Those who have taken a cruise for thanksgiving

[DisneyMomma2858]

We are trying to plan our first cruise. I am so overwhelmed by planning this cruise. We had a cruise planned for May and we canceled because we thought it best for the baby to be able to do the kids club. Now we are looking at thanksgiving 2015. We go to Disney every year and have been for thanksgiving and New Years. So we aren't afraid of crowds. we are ready for something new. Our girls will be 7 and 3. We are looking at a 3 day dream cruise. Is it cold at night on the boat? Could you swim at all on the boat in November? I'm so afraid it's going to be cold on the boat and too cold to get in the water at cast away. Lastly how was the food on thanksgiving? Any input I would appreciate.

 

[wcw57]

bumpity bump bumping

 

[Calfan]

I am also curious to hear answers to the OP's questions. We are on the upcoming Thanksgiving sailing on the Dream and have not cruised in November before. I'm interested to know what folks have experienced temperature-wise on the ship and at Castaway Cay, as well as what the Thanksgiving meal was like. We are hoping for decent pumpkin pie!

 

[IrishCowboy]

We've sailed 3 times for Thanksgiving. Had great weather for the first 2, TERRIBLE weather last year. Worst weather we ever had for a cruise, but we still had a great time

 

[mareed]

We've sailed 3 times for Thanksgiving. Had great weather for the first 2, TERRIBLE weather last year. Worst weather we ever had for a cruise, but we still had a great time

Agree that Thanksgiving last year was poor weather. We were on the Wonder from Galveston and visited Key West, Nassau, and Castaway Cay and weather was pretty consistently bad everywhere. Rough seas too - enough for the seasick bags to be put out everywhere. I think that time of year is very iffy regarding weather - it can be great or it can be pretty poor, but I wouldn't let that keep me from cruising if that was the time that worked best! Just go expecting bad weather and be pleasantly surprised if it's great and you'll be happy!

 

[DisneyMomma2858]

Well that doesn't sound like fun at All!!! Rough seas

 

[antlawn]

We did Thanksgiving, Western Car., on the Magic, out of Miami last year. The granddaughters swam every day. It did rain on us leaving Cozumel, but had beautiful weather on our CC day. We are going again this year on the Wonder
Dinner was as good as every other night.

 

[dtjc]

We were on the Magic Eastern Caribbean for Thanksgiving in 2011. The weather was beautiful. The seas were not very rough but weren't calm either -- about what I would expect for the Atlantic in late fall.

It was warm on the boat and Castaway Cay. We swam every day on the boat and wore short sleeves, even in the evening. The water at Castaway Cay was a little cool. Certainly not as warm as in summer but we had no problem swimming in it throughout the day. And walking around the island was much more comfortable than during our previous cruise (which had been in June and very humid).

For dinner on Thanksgiving, they offered a traditional Thanksgiving plate with turkey, stuffing, etc. as one of the entree choices but they also had the normal menu options to choose from as well. I don't remember whether they had pumpkin pie on the dessert menu or not, but I imagine they did.

Looking back at my Navigator from that cruise, I see that they also showed the football games on the movie screen by the family pool that day. And it looks like Mickey and Minnie were dressed in Thanksgiving attire for their character appearances that day.

I, personally, wouldn't hesitate to go in November again. In the fall/winter, the weather has the potential to be bad but spring/summer can be unbearably hot.

 

[DisneyMomma2858]

We were on the Magic Eastern Caribbean for Thanksgiving in 2011. The weather was beautiful. The seas were not very rough but weren't calm either -- about what I would expect for the Atlantic in late fall.

It was warm on the boat and Castaway Cay. We swam every day on the boat and wore short sleeves, even in the evening. The water at Castaway Cay was a little cool. Certainly not as warm as in summer but we had no problem swimming in it throughout the day. And walking around the island was much more comfortable than during our previous cruise (which had been in June and very humid).

For dinner on Thanksgiving, they offered a traditional Thanksgiving plate with turkey, stuffing, etc. as one of the entree choices but they also had the normal menu options to choose from as well. I don't remember whether they had pumpkin pie on the dessert menu or not, but I imagine they did.

Looking back at my Navigator from that cruise, I see that they also showed the football games on the movie screen by the family pool that day. And it looks like Mickey and Minnie were dressed in Thanksgiving attire for their character appearances that day.

I, personally, wouldn't hesitate to go in November again. In the fall/winter, the weather has the potential to be bad but spring/summer can be unbearably hot.

