Would you cruise the Caribbean in late August

[otten]

I'm trying to plan our next Disney Cruise. We did Eastern Caribbean on the Magic in April 2015 but our kids were 3.5 and 10 months and a bit young to get the most out of it. I really want to go again but now we are someone tied to school schedules which leaves us with Christmas break ($$$$$$ yikes), Spring break and summer. From a price standpoint end of August works best because we don't go back until after labour day and the prices don't seem quite so high as earlier in the summer.

But what about hurricanes? We were at Disney World during Hurricane Matthew. It wasn't ideal but it was okay. It seems like the likelihood of a storm impacting a cruise is higher though so I wonder how people feel about cruising in late summer.

 

[fredandkell]

Personally I will never book a cruuse in hurricane season again (after my last year’s Irma-ed out fiasco). Others may be more comfortable with the risk. There’s a reason they’re discounted!

 

[Dug720]

Hurricanes are definitely a possibility. The ship will do what it can to avoid them - but sometimes things happen. As long as you are comfortable with any of the following things happening, there's no reason not to...

1 - An itinerary change - either complete (such as an Eastern to a Western or the other way around) or one or more ports.
2 - A shortened cruise if the only safe thing is to get you back early.
3 - A lengthened cruise if the port is closed for a day or longer.
4 - A cancellation all together .

I would definitely invest in trip insurance though. And definitely plan on arriving in the area at least a day ahead of time.

 

[otten]

O

Personally I will never book a cruuse in hurricane season again (after my last year’s Irma-ed out fiasco). Others may be more comfortable with the risk. There’s a reason they’re discounted!

Out of curiosity, what did Disney do about your cruise during Irma?

 

[otten]

Hurricanes are definitely a possibility. The ship will do what it can to avoid them - but sometimes things happen. As long as you are comfortable with any of the following things happening, there's no reason not to...

1 - An itinerary change - either complete (such as an Eastern to a Western or the other way around) or one or more ports.
2 - A shortened cruise if the only safe thing is to get you back early.
3 - A lengthened cruise if the port is closed for a day or longer.
4 - A cancellation all together .

I would definitely invest in trip insurance though. And definitely plan on arriving in the area at least a day ahead of time.

We're Canadian. I never travel to the US without travel insurance.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I would do it, but definitely purchase trip insurance. Then again, we flew into Orlando for a WDW vacation 2 days before Hurricane Irma hit. Pretty much everyone thought we were nuts to be flying into the area, but we had a great trip with just a 2 day interruption of park time.

 

[starvenger]

This year will be my third late August Caribbean cruise. All of the things @Dug720 mentioned are a possibility. We just barely dodged Irma (I think it was Irma) last year. Touch wood, we'll be fine this year.

We're Canadian. I never travel to the US without travel insurance.

Very true.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I'm trying to plan our next Disney Cruise. We did Eastern Caribbean on the Magic in April 2015 but our kids were 3.5 and 10 months and a bit young to get the most out of it. I really want to go again but now we are someone tied to school schedules which leaves us with Christmas break ($$$$$$ yikes), Spring break and summer. From a price standpoint end of August works best because we don't go back until after labour day and the prices don't seem quite so high as earlier in the summer.

But what about hurricanes? We were at Disney World during Hurricane Matthew. It wasn't ideal but it was okay. It seems like the likelihood of a storm impacting a cruise is higher though so I wonder how people feel about cruising in late summer.

Personally, I think late August is a great time to go. Our kids go back just before Labor day, so we could only do the second to last week in August, which was still thousands cheaper than the rest of the summer. At the time, I looked with envy at that last week in August, which was even cheaper still.

Sure, hurricanes happen, and no matter what time of year, I would suggest THIRD PARTY trip insurance. There are plenty of reasons MUCH more likely than a hurricane that might cancel your trip, no matter when you go. (Illness, injury, flight issues, job stuff, etc.) So, to me, trip insurance is worth it, if only to eliminate the worry.

