: Highs of 22-26C, ideal for sightseeing and sipping.
Top Ports: Lyon for bouchon dining and silk-weaving history, Avignon for Gothic architecture and bridge-side cafés, Tournon for Syrah vineyards and medieval towers and Arles for Roman ruins and Van Gogh haunts.
Who to sail with:Uniworld Boutique River Cruises offers all-inclusive luxury and vineyard-led excursions. Avalon Waterways focuses on flexibility and open-air suites.
Price: Uniworld cruises start from £2,900 per person; Avalon’s seven-night itineraries start from £2,000 per person.
Best September cruise for early autumn foliage: Canada & New England
Why here, why now: September is the prelude to fall in Canada and New England and a ravishingly pretty time to sail its historic harbours and pine-fringed shores. The trees are just beginning to turn amber, oyster season has begun and the lighthouses glow in the golden-hour light. Add in crisp air, quiet streets and scenic shore excursions, and you’ve got a perfect end-of-summer escape.
Weather: Highs of 18-22°C, with sunny days and cool, cosy evenings.
Top Ports:Quebec City for French charm and cobbled old towns, Halifax for fresh lobster rolls, Bar Harbor for Acadia National Park and sea-kayaking and Boston for Freedom Trail walks and coffee on cobbled corners
Who to sail with:Holland America’s itineraries blend charm and comfort. For ultra-luxury and culinary excellence, opt for Seabourn, which sails boutique, yacht-like ships to marquee and boutique ports.
Price: Holland America sailings from £1,000 per person; Seabourn from around £6,000 for 12 days.
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