Thanks very much for the menu info!!!!

I am feeling a little nervous hearing that the seas are rough. That may sound completely naive and stupid but I know pretty much nothing about cruising besides hurricane season is June to November. I guess I was just hoping hurricanes were rare that late in the year.

 

[mareed]

Well that doesn't sound like fun at All!!! Rough seas ��........ I was hoping to avoid that. The Disney vacation planner acted like end of November was a "calmer" time at sea

It is not the only time we can cruise. We can do December or we can do may. But we just thought thanksgiving would be good since holidays are slow times for DH at work and DD has a whole week off for thanksgiving.

My opinion between Thanksgiving, December, or May, I'd choose May for weather absolutely. Thanksgiving and December are subject to cool/cold fronts and that's where the rougher seas and rainy/cooler weather come into consideration. May is before hurricane season, but not yet the hottest of summer and is ideas in my opinion! Many of us can't go then due to school schedule though.

 

[racingfandj]

Thanks very much for the menu info!!!! I am feeling a little nervous hearing that the seas are rough. That may sound completely naive and stupid but I know pretty much nothing about cruising besides hurricane season is June to November. I guess I was just hoping hurricanes were rare that late in the year.

I'm not an expert, but have been on several cruises (6). I've covered nearly every itinerary too - eastern, western, Bahamas and Alaska. We've gone July, November, and January. My personal opinion is Thanksgiving last year was rougher because we were on the western itinerary. Crossing over to Mexico from Miami was the roughest I've been on. Is it keeping me from doing it again? Heck no! I have the same itinerary booked this year, next year and the WBPC for May.

The water was cool, but great and the kids had a blast playing both days at the beaches. Air temps are still mid to high 80s I believe and cools in the evening.

FWIW, I'm extremely sensitive to motion and take Dramamine days before leaving and days to weeks after returning home due to motion sickness. If I can tolerate it, anyone should be able to.

 

[DisneyMomma2858]

I'm not an expert, but have been on several cruises (6). I've covered nearly every itinerary too - eastern, western, Bahamas and Alaska. We've gone July, November, and January. My personal opinion is Thanksgiving last year was rougher because we were on the western itinerary. Crossing over to Mexico from Miami was the roughest I've been on. Is it keeping me from doing it again? Heck no! I have the same itinerary booked this year, next year and the WBPC for May.

The water was cool, but great and the kids had a blast playing both days at the beaches. Air temps are still mid to high 80s I believe and cools in the evening.

FWIW, I'm extremely sensitive to motion and take Dramamine days before leaving and days to weeks after returning home due to motion sickness. If I can tolerate it, anyone should be able to.

We are from the Deep South and my parents are from Chicagoland area. So while end of November may be cool to my DH and me, it will feel Chicago summer to them


I probably need to do some research on May versus November. And probably just the cruise all together. I had no idea the cruise had so much to do. The more I research the more I am blown away. My dh says this is "the" trip. If it doesn't go well.... Basically it's back to Disney world and this will be the only cruise. So I'm going "all out" with a veranda. The idea of Christmas decorations and whatnot really drew me into the thanksgiving idea. Our thanksgiving at Disney world was actually my all time favorite trip. I don't remember crowds, and barely remember freezing waiting for a boat ride back to the poly. I just remember the "magic" and I'm desperately hoping I feel the pixie dust on the boat.

 

[disny_luvr]

We haven't cruised over Thanksgiving but we did cruise the week after Thanksgiving last year and the weather was perfect. Seas were calm and we had a brief rain shower while we were in St. Thomas but that was it as far as rain. Temps were great. We went swimming at night a few times and weren't cold at all. Weather on the islands was warm to hot. Castaway Cay day was beautiful and perfect. In fact, a lot of the crew got off the boat to enjoy the weather because it was that great. I did hear the week before the weather was bad but you can't predict the weather. You could go in May and have rainy weather and rough seas. Who knows? We are booked next year for the same week.

 

[anna08]

We did Thanksgiving, Western Car., on the Magic, out of Miami last year. The granddaughters swam every day. It did rain on us leaving Cozumel, but had beautiful weather on our CC day. We are going again this year on the Wonder
Dinner was as good as every other night.

We were on the same cruise and I agree - weather was wonderful! Swimming was no problem. There was a special menu on Thanksgiving in the MDRs and I remember the turkey being tasty. I can't remember, but our servers told us some amazing number of turkeys cooked for that day. Makes me feel bad complaining about cooking one!

