Podcast Cruise 4.0 - 12/08/2012

[TIGGERmetoo]

Originally Posted by DisneyKevin

Please write to Tracey H. at TraceyH@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com.

She will be happy to help you figure all of this out and make your vacation less stressful.

Thanks Kevin, I'll do that when the cruise gets a bit closer.

[mjaclyn]

Can someone tell me what the weather will be like in the Caribbean in December? I'd like to book Podcast Cruise 4.0 but am wondering about how cool it will be. Can we still swim and lay out at the beach?

Also, are the seas rougher at that time of year? I have pretty bad motion sickness. Is the ship decorated for Christmas at that time or is it later in the month?

Thanks!

[DisneyKevin]

Originally Posted by mjaclyn

Can someone tell me what the weather will be like in the Caribbean in December? I'd like to book Podcast Cruise 4.0 but am wondering about how cool it will be. Can we still swim and lay out at the beach?

Also, are the seas rougher at that time of year? I have pretty bad motion sickness. Is the ship decorated for Christmas at that time or is it later in the month?

Thanks!

Christmas decorations will be up.

The weather is far less predictable.

On the last Podcast cruise, the weather was COLD and windy, but it was cold and windy pretty much everywhere.

We've also been on December cruises that were much warmer.

Also, please keep in mind that the last PCC was a 4 day cruise.

PCC 4.0 is a seven night cruise and will go deeper into the Caribbean and hopefully, that will mean warmer weather.

[mnra]

Originally Posted by mjaclyn

Can someone tell me what the weather will be like in the Caribbean in December? I'd like to book Podcast Cruise 4.0 but am wondering about how cool it will be. Can we still swim and lay out at the beach?

Also, are the seas rougher at that time of year? I have pretty bad motion sickness. Is the ship decorated for Christmas at that time or is it later in the month?

Thanks!

Like Kevin said it was cold and windy but the captain did a great job of givening us a bright sunny day at castaway cay. We where able to lay out but the water was cold on the island. The pools however where very nice and warm. we have booked for podcast 4 and are hoping for nice weather but even if cold the group of people on the ship with the podcast are great

[Cherinva]

Originally Posted by mjaclyn

Can someone tell me what the weather will be like in the Caribbean in December? I'd like to book Podcast Cruise 4.0 but am wondering about how cool it will be. Can we still swim and lay out at the beach?

Also, are the seas rougher at that time of year? I have pretty bad motion sickness. Is the ship decorated for Christmas at that time or is it later in the month?

Thanks!

I did a search for the average temps, and it said that 80 was the average high in December.

[mjaclyn]

Thanks everybody!!

One more question about the ship being decorated... Are there decorations everywhere with Christmas music playing, big tree, and characters in holiday outfits or is it more subtle?

The reason I'm asking is that my family actually does not celebrate Christmas so I'd like to know what to expect... If it's more seasonal decorations or if the whole ship is covered and everything from the restaurants to the kids clubs have special Christmas activities, menus, etc.

[Cherinva]

Originally Posted by mjaclyn

Thanks everybody!!

One more question about the ship being decorated... Are there decorations everywhere with Christmas music playing, big tree, and characters in holiday outfits or is it more subtle?

The reason I'm asking is that my family actually does not celebrate Christmas so I'd like to know what to expect... If it's more seasonal decorations or if the whole ship is covered and everything from the restaurants to the kids clubs have special Christmas activities, menus, etc.

We were on the Wonder in December and the ship wasn't overly done. The entrance way had a large tree, and the banisters were decorated with garland. I'm not sure about the characters, I never saw any, but that's not say that they weren't around at some point. They did have Santa out for pictures. I didn't hear any Christmas music either.

[jcb]

I was on the PCC 2.0 cruise and it was cold most of the time. Cold for the Caribbean isn't New York, cold of course. We did the same cruise in 2008 and it was much warmer. Going further south, as Kevin said, is hopefully going to mean warmer temps. Odds are it will be warmer.

Decorations. In addition to the ship's atrium, expect Castaway Cay to have some decorations. There is a tree and snow people as you disembark, the tram will have antlers and tails and there will be scattered wreaths throughout the island. It is not pervasive.

