Would you cruise the Caribbean in late August

[heyitsalyssa]

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!

My boyfriend and I were onboard the September 2nd sailing on the Fantasy that was cut short by two days due to hurricane Irma. The stress and anxiety I felt trying to figure out flights and rental cars and how to get back to California while onboard was ridiculous. While the trip as a whole before the Irma fiasco was great, I'm left with the memories of sitting in the hallway outside the Buena Vista theatre on hold with the airlines for over an hour to be told there was nothing to be done, when I should have been enjoying the cruise I spent over a year planning. Yes it was cheaper, but we won't sail during hurricane season again. Of course, this was just our experience but if you're going to do it, make sure you purchase good travel insurance!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

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.

We're from New Mexico with the same monsoon season. My DH and I were on the Fantasy when we HIT hurricane Sandy. Second seating dining was cancelled and we were hanging on to the bed from Miami to Cape Canaveral all night long. No detour, just charged right into the hurricane. Totally wrecked the interior of the ship with the pictures falling off the wall, displays toppling, liquor bottles smashing, what a ride. Going to Alaska in September. Travel insurance didn't help because it was the last evening of the cruise.

 

[xavier2001]

Our first cruise was the Fantasy in mid August, it was magical but it was HOTTT!! We didn't use our balcony at all and really did not enjoy Castaway Cay b/c of the heat. We didn't realize what we were missing until we just went in April, SOOO much better weather. If you are tied to August, I'd go to Alaska lol!

 

[YawningDodo]

Agreeing with others who'd be more turned off by the heat than the hurricane risk. I went in January, plan to do the next one in January as well...and while January doesn't come with the risk of hurricanes in the Caribbean, it does come with the risk of getting snowed in on the way (flying from Montana, usually through Denver--between snow and the government shutdown I nearly didn't make it to Miami). I don't think there's any time that's completely without some kind of risk.

But, speaking as someone from a more northern climate, the weather in January was perfect. It was warm enough that I was out in t-shirts and capris the entire trip, but the only time I ever felt actually hot was the morning I went down into Cozumel. I've been to WDW in September, and that's as close to summer in Florida and the Caribbean as I want to get. I just about melt in that heat. I can deal with that somewhere like WDW where I'm moving around and going in and out of AC, but I wouldn't enjoy lounging around outdoors in that kind of heat, and while I enjoy the activities offered inside the ship, I wouldn't want to have to spend the entire trip indoors in order not to be miserable.

 

[AngelDisney]

As a teacher I can only travel in July and August, I know what to expect and prepare ourselves accordingly. I have cruised to Bahamas and Western Caribbean in late August. It’s not as bad as being in the Mediterranean and Asia in late August. To us, best cruise in late August was the Alaskan cruise. We visited Banff and Vancouver for a week before the cruise. Weather was wonderful. We are thinking about North Europe or Iceland in late August of 2020. You will still enjoy yourself as long as you are prepared for the heat (cool towels, hats, sunscreens, portable fans and thermo water bottles).

Have fun planning!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Agreeing with others who'd be more turned off by the heat than the hurricane risk. I went in January, plan to do the next one in January as well...and while January doesn't come with the risk of hurricanes in the Caribbean, it does come with the risk of getting snowed in on the way (flying from Montana, usually through Denver--between snow and the government shutdown I nearly didn't make it to Miami). I don't think there's any time that's completely without some kind of risk.

But, speaking as someone from a more northern climate, the weather in January was perfect. It was warm enough that I was out in t-shirts and capris the entire trip, but the only time I ever felt actually hot was the morning I went down into Cozumel. I've been to WDW in September, and that's as close to summer in Florida and the Caribbean as I want to get. I just about melt in that heat. I can deal with that somewhere like WDW where I'm moving around and going in and out of AC, but I wouldn't enjoy lounging around outdoors in that kind of heat, and while I enjoy the activities offered inside the ship, I wouldn't want to have to spend the entire trip indoors in order not to be miserable.

You are spot on with the western Caribbean weather for January. Perfect conditions for on shore activities and enjoying the pools and outdoor amenities on the ship. I can see your point about air travel in the northern parts of the country Going to Orlando from Albuquerque isn't to risky unless the entire system is in disorder from storms back east. After our ordeal on the Fantasy with Hurricane Sandy, never again a cruise during hurricane season in that part of the world. We're doing Alaska this September.

 

[YawningDodo]

You are spot on with the western Caribbean weather for January. Perfect conditions for on shore activities and enjoying the pools and outdoor amenities on the ship. I can see your point about air travel in the northern parts of the country Going to Orlando from Albuquerque isn't to risky unless the entire system is in disorder from storms back east. After our ordeal on the Fantasy with Hurricane Sandy, never again a cruise during hurricane season in that part of the world. We're doing Alaska this September.

And honestly, the snow thing is an easier fix--I'm really leaning toward going two nights before the cruise instead of one night the next time around (especially if it's out of Port Canaveral and a pre-cruise day at WDW is an option). Gives a better buffer. Things can still go catastrophically wrong, but at least the cruise itself isn't at (as big of a) risk of rescheduling.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

And honestly, the snow thing is an easier fix--I'm really leaning toward going two nights before the cruise instead of one night the next time around (especially if it's out of Port Canaveral and a pre-cruise day at WDW is an option). Gives a better buffer. Things can still go catastrophically wrong, but at least the cruise itself isn't at (as big of a) risk of rescheduling.