We would repeat this cruise in a heartbeat but DH has to work this holiday.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Thanks very much for the menu info!!!!

I am feeling a little nervous hearing that the seas are rough. That may sound completely naive and stupid but I know pretty much nothing about cruising besides hurricane season is June to November. I guess I was just hoping hurricanes were rare that late in the year.

Just wanted to note that there is no time to cruise that can guarantee you won't encounter rough seas. That can happen at ANY time, and is something you have to go in knowing is a possibility, hurricane season or not. We mostly cruise in Feb. And March and have had at least one day of rough seas on every cruise. It didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves in the least. Just pack some seasickness meds just in case.

 

[jahber]

Just wanted to note that there is no time to cruise that can guarantee you won't encounter rough seas. That can happen at ANY time, and is something you have to go in knowing is a possibility, hurricane season or not. We mostly cruise in Feb. And March and have had at least one day of rough seas on every cruise. It didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves in the least. Just pack some seasickness meds just in case.

I agree. There's really no way to predict weather. We sailed the week before Thanksgiving week last year and had lovely weather. Then thanksgiving week was awful for the cruise after us. I will say that after October, it's too cold for me to swim (Fl native), but my kids swam in the pools and went into the water at CC for a bit. We have also sailed in May and had perfect weather--but, I think if you need to "sell" this cruise to your family, going when the Christmas decorations are up may be just the thing

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I agree. There's really no way to predict weather. We sailed the week before Thanksgiving week last year and had lovely weather. Then thanksgiving week was awful for the cruise after us. I will say that after October, it's too cold for me to swim (Fl native), but my kids swam in the pools and went into the water at CC for a bit. We have also sailed in May and had perfect weather--but, I think if you need to "sell" this cruise to your family, going when the Christmas decorations are up may be just the thing

We are from the Gulf Coast and swim in Feb. It is definitely colder than we are used to, but doesn't keep us out of the water.

 

[jahber]

We are from the Gulf Coast and swim in Feb. It is definitely colder than we are used to, but doesn't keep us out of the water.

You're braver than I am. Growing up in Orlando, we didn't use the pool from November to Easter (brrrr!). But my kids don't seem to mind at all. They will swim until their lips turn blue. I imagine for people up north, though, the water in November is somewhat similar to the water in their large lakes or the northern part of the Atlantic coast in the summer. Maybe even warmer.

 

[DisneyMomma2858]

We are from the Gulf Coast and swim in Feb. It is definitely colder than we are used to, but doesn't keep us out of the water.

I am not concerned at all about my folks because I don't ever remember Lake Michigan being "warm" but I think while we would find may to be perfect, I can see them thinking may is too hot. The Last time we visited on Fourth of July I believe the high was 75. And I know one day the high was 65.

We aren't very concerned about swimming in the pools but i would hate it if cast away key wasn't warm enough. That being said we have been to Disney in November, December, January, mid march and there was never a time we didn't swim. Now.... The pools are heated. But I guess I keep thinking like the PP said there's never a "perfect" time. And we could go in a warmer season and it rain all day

 

[JimGA]

We are trying to plan our first cruise. I am so overwhelmed by planning this cruise. We had a cruise planned for May and we canceled because we thought it best for the baby to be able to do the kids club. Now we are looking at thanksgiving 2015. We go to Disney every year and have been for thanksgiving and New Years. So we aren't afraid of crowds. we are ready for something new. Our girls will be 7 and 3. We are looking at a 3 day dream cruise. Is it cold at night on the boat? Could you swim at all on the boat in November? I'm so afraid it's going to be cold on the boat and too cold to get in the water at cast away. Lastly how was the food on thanksgiving? Any input I would appreciate.

Last year we did a 4 night on the Disney Dream on Memorial Day weekend and we all thought the water at CC and Nassau to be chilly, which we thought was odd. But I guess the water temps take a while to warm up after the winter months.

We have booked an Eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy for Thanksgiving week for 2015. This cruise will take you further south in the Caribbean where the weather will be warmer than the Bahamas. Nassau and CC are about as far south as Fort Lauderdale Florida

A few things I have found from research and weather patterns. I have heard that late in the hurricane season, October and November storms tend to form in the gulf and not off the coast of Africa as they do early in the season.

WE are going for it, all in for 2015 Eastern Caribbean.