Expert: Linda - 2/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: My family and I are planning a Disney Western 7 day Cruise, the price for us is better during hurricane season.  We are thinking of taking our cruise in late October and we want to know if we will have a warm, sunny and enjoyable vacation or will we have a lot of rain and rough riding?

ANSWER: Cathy,

October is no different than any other month, it will depend on Mother nature.  don't NOT go because of hurricane season, remember, we've had hurricanes in every month but Feb!.

We love cruising in Sept and Oct because it's not so HOT.  We live in Florida, but temps in the 90's really are too hot to enjoy.  We have been on cruises that had rain, but remember, you are moving, so the captain just steers away from the rain.  In 26 cruises, we've never had rain all day long.  I would go in a heartbeat in Oct before I'd take Jan-Apr where you can have some darn chilly weather. again depending on Mother Nature.

You will have a wonderful time!  the port in Port Canaveral is easy to get to, if you stay the night before, lots of restaurants, close to the beach.

Enjoy!  Wish we were going with you!

Linda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What temp. degree should we expect?  I need to know what to pack for.

Answer
Cathy,

For your days on shore, shorts, capris and cotton shirts, it'll still be very warm.  Wear crocs or tennis shoes for walking.  Makes sure your shoes are well broken in, walking on shore is not the time to try and break in shoes!  On the ship, ditto, shorts for the daytime, bathing suits and coverups.   You WILL need a sweater or shawl as the dining rooms and show theatres tend to be VERY cold.  I also always take a jacket for walking the decks late at night, even though warm temp, the breeze can be chilly.  The little black dress with different accessories will work for formal nights and slacks, blouse or light sweaters are fine for dinner.  If it's a typical (as much as things can be typical these days), expect days in the 80's and nights in the 70's.

If you don't want the dining room of course, you can still eat at the buffet on the top deck, no dress code there.  with the airlines charging extra for bags, keep your weight down by taking less shoes (THAT was hard for me), but learned to take a pair of black dress sandals, 2 pr crocs, one pair casual sandals.

If you're going to do Dunns River falls in Jamaica, bring a pair of OLD tennis shoes, after the climb...throw them away.  You can also buy beach shoes if you want.  If you do that climg, wear a t shirt, water is cold!...even in summer. We also pack a rain poncho, one of those really cheap ones and take with us just in case.  We also travel with an AMERIBAG...They are not cheap, but so worth the $.  It's a bag I use as a purse, but also pack all of my shorside stuff in it.  the way it sits on your shoulders, it can weight 10 pounds,but you can't feel it.  Dries quick if it gets wet, lots of zippers inside.  I ordered the brown so hubby could carry as well.  When we took our cruise to Europe last year, it appeared everyone had 2 things in common...crocs on their feet and AMERIBAGS on their shoulders.

Let me know if I can help with anything else cathy.

Linda