Would you cruise in October? In a VGT stateroom?

[mrsgthatsme]

We just ran across a great deal on a VGT stateroom during a 4 day weekend from school in October. We cancelled our cruise with my extended family twice during COVID's worse period, so we were excited at the prospect of sailing again. We have never cruised in anything but an assigned stateroom. We have also always cruised in April or May. Would love to hear thoughts from those who have cruised in a VGT or during October. I know that April and May in the Bahamas are good weather months overall. I know that October is still hurricane season, but other than that, is the weather commonly windy or rainy? Would seas be rougher than in the spring? We would hate to miss CC due to weather issues when it is just a 4 day cruise. Also wondering if there are many "bad" veranda staterooms on the Dream. In a perfect world, we like midship or a little bit aft, and don't love the prospect of being right under a noisy area like the dining room or theatre, but obviously we would have no say with a VGT. I also am aware that VGT fares are nonrefundable, but do you still have the option to bump your cruise to a later sailing if you need to (huge COVID spike, etc...) My parents would be coming and are healthy, but in their 70's so if things suddenly got significantly worse with COVID, they might be less comfortable sailing. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[maui2k5]

We are sailing on VGT this coming October for 4 nights over a long weekend from school also and will be cruising out of Miami. Yes, there is a chance of hurricanes that time of the year and yes it is possible our cruise could miss CC or even be cancelled. However, being that we live on the gulf (Houston), we do not really focus too much on Oct being a very high risk hurricane time of year. Storms can make the ocean more rough even when far away.

Regarding VGT, we booked VGT last Dec on the Wonder and were port side Aft. There was more vibration than we remembered, but there was all over the ship to be quite honest. We saved 35% off of choosing our verandah room so for us it is worth it. Also, if we do not like our assigned stateroom, we can see about an upgrade at the port. This will be our first cruise on the Dream so being on the ship anywhere will be ok with us (well we don’t want to be right under Cabanas or the drink station).

Now, having said that, if having the option to choose a room is worth the premium for you, book the room you like and skip VGT.

Regarding cancelation, you can always get trip insurance with cancel for any reason even for VGT. Insurance would cover a certain % based on what policy you go with.

As for COVID, that is simply a risk we have to learn to live with every day. If you or your parents are not comfortable with the risk right now, maybe you should look at April instead after winter has passed. No telling if things will the same, worse or better than things currently are.

This all comes from a family who had to cancel their UNI/WDW trip in late July 12 hours before our flight due to my vaccinated and boosted wife coming down with COVID (all 4 of us eventually came down with it - a bad cold for us). We regrouped, rescheduled our trip to spring break and snuck in a Dream cruise in Oct since we could get VGT.

Hope this helps a little.

 

[auntlynne]

You know the answer. It depends on the gamble of getting a room that you don’t like. Weather that is, well, weather - as unpredictable months in advance as October weather is.

October is not a bad month for cruising the Bahamas. Peak hurricane season runs August to late September, with a day mid-September being the most common.

I cruised Sep 20 last year. Beautiful weather. My sister went to St Thomas in Sep 2017. Hurricane Irma hit (There was warning ahead of time - probably a week - that conditions were worsening.). Just check before you get on the plane.

But on a good day, pretty typical, the air and water temps will still be warm but not the hot hot of summer. I have never had a lot of rain on these or Caribbean cruises. The big rain dumps probably come with hurricanes. But rain on any day is somewhat usual - sort of like the afternoon shower in FL.

If a room location could ruin your vacation, don’t book the GT rate. I always book it based on the assumption I will get the worst cabin (based on my annoyances - crew doors slamming through the night). If that is going to bother me, I pay to pick my room. Or don’t cruise at all. My sister still complains about her cabin from a 2013 cruise. There are a lot of cabins I had that I can’t remember. GT rate or list price, I have had very few bad cabins. But some annoyances. Didn’t keep me from cruising again. (I also sleep with a CPAP and it’s noise. Consider a white noise machine if you are a light sleeper. (It is noise that is my only significant concern). Location, not a dealbreaker.

It’s nice to save some money on anything Disney priced.

 

[mrsgthatsme]

Thank you for your thoughts! It’s good to hear that other than the hurricane potential, October is a good time to sail weather wise. I think fir us, it is either so the VGT on this cruise or not take the cruise at all, as the rate difference is substantial and this was a last minute idea! I think it may come down to my parents’ comfort level with the COVID risk, as it sounds like October and VGT would both be very doable. Thanks for your input!

 

[auntlynne]

Thank you for your thoughts! It’s good to hear that other than the hurricane potential, October is a good time to sail weather wise. I think fir us, it is either so the VGT on this cruise or not take the cruise at all, as the rate difference is substantial and this was a last minute idea! I think it may come down to my parents’ comfort level with the COVID risk, as it sounds like October and VGT would both be very doable. Thanks for your input!

I have done 4 cruises since restart. Been on multiple vacations during the slumps in case counts, including WDW.

In July, I went in for two day visits to get infusions of immune globulin to boost my immune system (autoimmune disease - my body likes to fight itself). Wouldn’t you know it - came down with Covid. I had not gotten a transfusion since April 2020. Since I only had mild bronchitis symptoms, I can laugh at the irony.

Not trying to convince your parents to go - everyone needs to follow their own instincts.

I totally get the $$ issue for cruising DCL. I have a flexible enough schedule to go based on lower prices. (Not school breaks).

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I’ve done Nov and missed CC because of storms that were like tropical depressions that form into hurricanes but since season was over - they couldn’t call them that !
I’ve also gone and weather was amazing
I’ve gone and it drizzled off and on all day
It’s hit or miss
Would I do VGT - YES - just did one in May - got midship - slightly start of Aft - I prefer Aft but for the cost savings I’d do it again !
Book it and I hope you have a fabulous cruise 🛳

 

[Cheburashka]

The weather is fantastic in late October in particular. GT cruises are subject to DCL's Flexible Refund Policy just like any other cruise. No, the Dream does not have many bad verandah staterooms. Your worst luck would be to get assigned a handicapped stateroom which is weirdly shaped (though bigger) and has no bathtub, just a shower with no lip, so the bathroom floor gets wet every time someone takes a shower.

 

[mrsgthatsme]

Thanks to all for the great comments and encouragement! I pulled up the map of available veranda rooms for that cruise and there seem to be a lot of them! I was a little nervous to notice that several blocks of the available rooms were either below the pool and the Tube vision and right outside the Vibe entrance. Has anyone had rooms in these areas? The floor directly below the pool concerns me especially, due to the possible noise when chairs are moved, movies are playing, etc. I’m really not nearly as concerned about being forward, midship, or aft or on a certain deck, but the thought of extreme noise would be a concern.

 

[mmouse37]

We do most of our cruises in October. Yes, we have been impacted in the past by a hurricane but they can happen anytime as hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th.

As far as VGT we have booked them several times as well. Most recently we booked 2 cabins in July on the Dream out of Miami and were assigned two midship Deck 9 fantastic rooms that connected. We have never been assigned a bad room. I would say to book it. There are really no horrible rooms onboard.

MJ