How cruise regions work
Cruise lines deploy ships seasonally across the year. The Caribbean and Asia-Pacific run year-round; the Mediterranean is a March-to-November region; Northern Europe and Alaska are summer-only; South America runs in the southern summer (November–March); and Transatlantic crossings cluster in spring and autumn as ships reposition between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
Each region has its own logistics. Caribbean ports are mostly alongside-berth with short walks to a beach or town. Mediterranean ports often involve long transfers from a working commercial port to a famous inland city (Civitavecchia → Rome, Livorno → Florence, Piraeus → Athens). Norwegian fjord calls and Greek-island anchorages frequently use tenders. Knowing the rhythm of the region you're sailing in is the single biggest factor in planning a productive day ashore.