FREAKING out

[Anna Chassereau]

Currently freaking out over the weather for our cruise...we leave tomorrow on the Fantasy. Western Caribbean. There are currently two developments in the Caribbean...one way out in the Atlantic which has a strong possibility of developing into a hurricane and will be moving into the Caribbean by the middle of next week and one in the eastern Caribbean that's going to move west towards the Yucatán peninsula and has a medium chance of developing into a tropical cyclone by Monday. We're supposed to port in Cozumel Monday.

I know this is hurricane season and I bought travel insurance through DCL. Just someone tell me it's going to be ok! I'm just so nervous we're going to be miserable with rough seas and we'll have a bad time This cruise was EXPENSIVE being during peak season and we've been looking forward to it so much!

Would DCL possibly change itineraries in this situation? Just with the fact that there could be a tropical storm right where we're going? I would be TOTALLY fine with changing itineraries if it would mean not having super rough seas the whole time!

I've packed tons of sea sickness medicine and xanax. Lol I'm not new to cruising but have never had to cruise during a hurricane/tropical storm so this makes me nervous. Someone talk me out of this panic attack

 

[SteveMP]

I believe it was Mark Twain who said, "everyone always talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it". I think about this whenever going anywhere tropical, especially islands. The weather can change any second, especially during hurricane season. We seem to almost always hit "something" on our cruises. Our first cruise I remember the seas being rough on the way to puerto Vallarta, the storm was approaching. Our friends on the same cruise the following week were diverted and spent an extra day in Cabo. Our last cruise the seas were to rough to port in Jamaica, so we had a extra sea day, the captain headed towards sun so at least we got to use the pools etc. on other cruises we have been on, port adventures have been cancelled due to winds, high seas, etc. And of course visiting tropical rainforests and jungles, you have to expect some rain/monsoons. Have visited Mayan ruins in a monsoon before, I just pretended I was Indy. And have been in horrendous rain in Cozumel where I just drank some cheap beer and went shopping. I've never needed sea sickness medicine. Its a cruise ship, not a fishing boat, lol. Heck my high rise office downtown sways and rocks more than the ship.

I guess the short story is don't worry about it, and make the best of it. You can choose to have a good time or a bad time. The choice is up to you.

 

[bbkangs]

I've been on a cruise during a storm and they skipped an itinerary. They didn't take us to a different place, but we got an extra day at sea, which was fine with me! Our ship ended up breaking the record for most food consumed in a week because of it! lol. Also, I do not remember the waves being choppy, the captain avoided the bad weather like the plague.

You'll be fine. Have a magical vacation!

 

[Anna Chassereau]

I've been on a cruise during a storm and they skipped an itinerary. They didn't take us to a different place, but we got an extra day at sea, which was fine with me! Our ship ended up breaking the record for most food consumed in a week because of it! lol. Also, I do not remember the waves being choppy, the captain avoided the bad weather like the plague.

You'll be fine. Have a magical vacation!

Thank you! I needed to hear this. I'd be ok with an extra sea day or even a different port.

 

[SteveMP]

I've been on a cruise during a storm and they skipped an itinerary. They didn't take us to a different place, but we got an extra day at sea, which was fine with me! Our ship ended up breaking the record for most food consumed in a week because of it! lol. Also, I do not remember the waves being choppy, the captain avoided the bad weather like the plague.

You'll be fine. Have a magical vacation!

And the bonus is when they refund you the port fees. "Cha-ching! That will pay half of my airport parking!"

 

[apathetic]

They will sail around the storm. So if you are dead set on those ports, then you might be disappointed. But if you just want to cruise, you will be fine. I wouldn't worry about the sea, they aren't going to go directly through a tropical storm. You may miss some ports, but otherwise have a great cruise. The only time to really be worried if it is going to hit your embarkation port. Then you have travel issues.

 

[SteveMP]

Thank you! I needed to hear this. I'd be ok with an extra sea day or even a different port.

Sometimes its kind of nice to be forced to slow down. You go on the cruise with a million things to do before you even get to the terminal, and a checklist of a thousand things to do on the ship, and all of these excursions etc. Then a rainy sea day makes you re-think your plan. One rainy sea day during a holiday cruise we took the kids to make gingerbread houses, played bingo, and did a wine tasting and some of the other activities on the navigator that look fun but you are always tol busy to try. It was nice to be forced to slow down and relax, like we were on vacation.

 

[Anna Chassereau]

Sometimes its kind of nice to be forced to slow down. You go on the cruise with a million things to do before you even get to the terminal, and a checklist of a thousand things to do on the ship, and all of these excursions etc. Then a rainy sea day makes you re-think your plan. One rainy sea day during a holiday cruise we took the kids to make gingerbread houses, played bingo, and did a wine tasting and some of the other activities on the navigator that look fun but you are always tol busy to try. It was nice to be forced to slow down and relax, like we were on vacation.

Thank you and you're so right. I appreciate your responses so much...you guys are definitely helping to calm me down. I'm an anxious person anyways and this has just sent me into overdrive this morning. I appreciate it so much and you're right an extra sea day would be relaxing and would really feel like vacation.

 

[SteveMP]

Thank you and you're so right. I appreciate your responses so much...you guys are definitely helping to calm me down. I'm an anxious person anyways and this has just sent me into overdrive this morning. I appreciate it so much and you're right an extra sea day would be relaxing and would really feel like vacation.

