Cruising end of September...what can we expect?

[Kim&Chris]

I'd like to book a cruise for 9/06 but DH says it will be too rough based on hurricane season.

I'm hoping some of you with "hurrican season" experience can tell me what this season is really like, and help me decide whether I should book it or not.

Thanks

 

[NCRedding]

We cruised in Late September and early October in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. With the exception of 2004, we had no problems with any of the fall cruises we've taken--beautiful weather, warm enough to swim, but not too hot.

2004 our cruise was shortened due to hurricane Jeanne. We didn't get to any of the ports we had planned, except for Cozumel. The weather was very good.

Still, if it weren't for my DD's school, we would love to go back in September/October.

 

[logan1_2000]

Trip Insurance

 

[mommasita]

We cruised last September..We were on the Hurricane Jeanne cruise that was shortened by one day, we arrived Friday night, in an emergency docking. We were transported to WDW and stayed at the Swan, complimentary.

We were surprised by this announcement in the late afternoon on Friday, and we had 2 hours to pack, as by 6 they were to pick up all our bags outside our doors.. When we disembarked, we were met by Port Rescue service...After we all disembarked, the ship went to sea for 2 days, to ride out the storm safely. The next cruise was shortened by 2 days, due to this. Coming home was an absolute nightmare, as our flight was cancelled, and we could not get on another one due to the chaos!!!!!!!! So, we rented a minivan and drove to New Jersey in 15 hours, and then flew home from there...7 people, 3 of those being children in the van, and luggage, made for a tight squeeze.... We made it, and as hard on us as that was...GUess what? We booked for this coming Sept 17th..... Maybe we are nuts, but as another poster mentioned, it is insurance, and the flexibility to go with the flow...You must realize that you may not make your ports....

By the way, our weather was Amazing.. If we did not have constant reports from the Captain of Jeanne you would not have known..Oops except for the 30-40 foot waves one day...That was really something, pools were shut down for a day, and they looked like wave pools...

HTH

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

This is my favorite time of year to cruise. We've gone in Sept. or Oct. every year since 2000. We were diverted once, on our first cruise, skipping St. Maarten and calling at Key West instead. Even so, we never encountered truly rough seas. The fact that it is hurricane season doesn't necessarily mean you'll be sailing through rough seas. If there's a storm in one part of the Caribbean, you'll go to another part, where it's very likely that the weather and the seas will be perfect. We even dodged a bullet this past fall, sailing the week after the last of the storms really caused problems.

We're going again this fall in mid-September.

 

[Drcell01]

We were on the Magic Cruise to Cozumel and had several issues due to hurricane Frances:

1. Change of Departure Dates - Date changed from Saturday to Monday.
2. Change of flights- in order to get to FL we had to fly into Ft. Myers, rent a car, and drive to WDW.
3. Change of Port of Departure - We were to leave from Port Canaveral but DCL changed the departure to Ft. Lauderdale (so much for renting a car to drive to the port) and bussed us to the port.

With all that said we are booked on the same cruise this year (yes I said same time as last year). Everyone said last year was a fluke. We still had a great time (was really the best vacation we have ever experienced when you remove all of the issues due to the hurricane) and we are looking forward to finally visiting Castaway Cay this year.

Suggestions...be flexable, be patient, be insured against possible interuptions, and above all... keep tuned to weather forcasts for FL and PRAY FOR NO HURRICANES! LOL

 

[jennat]

Ditto...almost always cruise in Sept...this last year met up with Hurricane Jeanne...said hello and then got on the ship (two days late) and had a great cruise (weather was great). It is a little hot but not compared to summer. Not a ton of kids, good rates..etc. Love it...cruising again this Sept...only difference, we are getting insurance this year . Never have in the past and didn't suffer financially last year, just could have come out ahead if we had had it.

 

[kcashner]

We've done 5 September cruises (it's a birthday month for us). The only one that was rough or really messed up was 2004 with Jeane. On one other, the captain chose to alter the course to keep us in smooth waters--this caused a change in ports of call. Thus, if you were determined to hit a certain port, you might not want to travel at this time. However, we rather see it as an adventure. DCL will take you to someplace that is sunny and has smooth sailing if at all possible. In 12 cruises, the only time we missed Castaway was the Sept. 2004 cruise.

 

[glindamood]

I have cruised 6 times - with two of those being September and October cruises. Our first cruise was 10/2000 and had that been a rough ride, the others would have never happened as DH gets sick with a lot of motion. This past September I was on the Magic trip that was shortened a night by jeanne but we were lucky enough to get a flight out Saturday - from Panama City but bless Northwest, we got home safe and sound! I am a very brave (and probably stupid) woman as we don't get trip insurance either, although I think I will if we go in September again. Even with Jeanne stirring the waters - our Alaskan cruise was much rougher than that.

 

[webray]

We cruised that 9/6 (approximate) two years ago..the seas were as calm as could be and we had a fantastic time. We would definately book in september again..definately. The rates are great. You do take your chances, as it is hurricane season..but if there isn't any hurricane..lol, the seas are calm.

 

[ThreeSmiths]

Cruising end of September...what can we expect?

We cruised last September...had Hurricanes Ivan & Frances ahead of us and Hurricane Jeanne behind us. We were scheduled to stop at Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and CC. Instead we went to San Juan, Nassau and CC.

My advice....expect the unexpected, buy travel insurance and HAVE FUN!