So if your school doesn't go back until after Labor Day, I'd say you have a built in advantage over most of the country that you should definitely look to utilize. Of course, it is fairly hot and all, but the breeze is nice and the water is refreshing, and it is all good. And the A/C inside the ship is quite effective any time you get too hot.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[starvenger]

So if your school doesn't go back until after Labor Day, I'd say you have a built in advantage over most of the country that you should definitely look to utilize. Of course, it is fairly hot and all, but the breeze is nice and the water is refreshing, and it is all good. And the A/C inside the ship is quite effective any time you get too hot.

That's basically us. I think most of Canada has school starting after Labour Day. Be prepared for a ton of people apologizing to you for no reason whatsoever.

 

[FSU Girl]

It's definitely a risk to go during hurricane season and the weather channel sent my phone an alert today predicting a higher than normal hurricane season. I would just get trip insurance and go in knowing that it is possible things could get changed due to one. I live in Florida and travel a lot during the hurricane season months so I just hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

 

[fredandkell]

O


Out of curiosity, what did Disney do about your cruise during Irma?

Disney was fantastic and let us change to a future cruise; no complaints about them! It was more the uncertainty first of “will the cruise go or not, what ports will we visit or not” and then the disappointment of telling the kids “guess what, we’re not actually going.” And we had it much better than those who were already down in Florida and had to deal with multiple other issues.

So just for us we don’t want to deal with potential hurricane drama again having gone thru it once. I know many hurricane cruises go off without a hitch but ours didn’t.

 

[CamColt]

We often sail in August, and while we have had some itinerary changes due to hurricanes, I would not hesitate to go again. In fact, we are doing B2B Bahamian cruises this August.

 

[hcox31]

We're cruising second last week of August this year. (Canadian here too, starting school after labour day). The thought of hurricanes didn't enter my mind honestly. But we have travel insurance so not worried too much about it. I have faith in the Disney Ship Gods that they would keep us safe.

 

[mevelandry]

I'm trying to plan our next Disney Cruise. We did Eastern Caribbean on the Magic in April 2015 but our kids were 3.5 and 10 months and a bit young to get the most out of it. I really want to go again but now we are someone tied to school schedules which leaves us with Christmas break ($$$$$$ yikes), Spring break and summer. From a price standpoint end of August works best because we don't go back until after labour day and the prices don't seem quite so high as earlier in the summer.

But what about hurricanes? We were at Disney World during Hurricane Matthew. It wasn't ideal but it was okay. It seems like the likelihood of a storm impacting a cruise is higher though so I wonder how people feel about cruising in late summer.

As long as you are okay with your cruise being cancelled at the last minute, or shortened at the last minute (the opposite also happened before) or a major itinerary change at the last minute, you'll be fine. But be aware that this can happen. Every year, many cruises are drastically modified because of hurricanes.

 

[mevelandry]

That's basically us. I think most of Canada has school starting after Labour Day. Be prepared for a ton of people apologizing to you for no reason whatsoever.

That would be correct.

 

[Frozen2014]

We're another in the list of going last week in August before our kids return to school. We're looking for good insurance and definitely will purchase. We're prepared for worst scenario but hoping for the best. I'm ok with hot weather as a cruise is about swimming at the pool and beach.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yes, I'd book a cruise in late August. Or any other time during the 6-month hurricane "season". Not at all worried about it. If a hurricane happens, DCL will simply sail elsewhere.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I cruise in September every year. My biggest concern is a storm hitting where we live while I’m gone. Have travel insurance and you’re fine.

 

[dclpluto]

I would do it, but definitely purchase trip insurance. Then again, we flew into Orlando for a WDW vacation 2 days before Hurricane Irma hit. Pretty much everyone thought we were nuts to be flying into the area, but we had a great trip with just a 2 day interruption of park time.

That was the best time I had at wdw. Was going to go for a week but left theee days early because of the hurricane. The low low crowds made up for the 2 days of park closing.

 

[jdb in AZ]

It's not just hurricane season that would dissuade me from cruising the Caribbean in August. If I wanted hot muggy weather I'd stay home. Alaska is a much better destination.