any truth the rumor

[melkel17]

rumor has it that the seas are calmer this time of year, any truth to this rumor? also, if the first night is usually a little rough, how long after the ship leaves port, do the rough seas begin? on a 3 night cruise, what should we consider having for spending money?

 

[markºoº]

The seas are usually calmer this time of year. However, at any given time the seas could be rough. You could also cruise at the height of hurricane season and have glass smooth water.

The ship does move more during the first night due to currents the ship passes through. This normally lasts all evening and by morning you should be fine. I also think more people are effected by the initial movement of the ship and get their "sea legs" by the next morning.

As for spending money, it really depends on you and what you want. How many adult beverages will you have? Do you like to purchase souveniers? How about shopping at ports? Will you use the spa? Planning on excursions? All of these extras can really add up. On the other hand, you can develop a reasonable budget for these items. You will not need "cash" on board the ship. Everything including tips, DCL excursions, drinks, spa, and other on board charges must be charged to your room.

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by melkel17
rumor has it that the seas are calmer this time of year, any truth to this rumor? also, if the first night is usually a little rough, how long after the ship leaves port, do the rough seas begin? on a 3 night cruise, what should we consider having for spending money?

Just returned from a 7-day cruise of Western Caribbean....all calm until last Thursday and Friday when stiff winds whipped up some pretty steep waves...The ship was rockin' and rollin' but nobody went overboard, although the staff was serving the "high seas diet" ...green apples, crackers, warm beef broth and Bonine (or its ship-board equivalent)... The dining room was understandably less busy and little white paper bags filled the dispensers at each elevator...

 

[bbowers]

And we cruised between hurricanes and had virtually NO waves at all the entire cruise.

 

[NHDisneyKid]

WELL...We cruised for our honeymoon on the Oct. 24 Wonder. My DH had cruised before, but I never had. We left port around 5:00 that Sunday afternoon, and by about 6:00, the ship was a-rockin'. I was amazed at how much you felt because I had always heard "the ships are so big, you can hardly feel any movement!" I would literally be walking down the hallway to our room and run smack into one of the walls on either side of me. My DH was in the Navy and got his sea-legs much quicker than I, so he just laughed at me.
The dining rooms had many empty seats that first night, but the crew told us that eating actually helps with sea-sick queasy stomachs, and it did. (So did a nice glass of wine!) Our seas were BAD that first night, most crew members we spoke to told us it was by far the worst they'd ever felt it! I felt like I was eating dinner in a rocking chair swaying back and forth and side to side! By the next morning, the waves had subsided and it was much smoother sailing until our last night, heading back to port when the waves picked up again

 

[Jillpie]

bump

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

In general, the seas in the Caribbean are pretty calm (that is, relative to open ocean). At any time of year, there's a chance that you'll run into rough seas. I don't believe there's a time of year that you can really count on the seas being more or less calm.

The first night of any cruise from the Atlantic coast of Florida is usually the worst, since your body is getting used to the motion and you will most likely pass through the Gulf Stream. All things being equal, this will be the worst night of the trip. Some of it is getting your 'sea legs,' but most of it is passing through the Gulf Stream. On the eastern, I seem to notice that I can't feel the ship anymore at around midnight of the first night, if I'm still awake.

Here's a satellite picture of the Gulf Stream I found. The dark read depicts warmer temperatures, and you can see the warm Caribbean water being pumped into the Atlantic:

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

Originally posted by videogal1
The ship was rockin' and rollin' but nobody went overboard, although the staff was serving the "high seas diet" ...green apples, crackers, warm beef broth and Bonine (or its ship-board equivalent)... The dining room was understandably less busy and little white paper bags filled the dispensers at each elevator...

Oh lordy. This description alone has me questioning why on earth I am getting on a boat....

Beef broth, by the way, may be good if you have the stomach flu, but for motion sickness? Ugh!

 

[jkovick]

We sailed just after Thanksgiving last year and we had a great time but we hit some majorly rough seas. I think it was like 20-25 feet! You couldn't walk down the halls without holding on. Luckily it was only one day.

 

[nuke]

The water between Florida and the Bahamas are always pretty rough.
Other than that it's just hit or miss weather wise.