What to pack 12/2/16 cruise. Hot or chilly

[DONALDDUC]

I have been on 6 disney cruises always in May but this year its going to be December. It is only a 3 day cruise to bahamas but I dont want to over pack. Can anyone make any suggestions? I dont want to bring long pants/ sweater/ hoodie if its not needed.

 

[DISNEYFAN3260]

I have been on 6 disney cruises always in May but this year its going to be December. It is only a 3 day cruise to bahamas but I dont want to over pack. Can anyone make any suggestions? I dont want to bring long pants/ sweater/ hoodie if its not needed.

I'll be on the same cruise! A few years ago we did this cruise during the first week in December and I definitely found it chilly - it was too cool to be comfortable in swimwear at Serenity Bay, for example. I just used towels as blankets all day because I refused to go back on the boat and lose time on Castaway Cay! It was still a fantastic day.

I've done a little research on average temperatures in the Bahamas this time and it looks like mid to upper 70s are fairly typical highs, so temps were lower than usual on my last December trip. Since I'll be traveling from Chicago to PC, I'll have a pair of jeans and sweatshirt with me anyway. IMO, I think it would be smart to have one pair of pants and at least a long sleeved shirt with you, just in case it's cool in the evenings. Hopefully you won't need them.

 

[Anna114]

I suppose a lot of your information should come from where you live and what port are you leaving from.

 

[DONALDDUC]

I'll be on the same cruise! A few years ago we did this cruise during the first week in December and I definitely found it chilly - it was too cool to be comfortable in swimwear at Serenity Bay, for example. I just used towels as blankets all day because I refused to go back on the boat and lose time on Castaway Cay! It was still a fantastic day.

I've done a little research on average temperatures in the Bahamas this time and it looks like mid to upper 70s are fairly typical highs, so temps were lower than usual on my last December trip. Since I'll be traveling from Chicago to PC, I'll have a pair of jeans and sweatshirt with me anyway. IMO, I think it would be smart to have one pair of pants and at least a long sleeved shirt with you, just in case it's cool in the evenings. Hopefully you won't need them.

 

[Weedy]

Depends on the year. We cruised one year in October the weather was nice at Castaway but the water was too cold. We cruised last year at Christmas our cruise stopped at Key West it was so hot we had to get back on the ship (we're from Orlando). Castaway was beautiful the water was a little cool getting in but was great once you were in.

 

[DONALDDUC]

I was afraid of that. Lol. We are coming from Buffalo which is normally cold but we never really had a winter last year. So it looks like I will have to pack a variety.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I was afraid of that. Lol. We are coming from Buffalo which is normally cold but we never really had a winter last year. So it looks like I will have to pack a variety.

Just check the weather forecast before you leave. That should give you more details than any speculation three months ahead of time.

 

[kiford]

It can vary widely. We did a 3/4 B2B a few years ago. The first stop at CC was warm, sunny, and beautiful. The second stop only a few days later was overcast, windy and a bit too chilly for me (this was early December). I always bring at least a fleece or sweatshirt partly because I find it cold in some of the MDRs and the theatre and it can be cold on deck after dark. I usually travel in jeans so I have them but don't have to pack them (plus it's cold from where I'm coming from). Also make sure I have at least one long sleeve top but also some short sleeve ones, again partly because it's chilly inside and sometimes I want my arms covered to keep me comfortable during dinner.

 

[MPS516]

Hot or Chilly ?

Yes ! !

we found ourselves wearing shorts and t-shirts during the day, hot walking around ports. evenings were chilly and wrapped in towels or jackets watching the funnel vision on deck after the sun goes down. that time of the year we have found ourselves wearing shorts in key west when others are in coats and hat. also have never been to castaway cay and not been able to swim, again others found water way too cold to even wade.

 

[NancyIL]

I can tell you that mid-December 2010 was mighty chilly in the Bahamas, and downright cold (upper 30s) at WDW. As mentioned, check the weather forecasts just before you leave home, but at the least - bring a light jacket.

 

[Anna114]

I was afraid of that. Lol. We are coming from Buffalo which is normally cold but we never really had a winter last year. So it looks like I will have to pack a variety.

Buffalo... you should be warm at 50 lol. I'm from Long Island and 60 is a great day. My brother lived in Anchorage for 2 years, 30 was his warm spot.

 

[tlprice]

I have been on 6 disney cruises always in May but this year its going to be December. It is only a 3 day cruise to bahamas but I dont want to over pack. Can anyone make any suggestions? I dont want to bring long pants/ sweater/ hoodie if its not needed.

We were on Castaway Cay December 15th last year and it was wonderful. The water was perfect, the weather was perfect. It was cold in the MDRs and I was glad to have a sweater. When we got back to WDW on the 18th and 19th it was winter coat cold. By the 24th it was HOT. You just never know that time of year. I packed a little for all possible situations and did laundry on the ship.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We were on Castaway Cay December 15th last year and it was wonderful. The water was perfect, the weather was perfect. It was cold in the MDRs and I was glad to have a sweater. When we got back to WDW on the 18th and 19th it was winter coat cold. By the 24th it was HOT. You just never know that time of year. I packed a little for all possible situations and did laundry on the ship.

Last December was unusually warm most of the month... I'd say normaly in December you need a bunch of layering pieces.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Buffalo... you should be warm at 50 lol. I'm from Long Island and 60 is a great day. My brother lived in Anchorage for 2 years, 30 was his warm spot.

Lol
Even when we lived in Toronto where the average winter temp was 28 degrees, going to Florida in the winter it never felt hot for us in the 60's...
We won't swim in the pools at wdw unless it's upper 70's at least.
Summers in Toronto are almost as hot and humid as Florida though... Uggh

 

[PlanoNana]

As they say for winter climates - layer, layer, layer. Just take some stuff you can add on or take off.

 

[Starwind]

We just bring clothes that layer well and add as many as required.

SW