Best time to cruise????

[littlebunny]

Hi Everyone, I'm new to the boards. We need everyone's help!

We have planned for 3 years now to go on a 7 day Disney Cruise in June of 2005. As you all probably know, unless we want to go to Mexico or LA that a no go. We planned on going in June because my 7 year old will be on summer vacation. We still want to go next year, but are now open to anytime of the year.

For you past cruisers when is the best time to go on a cruise to the caribbean? The pros and cons would be helpful, as well as weather info. We definetly want to go when it will be warm enough to swim, but in the caribbean is that all the time?

Just a little info on our traveling party, it will be me, my husband and our 3 daughters ages 3, 5, 7. Also my mom is coming, my two brothers and their wives as well.

Thanks for the help!!!

Lee

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I'd say the best time is between January and December...

Seriously, though, my favorite time to cruise in the Caribbean is in the fall. This is the low season, so prices are lower, but the weather is still plenty warm (you're right, you can swim year-round in the Caribbean, but the Bahamas can be a bit cool in the winter months), the ships are less crowded, and the days are still long. The downside of this is that this is the height of hurricane season. This means there's a slight chance that your intinerary will be adjusted so that the ship can avoid a storm. This has happened to us once in 5 fall cruises. I'd say it happens to a given ship probably on average maybe once or twice in a season, so it's really more likely that you'll sail your scheduled itinerary.

Hope this helps.

 

[alexandrew]

2nd week December - Low pricing, great weather, festive mood, ship beautifully decorated for holidays

2nd week January - Great cooler weather, low pricing, ship and ports usually not as crowded

First 2 weeks October - Good weather, low pricing, ship not too crowded, My anniversary or DWs Bday...

 

[Greysword]

On the line that you have several kids to accomodate:

Thanksgiving ususally has decent prices and the kids will only miss a couple days of school (cruise from Nov 20th through 27th).

Christmas break is always good. The kids won't miss any unplanned school, and the weather in December is quite mild (I say nice, but it is relative ). The down side are the higher prices.

At least try to plan around a holiday of some sort to minimize school impact. Martin Luther King day in January is great, as well another federal holiday or a teacher planning day.

I gues it depends on whether money or time is the absolute largest factor.

Good Luck!!

 

[kcashner]

Ok, our favorites and why....
Sept/Oct...warm, summery weather (hot offensively hot like July), and cheap rates. con--hurricane season....sometimes the ship changes course due to tropical storms.

Early December--Christmas decorations/shows running on ship and at parks, no crowds

Jan/Feb--breaks my winter doldrums, nice to get away. Con--weather can be cool (one of 6 cruises this time of year was downright cold!)

 

[TheWog]

January, it's nice to get away from the cold and the prices are great and the ports are less crowded. It was fine for us to swim at each port and on the ship. Weather was beautiful in the 80's, high 70's CC day. That's our vote.

 

[jrabbit]

last 1/2 of January. The weather was great. The water wonderful. Don't worry about taking the kids out of school (at least through 5th grade - and even up to 8th grade if they are reasonablly good students).

 

[littlebunny]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Does anyone recommend April? We're thinking it would be warmer, and that way we avoid hurrican season all together.

November-December is a little to late in the year for us, and January - February are a little too early since we're still saving.

Thanks,

Lee

 

[CM_Mom]

We were on the 5/1 Magic Eastern this year and the weather was wonderful. From what I read on the boards, April is also a good time but you probably want to avoid spring break which is a high demand time (translate high price). This year the seas were a little rougher around Easter than in May.

In 2005 the Magic will be doing an Eastern on April 30 and a Western on May 7 before leaving on the 14th for the repo cruise so you might just want to move up your dates a month or so.

 

[natdencro]

3 cruises in Feb and March. Seas calm and sunshine hot in the Bahamas and caribbean. Was great to leave snow on the ground here at home and arrive back after 14 days with fabulous tan! Shall go again March time. Nat

 

[littlebunny]

Thank you so much everyone!!! I think we've definetly decided on the April 30, 2005 cruise to the eastern caribbean. You guys made our decision so much easier!

These boards are such a great help to us first time cruisers! Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!!!!

Lee

 

[married2grumpy]

Lee,

We chose the April 30 2005 cruise also because I thought it might be the best time of year to cruise. The kids will miss some school but I think it will be fine. We have cruised in August once, not DCL, and sure enough there was a hurricane coming. I don't think we will cruise during hurricane season again. We too have 3 children, who will be 7,6 and 4 when we cruise. We got 2 connecting cat 9 rooms for us and my Mom. It was the best way to go for us. Have fun planning!