Is it too cold to swim on a Jan cruise?

[wintermom]

I am thinking about booking the land and sea for Jan. 1 2004
My dd is 6 and loves swimming and the beach. I know the weather can change on a dime but what do you think.
Will we be able to swim?

Last year we did Disney World at Spring Break (early March)
and it was warm enough but I don't know about January.

On the land part of our land and sea trip how are the crowds
at the Parks the first week of Jan.?

Thanks everyone
Wintermom

 

[jrabbit]

Did the eastern cruise in January a couple of years ago. St. Maarten and St. Johns the water was great. We snorkeled and played on the beach. Castaway Cay the water was noticeably cooler. We still snorkeled for a couple of hours. You have to remember that the water was way warmer than the weather we had come from (heck the water is warmer there than our weather is except for the summer).

DD will not notice if its "cold", but you should check on her to make sure that she doesn't get too cold.

 

[Cruisin]

We have taken many trips to Florida in January.
Generally it is not really that warm for swimming in Florida at that time. Although one New Year's Eve, my daughter was in the pool but it was heated and we are "crazy" Canadians!
Castaway Cay, sometimes it is very nice and sometimes it is not. Just depends, you never know.
As for the crowds in the parks around the beginning of January, we have gone quite a few times right around and after New Years it was great. No line ups and walked right on everything.
Hope this helps.

Robin

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

While I haven't been on a DCL cruise (YET!!) I can say that the water at the islands are usually swimable! Of course, that's from a northern gal, so take it with a grain of salt!

 

[Minnesota]

Hi!
I am already booked on this date too and am hoping the water will be warm too. It was nice to hear the lack of crowds too. I will probably be swimming as much as I can probably appearing as a "crazy Minnesotan" but compared to Minntesota in January, even 50 degrees is warm enough. If I were you I'd bring along the swim gear and let DD play until you or she thinks she is too cold. If it is too cold the whole week, swimsuits don't take that much room in the suitcase and you would hate to not bring them and want them. Just my 2 cents. HOpe to see you onboard!
Minnesota

 

[Rippington'sFan]

The average water Temp. in January for Abaco Island in the Bahama's is 70 degree's. That's bath water compared to Minnesota. Castaway is right off the coast of Abaco Island. The water will only be warmer in St. Maarten and St. Thomas/St.John.
Don't forget you will be in tropics. You need to get Winter off the brain. LOL

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Feb 2000 and Dec. 2002 CC water was a perfect 82 degrees. much warmer than Lake Michigan on those dates!!!

 

[wintermom]

Thanks guys,
We are from South Texas but my dd doesn't mind the cold
like I do - oh to be young!

The weather reports from you all sound great and I'm sure
she will be out there swimming at the beach.

Very glad to hear the crowds at DW should not be bad.

Wintermom

 

[mmouse37]

We sailed 1/4/03 and the weather was cool in Key West, Great in Cozumel (never got to Grand Cayman due to high winds) and cool on CC. I would still cruise again in January, but I did wish it was a bit warmer....although....Florida and the Bahamas did have an exceptionally cool winter in 2003.

Here is a pick of my girls on CC in January...

http://community.webshots.com/photo/61027011/61028686DazUCp

http://community.webshots.com/photo/61027011/61028753nnWUzE

MJ