Weather: Is it really warm enough to swim in December?

[Julanne]

OK. So blame me for not being able to engage my imagination, but I am having a hard time picturing swimming three weeks from now. It doesn't help that my DH keeps talking about packing jackets, etc. And it's not like we live somewhere cold! (Well, today it's 45 degrees and raining, so I guess it's all relative.) It's also not helping that the "typical" weather patterns that I can find for Orlando are between 52 and 72 degrees.

What should we be packing? Shorts and tank tops? Jackets and pants? All of the above? Help!

Thanks!

 

[mmouse37]

Are you taking the 7 day caribbean cruise or the 3/4 Bahamas cruise??? We have done the 7 day cruise in January and swam a lot at the the different ports. the only place we really could not swim was at our hotel pool in cocoa beach because the weather was about 35 degrees!!!

Key West, Cozumel were both very warm and Castaway Cay was sunny but breezy...some folks same there but I was afraid to. I would say December in the Caribbean would be fine for swiming...the Bahamas may be cooler as their weather is similar to Florida weather.

MJ

 

[MarkLem]

We were on the 7 day western last Jan 3-10, and swam everyday on the boat, and at all ports. Temps were in the 80's

 

[Julanne]

We are on the four day Wonder - Dec. 26th - 30th.

 

[macbasset]

We did the eastern last week in december and it was 85 degrees in st. martin and st. thomas/ st. john; however; it was around 61 degrees (air) at castaway cay and very few were braving the water. it was disappointing to us, since we love castaway cay. it was freezing when we left port canaveral, but dh and i were in the whirlpool/ hot tub by pool enjoying the warm water! We now prefer to go in the summer as we always did previously; we like to bake in the sun and swim the day away at castaway cay. we will be going over easter and hope march is warm enough to enjoy cc.

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

As long as the pool is heated, it is fine to swim during cooler weather. I know all WDW pools are heated, not sure about DCL. You just have to make sure you have a towel close by to walk quickly to (no running around the pool ) when you get out. Our family swims through the winter in outdoor heated pools and it really is ok.

 

[rae519]

Oh yeah!

Rae

 

[april riddle]

We swam in very warm water in St. Thomas - Castaway Cay last Friday I personally found a little too cool for my liking. I was hoping to snorkle to see the sunken Mickey but couldn't get used to the temp of the water. Plenty of people were swimming including my DH and two sons but I preferred sitting under the umbrella drinking Conk Coolers.

 

[TiggerKing]

Julanne:

We just returned from the 11/28 4 day, and I will give you the info of what we experienced:

We had average high temps around 74 degrees on CC and sea days. At Nassau, it did get up to 80 degrees. But, we were mostly cloudy during our trip. The pools on the ship are maintained at 80 degrees. So, swimming onboard was very comfortable. Since deck 9 has wind breaks around the pools, it was not bad for swimming.

CC was another story. The water temp at CC was only about 70-75 degrees, and it was quite breezy. I am the type who will go swimming in 60 degree rivers when I go rafting, but it took me several minutes to get fully submersed in the water at CC. Once I was in though, it was okay...until I came out. Then I was a little chilly.

If the weather had been mostly sunny, I expect the CC water temps would have been better. Hope this helps!

 

[Julanne]

Thank you all for your replies. It sounds like it may be too cold for me (I'm a wimp about swimming in cold weather!), but my dh and ds will probably take advantage of the pools and possibly the ocean if it's sunny enough. I'm actually a little relieved, since my son is just 2 1/2 and I was worried about trying to keep him out of the pools if it was too nice!

Thanks again!

 

[TheWog]

we'd be in heaven if the ocean got to 70-75 degrees around here even in the summer. We swam in January no problem, but we are used to colder temps. Leave the jackets though. Take up a lot of room.

 

[Julanne]

I guess I probably should have said "windbreakers" instead of "jackets" above. We live outside of L.A. so that's about as warm as our "jackets" get! (We did live in Michigan for 4 years, though, so I have somewhat of a reference point!)

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

We were on the Magic this past May and they most certainly did not heat the water in the adult pool! That was my only complaint about the entire trip!!

 

[dandbsmom]

Hello! We are booked on a cruise at the end of January and I am planning to take short wetsuits for the family. I am also worried about the temp of the water especially since we live in FL and are used to warm water! I have picked some up on Ebay and they are reasonable. I want my boys to get the most out of the water at CC! Just a suggestion.

 

[rae519]

I guess that's what I meant when I said it was warm enough to swim - I'm in northern Indiana!!!!

Rae

 

[TheWog]

I guess I probably should have said "windbreakers" instead of "jackets" above. We live outside of L.A. so that's about as warm as our "jackets" get! (We did live in Michigan for 4 years, though, so I have somewhat of a reference point!)

That's good. Windbreakers are better.... you may even want it if walking the deck at night. I was picturing 4 big winter parkas like we are breaking out about now, because of the snow we just got. Those would take up way too much space. Have a great cruise.

 

[TiggerKing]

We were on the Magic this past May and they most certainly did not heat the water in the adult pool! That was my only complaint about the entire trip!!

That surprises me! As I said, they kept the pools at 80 degrees on our cruise last week. Also, when in the pool, I could feel the heated water coming in through the filtration system. Maybe they assumed that in May the pool would be warm enough by sunlight!

 

[lbgraves]

Last week it was too cold to swim while we were in port Saturday. Most people had light jackets on at the sail away party. Saturday morning we woke up to warm weather & the kids wouldn't get out of the pools for long the rest of the week! CC was chilly but it didn't take long to get use to the water. It didn't bother the kids at all and they were in & out all day long. It was the same way for us last 11/15/03.