Mickey and Minnie will wear some subtle Christmas themed tops. The photos I have from 2008 and 2010 show them in a green background with a poinsettia print.

I'll try to put up photos of the Wonder later today (what the Fantasy will do is anyone's guess). I have a gutter full of leaves to deal with first.

[mainegal]

At WDW in December, Christmas/seasonal music was everywhere. I don't remember any on the ship.

The decorations on the ship are nice, but not over the top "Christmas". Sort of what you would see at a mall. If your family does not celebrate Christmas, but you live with the American way of doing seasonal decorations in December, you will be okay. You will see Christmas on some people's doors and fish extendenders.

My December trips to WDW in 2006 and 2008 were much warmer than the trip in 2010. I am hoping for warmer in 2012. Plus, going south and west should help in terms of air and water temperatures.

[Justin Jett]

Originally Posted by mainegal

At WDW in December, Christmas/seasonal music was everywhere. I don't remember any on the ship.

The decorations on the ship are nice, but not over the top "Christmas". Sort of what you would see at a mall. If your family does not celebrate Christmas, but you live with the American way of doing seasonal decorations in December, you will be okay. You will see Christmas on some people's doors and fish extendenders.

My December trips to WDW in 2006 and 2008 were much warmer than the trip in 2010. I am hoping for warmer in 2012. Plus, going south and west should help in terms of air and water temperatures.

You did not see the big Christmas tree in the atrium????? It was very hard to miss. The Gingerbread House too!

Also, there was a very nice mix of Christmas music and Disney songs around the ship. Also, Castaway Cay has Christmas decorations too. Even the trams were dressed up.

[mainegal]

Oh, yes. I remember the big tree. And I did walk past the gingerbread house.
I was trying to reassure that a non-Christian family would hopefully see the decor as seasonal. (more seasonal and pagan than Christian)

I am not doubting you, Skip, when you say there was music onboard. It makes sense that there was music. I just don't remember it!


(I have only been to WDW in December. I am afraid to go any other time. It would look naked without wreathes and garlands and other seasonal decor!)

[mjaclyn]

Originally Posted by mainegal

Oh, yes. I remember the big tree. And I did walk past the gingerbread house.
I was trying to reassure that a non-Christian family would hopefully see the decor as seasonal. (more seasonal and pagan than Christian)

I am not doubting you, Skip, when you say there was music onboard. It makes sense that there was music. I just don't remember it!


(I have only been to WDW in December. I am afraid to go any other time. It would look naked without wreathes and garlands and other seasonal decor!)

I really appreciate all the input from everyone. We are a Christian family but choose not to celebrate because of the Pagan origin. I don't mean to turn this into any kind of religious discussion I just thought I would clarify.

I guess I was curious to know if the ship is decorated for Christmas the same way I would find a local mall or grocery store, or if the entire ship including activities, characters and meals are saturated with it. Obviously in the month of December there is no getting away from the music and decorations no matter where you are and I don't expect to. I just remember going to WDW one year in early December and I felt that it was almost shoved down my throat in a way. Christmas trees, music, Santa, characters dressed in holiday outfits, decorations, even holiday themed snacks were everywhere. Before anyone flames me I just want to say that I completely understand why Disney does it this way. The holiday season is a huge money maker and for them NOT to incorporate it in every way possible doesn't make sense from a business perspective. That is why my family and I personally choose to go during other times of the year, but we really wanted to join everyone on PCC 4.0 so I was wondering if the DCL ships are outfitted for the holiday in the same way the parks are or if it's done in a more tasteful way.

[mdvlprof]

Seem to recall that Christmas decorations were very tasteful. Some of the passengers - not so much .

[OKW Lover]

Originally Posted by mdvlprof

Seem to recall that Christmas decorations were very tasteful. Some of the passengers - not so much .

My recollection as well. Not sure which category I fell into.

[Justin Jett]

Originally Posted by mdvlprof

Seem to recall that Christmas decorations were very tasteful. Some of the passengers - not so much .

Very well said!!!