Jan...Too cold to swim at Castaway Cay?

[disneystick]

On Jan. 3 my family will be on the Disney Dream with 2 stops at CC. We live in the south and are use to swimming in air temp of upper 80s to 100s. Is the water at CC water going to be too cold to swim when we get there since, it shows the air temp as being 70s to low 80s?

Trying to start packing and can't decide...more long pants, more shorts...light sweater, heavy sweatshirt? Any advice?

Thank you!

 

[AbsyBabsy]

On Jan. 3 my family will be on the Disney Dream with 2 stops at CC. We live in the south and are use to swimming in air temp of upper 80s to 100s. Is the water at CC water going to be too cold to swim when we get there since, it shows the air temp as being 70s to low 80s?

Trying to start packing and can't decide...more long pants, more shorts...light sweater, heavy sweatshirt? Any advice?

Thank you!

You never know what it will be like. I suggest bringing light clothes you can layer and consider buying a sweater on board if it gets chilly. I live in Central Florida and while it is chilly initially getting in the water a CC in January - once you get used to it you are fine. And I have a pool heater so you know I like warm water! The slide, the snorkeling - all worth the temporary cold.


When are you going? Perhaps we will see you?

 

[sara mom]

We were on CC the fist week of December and I thought the water was chilly! And we are hardy NYer's. Rather than swim, we rented bikes and had a great time.

 

[tiger_fan3]

We will be on the ship with you! We are from Michigan, so if you get us anywhere near 70-80 degrees outside, my kids will be in the pool or ocean! We went last year at the end of November and it was about 70-75 degrees and sunny. We had no problem being in the water, it was quite nice.

 

[pb9000]

I am a South Floridian as well and we were at CC Dec. 16th. The water was freezing. It made swimming with the sting rays a little less pleasurable. We still went in the water, but we were shivering afterwards.

 

[tvguy]

I am a South Floridian as well and we were at CC Dec. 16th. The water was freezing. It made swimming with the sting rays a little less pleasurable. We still went in the water, but we were shivering afterwards.

Temperature is such a subjective thing. The record cold water temperature in the area of Castaway Cay is 73 degrees. That's over 40 degrees above freezing . Out here in California swim season starts when the water in the pools hit 68. We were on Castaway Cay on January 2 and the water temperature was 75, and the air temperature was 75, so it felt cool if you were wet and out of the water, but fine in the water.

 

[noahsketomom]

I'm so glad you started this, as I was getting a wee bit scared of how cold it would be for our cruise at the end of January.

I'm from New England, live on an island, but have no idea what's what when it comes to water temps. That said, I just looked up the average ocean temps for our area and discovered that the average AUGUST temperature here in Rhode Island is 70 degrees.

So I'm guessing my kiddos will think it's summer swimming at CC any time of the year....

 

[spacecanada]

Relative indeed. We did a DCL cruise in January 2009 when it was colder than usual for that time of year. We're from Canada and found the water a little cool to begin with but really comfortable once we got in. Kind of like an indoor pool - once you're in it's fine. The weather for the whole cruise was hot and sunny and we wore shorts and t-shirts the whole cruise.

 

[CruznLexi]

We did this back in 07 and we live in North Florida it was too cold for us! So we did the bike thing too.

 

[insureman]

I'm so glad you started this, as I was getting a wee bit scared of how cold it would be for our cruise at the end of January.

I'm from New England, live on an island, but have no idea what's what when it comes to water temps. That said, I just looked up the average ocean temps for our area and discovered that the average AUGUST temperature here in Rhode Island is 70 degrees.

So I'm guessing my kiddos will think it's summer swimming at CC any time of the year....

If you can swim at Horseneck beach or Easton's beach where you live in August than CC's water temperature is no problem.

 

[TXDCLfan]

On Jan. 3 my family will be on the Disney Dream with 2 stops at CC. We live in the south and are use to swimming in air temp of upper 80s to 100s. Is the water at CC water going to be too cold to swim when we get there since, it shows the air temp as being 70s to low 80s?

Trying to start packing and can't decide...more long pants, more shorts...light sweater, heavy sweatshirt? Any advice?

Thank you!

We are from Dallas and find the water way to cold to swim at CC Nov-March and for that reason have stopped cruising at those times of year.

 

[noahsketomom]

Thanks for that, insureman! That is VERY encouraging!! That's exactly where I'm talking about-- we live in Portsmouth!

If you can swim at Horseneck beach or Easton's beach where you live in August than CC's water temperature is no problem.

 

[fumipappa]

Last year, end of January to beginning of February, it was hot! Constantly above 80 during 7 days eastern. Only time kids did not go to water(pool or beach) was last day at port!

 

[momtoejanda]

Last year, end of January to beginning of February, it was hot! Constantly above 80 during 7 days eastern. Only time kids did not go to water(pool or beach) was last day at port!

Ditto this, we went the last week of Feb last year and we all got burnt on CC.

 

[Simba One]

Was also there Dec 16 and I am from Chicago. I went snorkeling and thought it was quite comfortable!

 

[lbgraves]

It really depends. We went on cruises in January in both 2010 & 2011. In 2010 it was hot the entire cruise and we had a beautiful day at CC. We usually cruise in December and the water is to cold for me to go in, but that never stops DH or the kids...or many others...from getting in the water. In 2011 it was the week most of U.S. got snow. We met up with the cold front in Cozumel and had rough weather the rest of the cruise. CC was cool and breezy, possibly low 60 air temps with a breezy. I wore a sweatshirt and we sat on the loungers with towels covering our legs. This was the first time that DH has not allowed the kids to go in the water at CC. There were only a few people in the water along the family beach. It really was too cold. Every other time I have worn my swim suit and a coverup on CC. That being said, relaxing on a lounger on the beach at CC playing angry birds is better than a day at work.

 

[Georgia3]

We sailed on the Magic January 3 2011 also a double dip. The water was colder then my kids would swim in but we purchased wet suits from Sam's Club about $30 each for the kids. The kids tried to swim with out them but, asked me to go back to the ship to get them. They swam the entire time both days with the wet suits on.

 

[disneystick]

Thank you all for the replies. Sounds like it could go either way hot enough to siwm or too cold to swim. Sounds like I better be prepared for both.

 

[luvdmouse]

Anyone know what the current weather for the next week or two is supposed to be like at CC? We leave in just over 2 weeks. We are from Chicago area. I know one of my kids will be in the water no matter what the temperature. I have a wet suit for that child, but am thinking I may need to look into a wet suit for my other kids.

 

[OKW Lover]

Best way to check weather in the Bahama's (should be the same for Nassau and Castaway Cay) is to go to www.weather.com and enter Nassau Bahamas for the location. Then look at the 10-day if you are close enough to your cruise. If you just want some general guidelines for weather conditions for a future cruise, look at the monthly tab.