We always arrive two days ahead of cruise day. Our very first cruise on Celebrity, a full day before the cruise, we were diverted from DFW to San Antonio, TX. Had to get a rental car and drive to Dallas to get a flight out to Ft. Lauderdale. Got to the ship just in time. Oh, our luggage never made it.
Lesson learned. Spend the time in WDW at SSR. Just enough Disney to get the energy going before getting on the ship. This Alaskan cruise it will be two days in Vancouver BC.

 

[DCSWO]

Taking a trip closer to the equator in summer is not my idea of vacation. Northern Europe on the other hand...

 

[KashasMom]

Hurricane season is 6 months long and we always cruise during the season, sometimes multiple times. We work around school breaks. I've never worried about cruising during the season - for the most part the cruise lines do a good job of sailing around the storm and we wouldn't be bothered with an itinerary change.

We've cruised the last week in August in 2015 and 2017. Fortunately, no issues.

 

[starvenger]

As a teacher I can only travel in July and August, I know what to expect and prepare ourselves accordingly. I have cruised to Bahamas and Western Caribbean in late August. It’s not as bad as being in the Mediterranean and Asia in late August. To us, best cruise in late August was the Alaskan cruise. We visited Banff and Vancouver for a week before the cruise. Weather was wonderful. We are thinking about North Europe or Iceland in late August of 2020. You will still enjoy yourself as long as you are prepared for the heat (cool towels, hats, sunscreens, portable fans and thermo water bottles).

Have fun planning!

I think that's the key. My wife has a busy season during the less warm/humid times of the year, so we go during the summer. We're willing to go cruising in August, so we ensure that we're prepared for the heat and humidity. Not gonna lie - it would be nice to go during slightly cooler weather, but it is what it is.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I think that's the key. My wife has a busy season during the less warm/humid times of the year, so we go during the summer. We're willing to go cruising in August, so we ensure that we're prepared for the heat and humidity. Not gonna lie - it would be nice to go during slightly cooler weather, but it is what it is.

My take on the heat of August is, it's gonna be hot in August even if I am at home, so I'd rather be somewhere with sea breezes and A/C and pools/slides, activities, etc. instead of in my house/yard baking.

 

[YawningDodo]

My take on the heat of August is, it's gonna be hot in August even if I am at home, so I'd rather be somewhere with sea breezes and A/C and pools/slides, activities, etc. instead of in my house/yard baking.

True that...but my take on January is that it's going to be below zero most mornings at home and it's nice to be out of it for a week. I'd take that over trading one hot August for another.

 

[starvenger]

I hope that's below zero Celsius. Because if it's below zero Fahrenheit... yikes!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

True that...but my take on January is that it's going to be below zero most mornings at home and it's nice to be out of it for a week. I'd take that over trading one hot August for another.

Absolutely! If it fits into ones work/life schedule, I totally agree. Where I live, below 0 F is a distinct possibility, if not the norm.

Only ONE possible solution! A week in January and another in August! Both cheaper times too!

 

[babycatsy]

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.

This is another high hurricane season, but as long as you purchased cruise insurance I think it should be fine! I'm from New Orleans so I don't travel from Late August-late September (mostly b/c I have to save my $$ and points for booking hotels for hurricane season). I've only had one fiasco with vacations and hurricanes and that was when I went to the Bahamas in 2015 with hurricane Joaquin. Let's just say a Cat 5 was coming straight for the 2 square mile island we were on...Ep.

 

[YawningDodo]

I hope that's below zero Celsius. Because if it's below zero Fahrenheit... yikes!

Nope, Fahrenheit. I've walked to work in -20...because it's faster and easier to bundle up than to get the car cleared and started for a one mile drive. And the rural Montanans have told me I'm a real baby for thinking it gets cold here in town!

Absolutely! If it fits into ones work/life schedule, I totally agree. Where I live, below 0 F is a distinct possibility, if not the norm.

Only ONE possible solution! A week in January and another in August! Both cheaper times too!

Agreed!!

 

[RysMomma]

This is when we're going. Due to being a teacher and trying to save some money, this is the best time for us. I never travel without insurance anyway, but, no doubt we have for our third week of August trip this year, too!

 

[MichelleCanada]

We are also going this August on the Western Carribean! So in answer to the original question - yes, we would ! Also a teacher so it was the time that worked the best for us. Glad to read all of this though - it will help with what we will be packing!!

 

[hanscarlet]

Our very first cruise was a 4 night on the Dream in that last week of August because of DH's b-day on 9.1. My avatar pic is the phtoto of him celebrating his birthday in Royal Court. It was fine but hot as heck on CC and at the time I had a 2.5 year old and we had to bring her in after 2 hours because it was too much. Now after witnessing the online activity/reports of Irma this past year, I would never book it again... but if heat doesn't bother you and you get travel insurance then go for it, we had a great cruise when we sailed in late August.