Royal Caribbean cruises in September 2022: What to expect

Have a Royal Caribbean cruise planned for September 2022? Fall is a popular time to sail because of lower prices.

There is plenty happening and changing with cruise ships, so here is a look at what to expect if you are going on a cruise in September.

This post will share important information what you should know before going on a cruise in September. September is the traditional beginning of fall, but it is still a very hot month in the Caribbean.  Meanwhile there are also ships sailing to Alaska and Europe.

September is also one of the best months to book a cruise in terms of value.  Since school is back in session, there are less families cruising and with it being the peak of hurricane season, demand for cruises dips a bit.  The result is competitive prices for going on a cruise.

If you can find time to hop on a ship, September is a great time to cruise and with more ships back in service, there are lots of good options again to consider.

Ships sailing in September 2022

Every single Royal Caribbean cruise ship is back in service, so here’s a breakdown of where each ship is located.

• Freedom of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Anthem of the Seas from Southampton, England
• Allure of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Symphony of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Independence of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Harmony of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Liberty of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
• Adventure of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey
• Explorer of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles, California
• Spectrum of the Seas from Singapore
• Grandeur of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
• Enchantment of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland
• Radiance of the Seas from Vancouver, Canada or Seward, Alaska
• Serenade of the Seas from Vancouver, Canada
• Voyager of the Seas from Copenhagen, Denmark
• Quantum of the Seas from Seattle, Washington
• Ovation of the Seas from Seattle, Washington
• Oasis of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey
• Brilliance of the Seas from Rome, Italy
• Wonder of the Seas from Barcelona and Rome
• Odyssey of the Seas from from Rome, Italy
• Vision of the Seas from Barcelona, Spain
• Rhapsody of the Seas from Haifa, Israel
• Jewel of the Seas from Amsterdam, Netherlands until she moves to Barcelona, Spain

You will find Royal Caribbean cruises sailing in three markets during July: the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe.

New vaccine requirement for cruises sailing in September 2022

The biggest change in terms of protocols will begin in September when Royal Caribbean drops vaccine requirements for most sailings.

Beginning September 5, for U.S. cruises that don’t visit Canada or Bermuda, the base protocols will greatly open up.

Vaccinated guests won’t have to take a pre-cruise test on cruises that are shorter than 10 nights. Unvaccinated guests age 5 and up will need to test within 3 days before boarding, regardless of cruise length.

Currently published testing and vaccination requirements remain in place for cruises from Australia and Singapore; cruises that depart from or visit Canada or Bermuda; and transatlantic sailings, until further notice.

September weather on a cruise

While it may be fall where you live, September is still very much summer in the Caribbean.

Expect typical summer weather in the Caribbean, which means hot and humid weather with passing rain showers at any given time.

If you are looking at the weather forecast for your cruise, don’t be surprised if rain is in the forecast every day.  All that means is there is a chance for a passing or pop up storm.  More than likely you will have plenty of sun, with perhaps a quick downpour.

September is the beginning of the peak of hurricane season, which means the likelihood of a named storm is higher than it was earlier in the summer. 

According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 87 percent of minor and 96 percent of major hurricanes occur between August and October, peaking in early September.

Hurricanes are obviously an issue, but Royal Caribbean monitors the weather and will move ships around storms.  Fear not: your ship will not go anywhere near a hurricane.

The biggest issue with cruising in September is the last-minute itinerary changes that can occur due to storms. 

Read more: What to know about cruising during hurricane season in the Caribbean

Over in Alaska, September begins the end of the Alaska cruise season, although Royal Caribbean extended the season this year by an extra month.

Just like in the Caribbean, September is one of the cheapest months to sail to Alaska because kids are back in school. 

In addition, the best time see the Northern Lights in Alaska is in September. September is the time of year when the sun sets earlier during the cruise season, which means the sky gets darker and makes for the most ideal viewing conditions.

Read more: 50 tips for planning your Alaska cruise

And yes, September is also a great time visit Europe for good deals.

September is a popular time to cruise the Western Mediterranean because you can avoid the families and still enjoy warm temperatures.