No month is more synonymous with summer cruise vacations than the month of July.

The month of July is the peak of the summer cruise season, which means families are on summer break and demand for a summer vacation reaches its height. Very likely your ship and the places you visit will have lots of people looking to enjoy a break.

In Europe specifically, July is the month when Europeans go on holiday (along with August), so prepare to see a lot of people wherever you go in ports. Be vigilant about your surroundings, as pickpockets in Europe are common in the summer.

The one region where the month of July is off-season is the Caribbean. Given many ships left the Caribbean to sail Europe or Alaska, there are less ships in the Caribbean.  While that may mean less ships in Caribbean ports of call, there’s still plenty of people that will be booked on the ships that are left.

If you have a summer cruise in July, here’s what to expect on your sailing.

Ships sailing in July 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 Cape Liberty, New Jersey until she moves to Southampton
• 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 Ravenna, Italy & Piareus, Greece
• Jewel of the Seas from Amsterdam, Netherlands

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

Health protocols for July 2022 cruises

If your cruise is sailing in July, you can expect certain core Covid-19 health protocols to be in place for your sailing, with the exception of select European itineraries that have slightly stricter vaccine requirements.

All Royal Caribbean guests age 12 and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing.

Boosters are not required, except for some European sailings require anyone that hasn’t had their last shot more than 270 days ago to get a booster.

Royal Caribbean does not require kids younger than 12 to be vaccinated.

Masks are optional for vaccinated guests & recommended for unvaccinated children while onboard. Masks are no longer required at Adventure Ocean for kids 2 years and up, they are recommended for unvaccinated kids.

Masks are also now optional while in the cruise terminal before or after your cruise, unless mandated by local authorities.

Guests under 2 years old do not need to wear a mask.

Vaccinated guests must show a negative Covid-19 test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day.

Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. This test cannot be taken on boarding day for unvaccinated kids.

Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.

July weather on a cruise

July sees some of the hottest temperatures for any of the regions you will be cruising from.

In Europe, heatwaves are not uncommon in July. The Greek islands can see temperatures that get into the 90s, but most of Europe should have high temperatures in the 80s, with overnight lows in the 60s.

Sea conditions in the Mediterranean are quite calm, with smooth sailing expected.  Likewise, July has great weather in terms of low chance of rain.

In short, expect hot, sunny skies when you are in port or ashore.

If you are headed to Alaska, you will also enjoy some of the warmest temperatures of the season. July is one of the best months for an Alaska cruise because of the very comfortable outdoor conditions. Temperatures are always all over the place in Alaska, but high temperatures in the 70s or even 80s is not unheard of.

Expect up to 18 hours of sunlight in July. Chances of rain also increase as the summer months go by, so don’t forget to bring all of your rain gear.

If you have a Caribbean cruise, I hope you like it hot and humid.

Daily high temperatures in the Caribbean during July will be in the upper 70s to upper 80s, and plenty of humidity. Believe it or not, temperatures don’t go much into the 90s because of how the tropics tend to always be around the same temperature throughout the year.

With those toasty temperatures, it will feel perfect for a swim, as the ocean temperatures will be quite warm.

Expect it to rain every day of your July cruise in the Caribbean, but that doesn’t mean an all-day soaker. Thunderstorms roll in and out quickly in the Caribbean, so afternoon downpours are common, but short lived. Plan on outdoor activities but you may need to seek shelter for a few minutes to let the rain pass.

Don’t forget, it’s hurricane season in the Caribbean, so a tropical storm could cause a change in your itinerary.