Wonder out of Galveston in December

[AU Dre]

Anyone have any experience with leaving out of Galveston in December?
We are looking at a possible trip on the December 15th cruise out of Galveston. My worry is that it will be too cold during that time to really enjoy most of the outdoorstuff until we get a good bit further south?
We have cruised two times from Port Canaveral in December, but of course that is a good bit further south of a starting point. We have always been able to get right on the ship and into the pools in Port Canaveral.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[dcassetta]

Galveston and Port Canaveral have similar latitudes and south Texas does not get much winter. The Gulf is likely to still be relatively warm.

 

[MUN]

Anyone have any experience with leaving out of Galveston in December?
We are looking at a possible trip on the December 15th cruise out of Galveston. My worry is that it will be too cold during that time to really enjoy most of the outdoorstuff until we get a good bit further south?
We have cruised two times from Port Canaveral in December, but of course that is a good bit further south of a starting point. We have always been able to get right on the ship and into the pools in Port Canaveral.
Thanks for any advice.

We took a NYE cruise out of Galveston last December. It was a bit nippy on the day we departed, but very warm the rest of the cruise, but not hot, like it is in the summer. It was a very enjoyable cruise.

MUN

 

[Chica1581]

We did one last year for thanksgiving and it was great. We took light sweaters and we didn't need them. It was wonderful weather.

 

[donkthemagicllama]

We cruised out of Galveston in December 2013. It was freezing (maybe 40s) in Galveston when we left for the sail away party, but when we woke up the next morning en route to key west, it was great, probably mid 70s, and was great for the remainder of the cruise. We swam in the pools and at Nassau and castaway cay. Until the morning we arrived back in Galveston, when it was freezing again.

 

[jlynch924]

We've cruised out of Galveston twice. Once just before New Year's (December 28) and it was chilly in Galveston (sweatshirts) and got warmer on day two. Last December, we headed out on December 11 and it was warm!

 

[sarah_carter]

Anyone have any experience with leaving out of Galveston in December?
We are looking at a possible trip on the December 15th cruise out of Galveston. My worry is that it will be too cold during that time to really enjoy most of the outdoorstuff until we get a good bit further south?
We have cruised two times from Port Canaveral in December, but of course that is a good bit further south of a starting point. We have always been able to get right on the ship and into the pools in Port Canaveral.
Thanks for any advice.

I live in Texas I am about 8 hours from Galveston and its usually in the 60's during the day but be prepared for rain. Last year we left out of Galveston and it was raining and when we got back no rain and we didn't need jackets only just for the first day

 

[aggiedog]

We live 2 hours from Galveston. Swimming pools in December are iffy, unless they are well heated. Schlitterbahn has an indoor waterpark in Galveston, if you really want to play in the water before/after the cruise. We did a December 24 cruise last year. It was 60 and balmy when we left and 40 and blustery when we returned.

 

[MUN]

We live 2 hours from Galveston. Swimming pools in December are iffy, unless they are well heated. Schlitterbahn has an indoor waterpark in Galveston, if you really want to play in the water before/after the cruise. We did a December 24 cruise last year. It was 60 and balmy when we left and 40 and blustery when we returned.

We had the cruise after you and the wind really howled that night as you were coming in. I really felt for the passengers, as I suspected it would be a rough trip coming in to Galveston. The day before was in the 70's with off and on rain. Not quite beach weather, but warmer than where we are from.

MUN

 

[AndreAggie]

Another thing to consider is fog. Ships are often delayed getting into the port on departure mornings due to fog. I live at 2.5 hours from Galveston and have cruised in January 3 times. It's usually cool (in the 50s) and humid. I'd recommend a jacket for the decks. It's really noticeable as you make your way back the day before debarkation. Aside from swimming (unless it's raining) you should be able to enjoy the outdoor stuff. I can't say if the pools have been heated. As you get further south, it'll be a lot more comfortable.

Two years ago we were on a Carnival cruise and were headed back to Texas and a cold front had blown through. Roads were icy just north of Houston. The wind coming off the water was flat out cold. It was a sea day and it was rainy, windy and cold. The ship was so crowded because nobody wanted to be outside!

 

[Steelers0854]

Another thing to consider is fog. Ships are often delayed getting into the port on departure mornings due to fog. I live at 2.5 hours from Galveston and have cruised in January 3 times. It's usually cool (in the 50s) and humid. I'd recommend a jacket for the decks. It's really noticeable as you make your way back the day before debarkation. Aside from swimming (unless it's raining) you should be able to enjoy the outdoor stuff. I can't say if the pools have been heated. As you get further south, it'll be a lot more comfortable.

Two years ago we were on a Carnival cruise and were headed back to Texas and a cold front had blown through. Roads were icy just north of Houston. The wind coming off the water was flat out cold. It was a sea day and it was rainy, windy and cold. The ship was so crowded because nobody wanted to be outside!

Agree completely. Fog is the major concern. Much more so out of Houston than Galveston but still impacts Galveston quite a bit.

We departed almost 24 hours late (after 6 hours in delay for boarding) from Houston on one sailing. But since Galveston is further south the delays are much less, but it can also impact incoming ships with delayed boarding times etc.