October or March? When to go

[Haley]

I need help deciding on when to do our next DCL cruise - DH and I have cruised with DCL multiples times before we had kids - we would just book the cheapest dates so we've mostly been in the fall- like Oct/Nov. We have always had good luck - no hurricanes and never missed CC.

Now we have two small kids and want to go on a 4 night with my inlaws (who have never cruised). If the price was about the same, would you go in October '16 or March '17?

I know in Oct the weather will be warm but I would hate it if we missed CC/hit a hurricane. But the Halloween decorations would be fun plus we could do a few nights in WDW for Food & Wine, MNSSHP.

Or we could do March '17 for dd's birthday. No hurricanes but would the Bahamas be cold then?

WWYD?

 

[over50visits]

Excellent points on both sides. In October, the chances of hurricanes drop dramatically through the month, but they are still there. Bad weather would likely keep you from CC, and Disney seems to skirt to close to the bad weather too often for a day or more of the cruise. As for water in March...we've found it to be usually warm enough in February, though this year it was a bit cool for our cruise (though it had been perfect the week before we were there!). Life gets better in March.

The flower and garden festival started on March 2 this year, we went, and they had a number of food stations similar to the food and wine in the fall.

So much to do on the cruise, but for many Castaway Cay is the highlight. October and March seem silvery risks for very different reasons. I bet you'll be fine either way.

 

[plutos1fan]

Hi,

While I have never cruised with Disney in March, I think it would be a good time to go because then you would not have to worry about hurricanes like you mentioned. My family has been on a cruise where the ship had to change itineraries back in 2005 because of a hurricane. I also like the idea of your family celebrating a birthday on the ship, which I have personally done and it a blast! I also have taken a Disney cruise and done a few days at WDW and attended MNSSHP. The party was fun, but really crowded! We did not do any trick or treating but the lines looked so long. It was also really hot when we did WDW last year in September. I know you said you would go in October, but the weather may be similar you never know . Bottom line, I would do March! Have fun no matter when you go on Disney Cruise Line!

 

[darkwing818]

OP; we've done both, & honestly you can't go wrong with either. But for us we'd do October, as you mentioned October is F&WF time & that's always a favorite for us. In fact we've been doing the festival for the last 3 days, love the Slushy Martini at the French kiosk. It's the first time in 3 years that we haven't combined a cruise with our F&WF visit but couldn't schedule both this year. Enjoy your cruise which ever you pick.

Cheers