Temps during Jan-Feb

[CrystalS]

What is the temperature like on a cruise in Jan, Feb?

I'd like to go in Sept this year, but DS won't be 3 until Jan 20th and wouldn't be able to go to the kids club (only flounders).
I feel like he'd be to "old" for flounders, so wondering about waiting until he turns 3 to go on a cruise.

Is it warm enough in Jan/Feb to swim at the beaches, etc? Or is it pretty chilly?
If its too cold we'll wait to go when its warm enough, as that is half the fun for us.
So if it IS too cold in Jan/Feb, when would you go so that you could comfortably swim?

 

[Sccrmnky2005]

What is the temperature like on a cruise in Jan, Feb?

I'd like to go in Sept this year, but DS won't be 3 until Jan 20th and wouldn't be able to go to the kids club (only flounders).
I feel like he'd be to "old" for flounders, so wondering about waiting until he turns 3 to go on a cruise.

Is it warm enough in Jan/Feb to swim at the beaches, etc? Or is it pretty chilly?
If its too cold we'll wait to go when its warm enough, as that is half the fun for us.
So if it IS too cold in Jan/Feb, when would you go so that you could comfortably swim?

On our past cruise on the March 8th wonder the water at CC was ice cold. We did finally get in a snorkle for a little while. But if you really want to have warm water I would wait till late summer when the water is warming up.

 

[KLR-wlv]

You didn't say whether this is the wonder or magic you're planning - in the bahamas and CC yes I think it will likely be chilly for swimming - but if you are going on a 7 nighter - from what I have read (we are going on the feb 6 western) it is definitely swimmable further south.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

It can be a bit chilly in the evening. We all take a sweater to dinner.

 

[Fawn]

We love the warm day, cool evening weather of a January cruise! I've done an August cruise, and absolutely hated the HOT HOT days in port!

Evenings do get chilly outdoors sometimes. We've been on about 8 January cruises, and only not gotten in the water at Castaway Cay one time. We've found on Castaway it's all about the weather. If it's warm, the water feels fine. If it's a chilly day, water feels cold.

 

[wdwwishes]

We've cruised twice in March to the Bahamas and it's been wonderful just to lay out etc. Both times have been very breezy and the water at CC was chilly., too chilly for me to get in but my kids eventually did but were cold when they came out.

 

[3mmm]

Our first cruise was Feb 7th or so way back in 2003. It was absolutely frigid at the port in Cape Canaveral. We had all our warm clothes on for the sailaway - sweat pants and shirts and spring jackets and were freezing (and we are from Michigan, so the cold doesn't usually bother us that much)!!

We thought great - we're gonna have fun! But the next morning it was perfect - we used the pools all week and swam at CC - no problems. And it was the usual Florida weather when we got back 7 days later.

It's like anything else - you could have a cool week, but you could have unfavorable weather anytime of the year

 

[kcashner]

The weather in January and February is extremely variable. We've done the same week the last 3 years. 2007--fine...a little cool, but ok 2008--COLD--couldn't swim at all 2009--warm and wonderful. CMs said best weather in past 2 months.

We've done July...much to hot an humid for me. My favorite time is September!

 

[binky1]

Okay, it's all relative. You are coming from BC, I'm from Ottawa - we travelled at the end of January and the weather was perfect!! The ocean was warm for us (considering the Rideau is frozen over at that time of year) but others complained that it was too cool. I would wait - late Jan/early Feb is perfect and "cheaper" too.

Good luck in your decision....

 

[CrystalS]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm sure we could handle cooler water seeing as we swim in cool water in summer here, lol. But since it would be a vacation, I'd love to have nice warm water

 

[tvguy]

The coldest water temperature ever recorded in the Bahamas is 72 degrees.
I will leave it to everyone here to determine if they think that is cold.
(Okay, my two cents, that's plenty warm to swim)

 

[hgon76]

We cruised in January on the Eastern. CC water temp was a little chilly for me. But, I am also the type of person who has to be uncomfortably hot before I'll get in the water. My kids swam at CC no problem. I went in the water in St. Maarten, it was beautiful there! And I got in briefly in St Thomas, weather was not ideal that day. But my kids and husband both swam at the beach that day even with the overcast and occasional shower. All in all, the sea days were nice. Warm during the day, a little cooler at night, but I never needed more than a light sweater on deck and even swam in the pool a couple nights. I'm doing the same cruise next January if that gives you any indication of how much I enjoyed my January cruise!