Best time to take a cruise!

[gusstive]

Hello,
I have been on two Disney cruises! One in 2015, on Wonder, in mid February. It was too windy to get to Castaway Cay so we had a day at sea. Second cruise, March 2017 on Magic! It was too windy to get to Key West.
What months would you recommend to hit all stops or is it just a gamble? For the third, I will have 5 new cruisers with, who have never cruised before. I would like it calmer with out Gail force winds or maybe it’s me(lol).
I was thinking May or August or September! I know, hurricane season, but without that happening I’ve heard it’s good then???????
Thanks for any thoughts!

Oh one more thing, is it true you can book and pay your deposit (say in May)? Then wait for them to announce Aug/Sept. and change with out a penalty or extra fee (if it’s cheaper)?

 

[cgolf]

Not sure I have the perfect answer because we were probably just lucky (Jan, Feb, and Nov). On our 12 DCL trips and 14 overall we have only missed one port due to wind, Grand Caymen, and was 11 out of 11 for making Castaway Cay. I am not sure there is a perfect time of year weather wise to cruise.

I am pretty sure you can change, but the prices rarely if ever go down on DCL until after the paid in full date where there would be a penalty.

 

[gusstive]

Ok thank you! I know it’s a gamble. Lol but we have missed a stop every cruise so just trying to plan.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I like Oct best. May is nice too but the water isn't as warm.

 

[Jenlynn3]

I have cruised in April 2005 on 3 night Wonder weather was great, warmer than Dec of course! Magic 7 nights Dec 2009 and Fantasy 7 nights Dec 2012 both Eastern, weather was cooler at sea but beautiful on land. Castaway Cay we felt the water was cold compared to April. We are going on Fantasy in July

 

[lorimay]

Ok thank you! I know it’s a gamble. Lol but we have missed a stop every cruise so just trying to plan.

Wow, can't believe that you have missed a stop every cruise, thats crazy.
It really is a crap shoot.
We have done 16 cruises on DCL and have never missed a port stop.

Hope next time is miss free!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

Just a gamble. We've done 14 DCL cruises (including a "double-dip) during just about all the seasons and have been able to dock at CC each time.

 

[owensamo]

I think it's pretty random - which weather in the Bahamas/Carribbean can be. We've done 12 DCL cruises and 14 overall, and we've never missed a port. We did have to make 4 attempts to get into Castaway Cay on Christmas day one year, but otherwise have had no issues.

 

[85glht]

The 2 times we went on a Disney Cruise in February, we did make CC BUT it was kind of cold.... I actually came out of the snorkeling lagoon shivering... no matter what, I couldn’t get acclimated to the water temperature.
I would pick late spring or early fall, if you have a choice....

Quite frankly, anytime is better spent on a cruise than at work... just saying

 

[gusstive]

Wow thanks for the responses! It literally makes me laugh just thinking about our misses. Even though my favorite cruise days are days at sea!
Thanks again!

 

[85glht]

Wow thanks for the responses! It literally makes me laugh just thinking about our misses. Even though my favorite cruise days are days at sea!
Thanks again!

I love sea days.

 

[cgolf]

Maybe I do have the perfect answer after all, anytime you can make a cruise fit into your schedule

I really hope that on your next cruise you have great weather and make all your ports.

As The old saying goes the third time’s a charm

 

[Shanti]

Hello,
I have been on two Disney cruises! One in 2015, on Wonder, in mid February. It was too windy to get to Castaway Cay so we had a day at sea. Second cruise, March 2017 on Magic! It was too windy to get to Key West.
What months would you recommend to hit all stops or is it just a gamble? For the third, I will have 5 new cruisers with, who have never cruised before. I would like it calmer with out Gail force winds or maybe it’s me(lol).
I was thinking May or August or September! I know, hurricane season, but without that happening I’ve heard it’s good then???????
Thanks for any thoughts!

Oh one more thing, is it true you can book and pay your deposit (say in May)? Then wait for them to announce Aug/Sept. and change with out a penalty or extra fee (if it’s cheaper)?

I have read that mid-Feb through mid-March is the windiest time of year in the Bahamas. Maybe that's why you had difficulty docking at CC.

We've gone in late December for the past three years and have had only idyllic weather at Castaway Cay. The water was chilly, but our bodies adjusted quickly (the key is to submerge yourself right away), and the air was so warm that the cold water felt good.

 

[tvguy]

Weather can be an issue almost any time of year. Too cold, too hot, hurricanes.
The only cruise where I missed a port was in 1980. We couldn't dock in Dominica. It had literally been wiped out by Hurricane David 7 months earlier.
Cruised during the huge Florida freeze of 1985, freezing in Florida getting on the ship but by the time we got into the Caribbean it was plenty warm

 

[gusstive]

Maybe I do have the perfect answer after all, anytime you can make a cruise fit into your schedule

I really hope that on your next cruise you have great weather and make all your ports.

As The old saying goes the third time’s a charm

That is very true!!! Lol