question about summer cruises

[kiddisney]

hi - we've been on multiple cruises - four in the fall - one on memorial day weekend - but now my daughter will be entering high school and we don't know about taking her out of school in the fall - so we're wondering about a summer cruise - we want to do the western cruise so it'll be about july 17th - is that a really hot time - we're from the northeast and there are times in october when it's warm for us down there - would july be too unbearable - thanks for all your help

 

[Hans Solo]

Hi kiddisney

There is a term that the weather people use here in our weather forecast....Triple H and no, that is not the name of a bar or ranch. It means Hazy, HOT, and Humid!!

That's how we grow our bugs bigger and bad.

 

[ChattyKathy]

I have read that it can be in the 108 degrees area....and that it gets so hot and yucky humid that you arent even comfortable walking around on the islands....You just want to stay in the good ole a/c.


I would opt earlier and go in the spring...usually the schools dont say a whole lot, it is an well-educational trip.


Good Luck!


Kathy

 

[kcashner]

Our first Disney cruise left the port on July 31. It was 106 degrees. The verandah was so hot that we couldn't touch the railing. IMHO, it was too hot to enjoy life outside of the air conditioning. Even the water was hot.

So...we cruise off season now. I'm told that it isn't always that bad in the summer, but that was our only experience.
Kathryn

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by kiddisney
hi - we've been on multiple cruises - four in the fall - one on memorial day weekend - but now my daughter will be entering high school and we don't know about taking her out of school in the fall - so we're wondering about a summer cruise - we want to do the western cruise so it'll be about july 17th - is that a really hot time - we're from the northeast and there are times in october when it's warm for us down there - would july be too unbearable - thanks for all your help

I can understand how you feel. I'm from the northeast too, grew up in NJ, now living in MA. Personally I don't have a problem with my DSs missing school for a family vacation. But now that they are in high school and middle school, its hard on THEM to have to come back and make up all the missed work. And these are honor roll students in advanced classes, not kids who struggle in school. It's the VOLUME of work that they have to make up. So, DH and I have decided that for now we'll try and take our big family vacations in the summer. Believe me, this doesn't thrill me, I prefer to vacation in early May, but I don't want to put all that extra work onto my DSs. As a side note, I know our school system doesn't have a problem as far as the kids being out for a vacation, and frankly if they DID have a problem with it I'd challenge it, but by middle and high school, the kids have to make up EVERY assignment they miss. So my issues have nothing to do with how the schools view this, rather it's out of concern for my DSs workload upon returning.

We're doing the western caribbean cruise next August.... I'm gonna die in all that heat!!! But I KNOW we will have an awesome time, despite the heat

 

[ChattyKathy]

in light of what Seaspray has posted is to maybe consider a spring break/Easter vacation.... Alot of schools are out for a few days then, there is Good Friday and Easter Monday alot of places...
Just a thought...





Kathy

 

[kiddisney]

thanks for the info -

i'm also not concerned w/what the school will say - we've always taken them out - but she wants to play sports - and between getting in shape & trying to make up the work we were questioning what to do -

and i think that you've helped to determine that the summer will be too hot -

so we've also checked out the prices - the easter week is over $3000 more than an october rate -

so we'll be discussing this - but thanks for the help -

 

[Mjasp]

I know this doesn't really answer the heat question, but check out Seaspray's and our cruise on 8/28/04. It is kind of an off season rate since most schools in the country have started back. Yeah it will be hot, but for the price its more bearable.

I always have taken my kids out also, but now in the higher grades and taking advanced and honor classes it gets tougher to justify pulling them for their workload sake.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by Mjasp
I know this doesn't really answer the heat question, but check out Seaspray's and our cruise on 8/28/04. It is kind of an off season rate since most schools in the country have started back. Yeah it will be hot, but for the price its more bearable.

Hi Joanne!!

I was just coming back online to suggest that the OP check out OUR cruise!! She's in NJ so I'm fairly certain that her kids won't be back in school yet, until after Labor Day. It's the last week of summer vacation for our kids PLUS the rates are excellent compared to every other week that summer.

kiddisney: Check out the rates here, just to get an idea of how much it'll cost www.allseastravel.com This TA lists the rates for each week, as well as for each cabin category and also for how many people you have cruising. Like Mjasp said, it will be hot, but it's hot ALL summer anyway, so I honestly don't think going the last week of August will be any worse than any other summer week. (Of course, we can't predict the weather so I'm speaking in generalities here!)

Here's a link to our August 28, 2004 thread that Mjasp started this past summer: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=384562 We've got a great group of DISers cruising with us, all different age groups of kids, too.

Happy planning!!

 

[AnnaS]

We have done two cruises, Eastern and Western - both during the month of July. Is it hot? of course it is - but more than half the time we are near a/c and water to cool off. We have the inside of the Magic and the pool or yes, shower if crowded to cool off. We have done exersions (sp?) that mostly include the ocean. If you decide to do a lot of walking/shopping/sightseeing, it might be uncomfortable. We really had no problem. We will be doing this again summer of 2005. One of my sons is in high school and the principal will not hear of any taking kids out of school unless you have a family emergency, death, sickness only. My daughter is in the fifth grade now and I would not take her out more than a day or two. One son is now a freshman in college and there is no way he would/could miss classes. Our vacation time is pretty much limited - sometimes even during holiday breaks, coaches still hold games/practices, etc. Good luck in your decision.

 

[tigger53]

we've done all 5 of our cruises in july and didn't find it to be uncomfortable at all. if we did an excursion it usually had an airconditioned bus or something like that, or a beach excursion kept us cool. i really don't remember ever feeling overly hot or uncomfortable and like it was already posted a/c is always near by on the ship or when your shopping.

 

[kiddisney]

thank you all - we'll be scheduling our cruise next weekend - i'm not sure when it'll be - but we'll see what's available - thanks again