Don't forget to enter the drawing on the first day for a free spa treatment. The spa on DCL is prett luxurious and they give good massages. A perfect way to spend a sea day(or any day). They also have yoga and tai chi classes etc. i sometimes pop in the gym there for a relaxing workout to burn off some of the calories I will pig out on later that day

 

[MUN]

Currently freaking out over the weather for our cruise...we leave tomorrow on the Fantasy. Western Caribbean. There are currently two developments in the Caribbean...one way out in the Atlantic which has a strong possibility of developing into a hurricane and will be moving into the Caribbean by the middle of next week and one in the eastern Caribbean that's going to move west towards the Yucatán peninsula and has a medium chance of developing into a tropical cyclone by Monday. We're supposed to port in Cozumel Monday.

I know this is hurricane season and I bought travel insurance through DCL. Just someone tell me it's going to be ok! I'm just so nervous we're going to be miserable with rough seas and we'll have a bad time This cruise was EXPENSIVE being during peak season and we've been looking forward to it so much!

Would DCL possibly change itineraries in this situation? Just with the fact that there could be a tropical storm right where we're going? I would be TOTALLY fine with changing itineraries if it would mean not having super rough seas the whole time!

I've packed tons of sea sickness medicine and xanax. Lol I'm not new to cruising but have never had to cruise during a hurricane/tropical storm so this makes me nervous. Someone talk me out of this panic attack

Honestly, this is probably a bad time for a DCL Caribbean cruise for a couple of reasons you mentioned. First, it is at or near peak season as many schools are still on summer break. Second, it is during the part of summer we start to see tropical storms and hurricanes, so the weather could be iffy as it appears it will be on your cruise. However, DCL will do their best to keep you and the ship out of harm's way. I hope you have good weather for your cruise.

MUN

 

[ukintheus]

We had to sail around a tropical storm in the Gulf on the Wonder a few years ago. Although the weather had plenty of "liquid sunshine" , it honestly wasn't that bad. They do a good job of avoiding what they can weather-wise, and they put on other activities inside if the outside weather isn't great to make it a fun day. Don't stress over it - I'm sure you will have a great time.

 

[mevelandry]

I cruised once during hurricane season. Sometimes they change ports or you get a sea day. It's a good move to pack anti-nausea meds in case you need it. On my last Carnival cruise, Freeport had been so destroyed by the hurricane that we ended up with an overnight in Nassau instead (with nothing to do on the first day because there was no electricity on the island!).

Other than that, never take your ports for granted, even when the weather is good. During our last DCL cruise they skipped Nassau because somebody jumped off another ship in our area and we had to participate to the research.

 

[gotomu212]

We cruised once when our eastern was turned into a western, but they did a great job keeping us in smooth waters and providing info. We called it the magical mystery cruise and it was one of the best since we just went with the flow.

 

[Dug720]

Honestly, this is probably a bad time for a DCL Caribbean cruise for a couple of reasons you mentioned. First, it is at or near peak season as many schools are still on summer break. Second, it is during the part of summer we start to see tropical storms and hurricanes, so the weather could be iffy as it appears it will be on your cruise. However, DCL will do their best to keep you and the ship out of harm's way. I hope you have good weather for your cruise.

MUN

Exactly. It's sort of the perfect storm for surprises on cruises.

I get being tied to school schedules (I'm a teacher), but if I knew I was the anxious type, I'd personally probably steer clear of hurricane season period. (I'm not the anxious type - I'm just saying.)

 

[NS8VN]

I don't think either of these systems is going to be an issue for your cruise. Consider this statement though, "a cruise is perfect for hurricane season." I know, sounds crazy but hear me out. Let's assume your cruise is going to Cozumel and a hurricane decides to hit Cozumel directly. Your cruise will redirect, perhaps to another port, overnighting in Nassau such as mevelandry's did, or maybe an extra sea day. Your vacation is altered but still goes on. Now compare that to flying in to Cozumel and spending a week there. In the same weather situation the entire trip is probably ruined, you either don't go or you are stuck on an island during a hurricane.

So, like gotomu212 said, go with the flow. No port of call is ever guaranteed but they will do everything they can to give you an enjoyable cruise wherever it takes you.

 

[belac]

Hurricane Isabel 2003 - we went around it but water was still choppy. DH spent one night in room but took seasickness meds and the next day was perfect. Just bring some in case, that is all I would do.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

We sail in two weeks; I am actually crossing my fingers we miss a port day and we're at sea instead!! Love my at sea days!!

 

[Garyjames220]

We sail in two weeks; I am actually crossing my fingers we miss a port day and we're at sea instead!! Love my at sea days!!

Probley cheaper to with not doing excurions

 

[Sytrace]

It will be okay. Like others have noted, they will divert away from the weather and possibly change itinerary or have an extra sea day (or two)

We sail frequently during hurricane season...10 of our 13 cruises (we have two more planned for September) have been during this time frame.
Last year we were on the cruise before Matthew decided to wreak havoc on DCL cruise schedule for the following week. We missed St. Thomas because the winds were high and we could not safely dock. Scored an extra sea day!
Bon Voyage!

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

We sail in two weeks; I am actually crossing my fingers we miss a port day and we're at sea instead!! Love my at sea days!!

We leave in two weeks as well and while this would be our first Western, I'd be content with any itinerary as long as I'm on a Disney ship! We love the sea days too.