To dock or not dock, that is the question.

[Moonlady]

We will be on the Disney Wonder 3 day, departing Jan 8. I have seen many discussions on the number of times the ship has not docked.

Would someone please fill me in on what the conditions would have to be like for the capt. to decide not to dock in Nassau and Castaway Cay? Heavy rain? Seas over __? feet or Swells over feet__? Rain AND rough seas need to BOTH be present in the conditions?

I have been checking the weather forecast (have longitude and latitude for Castaway Cay, but can't figure out how to use them on the weather forecast sites.) However, I have the forecast for Nassau and we may get some rain.

Has anyone researched the weather before going, gotten a rainy report and NOT been hampered by bad weather after getting to the islands?

If you have had bad weather what did you do for activities? Were you still able to snorkel? I assume you can still snorkel as long as no lightning (sp?) is present?

I guess I'm just nervous about the weather because this is my mother's first cruise (not mine, but I have not had bad weather,) and she is paying for the trip.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[vgaskin]

The times that the ship has not docked at CC has been very minimal. Someone has been doing research and the successful docking at CC is between 95-98% range. I would not listen to weather reports as alot get it wrong and with being on a ship, it all has to do with timing. If the weather gets bad enough, the captain will change course and you may get a stop at a port you weren't expecting but that is rare too. Wind is the big factor with docking at CC. I think it has been very sunny and perfect weather but the wind was too high or had been high and the seas were still very rough. I would not worry about it, there is nothing you can do about it at this point. Disney will make the best of it regardless of the weather you are given. Here is the website that lists the weather for the ports that you will be at. Go here http://www.dcltribute.com and then click on weather or something. sorry, my direct link was for the WEstern but you should be able to find the weather page, and it will bring up all your ports with forcasts and so forth.

 

[Moonlady]

Thanks for the great weather link!

Ok, I know I'm fretting, but what does "scattered clouds" mean to ya'll?

Is it uncomfortable snorkeling when the air temp is 68 degrees?

 

[kcashner]

Docking in Castaway and at Nassau are very likely...don't believe weather reports. Most likely, the captain will try to dock, and only then decide that it won't work, regardless of the weather. I've also seen them try to back in, then decide to come in bow first, or the other way around.

The only place we've had problems several times is Grand Cayman, because they use tenders there. Rough seas can make it unsafe to tender.

 

[vgaskin]

And you are still about a week out so hopefully they are wrong. But if it is just sprinkles or scattered, you can swim/snorkel, etc. And if it is 68 degrees, it will be cold entering(water tends to be cold near the Bahamas anyway) and especially when you get out. But we had perfect weather on our November cruise, 80's and sun everyday, but when we stepped off the ship in Florida, it was in the 40's, never got out of the 40's that day and we were only spending one night at the Beach Club which is my daughters' fav pool. I kept them out of it until about 2 and then I finally let them go in. I stayed out. They had a ball. I had plenty of towels waiting when they stepped out of the pool and we only stayed for about 1 1/2 hours. The next day it was in the low 60-s and I swam with them and it wasn't bad. But that was heated pools. I don't know that you would be snorkeling all day but you should be able to for awhile.