How is cruising in Dec?

[flipflop]

Is it still warm enough to swim if you go the first week of Decemeber? (We will be going on a 4 day).

We were thinking about Sept or Oct 08 but I kind of like the idea of seeing all the christmas decorations up.

Thoughts?

 

[HUFF590]

We had great weather on our Dec cruise, and I did swim on the ship, but my wife said it was to cold for her. CC was even warmer.

 

[mommasita]

I have never cruised in December, but have vacationed at that time..

I think it is hit or miss honestly..The decorations do look gorgeous, but that would not be enough for me to take the chance. We live in such frigid temperatures in the winter, I need the heat..

 

[lindakmonty]

we cruised the 1st week of Dec. and it was fantastic! great weather and the decorations are awesome!! Now our Feb. cruise... brrr... my poor ds6 was playing on CC in pants! Sept. wasn't bad either, July was WAY too hot! May was very nice

 

[Jeanne B]

We did the 3-day cruise in early Dec this past year and the weather was beautiful but from what I've always read it can be very hit or miss. We noticed the water at CC was noticable colder as compared to our Oct-05 cruise, we did the Stingray excursion and that was the only time we spent in the water this time because it was too chilly for me but there were plenty of people in the water.

Seeing the Christmas decorations are a real treat so I would suggest the Dec cruise. In fact, the weather was better on our Dec cruise than our Oct cruise but I don't think that's typical.

 

[flipflop]

hhhmmm....don't know what to do. The "hit or miss" idea makes me nervous - but hurricanes are also hit or miss in Sept/Oct. I would like to go when the parks are less crowded, dvc is lower in points and when the cruise is cheaper (with warm weather and a cherry on top, please ), which led me to Sept/Oct and early Dec. aaaarrrrgh.

 

[trivial]

We went in January, and the difference in weather/temperature should be about the same. The weather was gorgeous, but the water at Castaway Cay was very cold. If you want to be sure the water will be fine, and you don't mind paying more, I might go at a warmer time of the year.

 

[granmaz]

We're booked on the 4 day on the 2nd Dec and really looking forward to all the Christmas decorations etc. This will be our first cruise and whilst I am hoping for the best with the weather we are going to have a great time! We were at Disney the same time last year and had amazing weather but can't really expect it to be quite as good! Incidentally it is the sea part of Mousefest so there should be quite a lot of other things going on too.

 

[Frye7127]

We went that week this past December - The weather was lovely the water was cool. We didn't swim much, but there was so much other stuff going on that it didn't matter. We did swim in Grand Cayman, but hubby did not. We swam on the ship a day or two.

The smell of the gingerbread, knowing it was cold outside at home, and all of the decorations and magic certainly made us not miss swimming at all! As a matter of fact, it was usually the furthest from our minds.

 

[Jeanne B]

hhhmmm....don't know what to do. The "hit or miss" idea makes me nervous - but hurricanes are also hit or miss in Sept/Oct. I would like to go when the parks are less crowded, dvc is lower in points and when the cruise is cheaper (with warm weather and a cherry on top, please ), which led me to Sept/Oct and early Dec. aaaarrrrgh.

Our first Wonder cruise was in late Oct05, we had a pre-cruise stay in Orlando and a hurricane came through while we were there so it messed up our WDW plans more than the cruise, but only for a day or two.

 

[MRS_RMM]

We sailed the second week this past December and the weather was perfect!! The water wasn't too cold and the ship was beautifully decorated for the holidays. Plus there's the extra stuff like hot chocolate w/ marshmallows and gingerbread cookies at CC, story time with Mrs. Clause and a tree lighting ceremony in the atrium.

We've also sailed in January and by then winter was in total effect. The waves were too rough that we weren't able to port at CC.

 

[DiznNut]

We have sailed on DCL in Dec the week before Christmas and the weather was wonderful. It stayed int the low 80's. The Christmas decorations were up and were absolutely beautiful. The lobby Christmas tree made a beautiful place for our family to have a Christmas family photo made.

 

[PenskeSth1]

We went the first week of Dec in 06, Although it was the Western 7 night. The weather was perfect. CC was windy and cool, DS was the only one brave enough to attemp swimming and after after about 5 min he decided to get out and go with the kids at the kids club.

There was plenty to do though and DH, myself and DD still did the banana boat ride and had a blast even though it was a bit cool. I got flipped into the water and to be honest the temp of the water wasn't too bad, it was getting out of the water into the wind that made it cold.

When we went in 03 the Eastern the week after Thanksgiving CC was beautiful. We are going the second week of Dec in 08, so it could be beautiful again at CC. Either way we had a wonderful time.

Whatever you decide have a fabulous cruise.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

We have done the first full week in December and the weather was fantastic but the water was a little cool. It did not take long for my DW or me to adjust to it however. We just went at a nice leisurely pace and had no problem.

I perfered it over our August cruise where the water didn't help in cooling me down after our hike and kayaking excursion. I had to get back on the ship to cool down in the air conditioned stateroom I was very hot that day.

 

[FreeTime]

We sailed the 1st week in Dec last year and it was too cold for me. The weather was nice but the ocean and pools were cold. We enjoyed the decorations on the ship and cc, but will probably not sail again at this time. The may water temps and not having the really cool breezes was much better for us.