Question about leaving from NYC in January or February

[Mel921]

Hi there! I am looking at booking the Miracle for my family out of NYC in Jan or Feb 2013 and I have a few questions.

 

1. Will the fact that it's cold for the first day or two have a significant impact on the fun we have? On past cruises there are deck parties, etc as we left. Do they still do that if it's cold out? lol

 

2. If it's cold and I AM inside, when does the casino open? Do they have to wait until they are in international waters and if so, how long until that happens when leaving NY?

 

Thanks in advance :)

 

Mel

[cb at sea]

I'm a "pool person", so yes...it would have a huge impact on me! That's why I would never book a cruise in the dead of winter from a northern port! I don't want to waste 2 days going AND coming home in cold weather!

 

The casino usually doesn't open until about 2-3 hours after sailaway....and sometimes, not until after dinner on the 1st night. Yes...they have to be in international waters.

[Crusin Karen]

I live 20 minutes from where you will cruise from...Jan and Feb are normally very cold. Very significant chance of snow, ice or freezing rain...so I doubt VERY HIGHLY there will be any outdoor activities. And if you are coming from out of town (and since you don't know about the weather I assume you are! :p) be sure to take bad weather conditions into consideration with planning to get here. Of course, you could have a COLD but beautiful day, but weather those months is so unpredictable and better to plan for the worst case scanario....

[golfadj]

We cruise in the winter to get away from cold weather so do it out of florida.

 

Who wants a day and half of cold weather in each direction?

[LovesCruising]

I'm a "pool person", so yes...it would have a huge impact on me! That's why I would never book a cruise in the dead of winter from a northern port! I don't want to waste 2 days going AND coming home in cold weather!

 

The casino usually doesn't open until about 2-3 hours after sailaway....and sometimes, not until after dinner on the 1st night. Yes...they have to be in international waters.

 

Any cruise I have been on as soon as they are far enough out into international waters - which doesn't take very long as I believe its only a short amount of miles - the casino has been opened - if the ship departs at 4 - casino should be open within the hour.

[bobmal99]

Personally, I would never cruise out of

a nothern port in the winter.. In the winter

Florida, here I come..

[Smiling Cruiser]

It takes at least an hour to get to the Verrazanno Bridge from when you pull away from the pier. It's not that far-just turning the ship around and sailing past the Statue of Liberty seems to take up some time. A tug guides the ship out of the harbor, under the bridge, and down toward Sandy Hook NJ. At that point the harbor pilot, who boarded in NY, must disembark to his vessel. The ship can then proceed further out to sea while the harbor pilot, no longer needed, can return to the Sandy Hook base. The casino will probably open before 1st dinner is over.

[westview1]

I thought there was a retractable roof on the Lido pool area. If that is true, then they could close the roof until the weather warms up, which would allow them to use the area for deck parties and the pool could be used as well.

[nofishforme]

MY parents have done 2 cruises out of new york in Feb on the norweigen dawn both time they left new york there was a blizzard going on .they said you wake up of the coast of the carolina's and the temps were like 60 to 70 degree;s the second day you aare far enough south the pools are open and every one is out on the decks .on the way back the last day she said she was on deck sitting in the sun with jacket and pants and then cold weather to disembark

[Tanbella]

I live in Philadelphia, it is very cold this time of year, but with this crazy weather it's been getting colder towards the end of January till march. This winter we didn't get a lot of snow like normal. I will be sailing out on the first week of January. To me I have never sail from NYC but the cost in savings is worth it, and NYC is the most beautiful around this time. Regardless if it cold or not it's a cruise, I'm on vacation I'm gonna enjoy it !:D

[golfadj]

I thought there was a retractable roof on the Lido pool area. If that is true, then they could close the roof until the weather warms up, which would allow them to use the area for deck parties and the pool could be used as well.

 

They close the roof but the air temp will still be too cold for the pool for some time.

[H82seaUgo]

the reason i would not take this cruise is not because it leaves in the dead of winter. it is the ports it visits.

 

as long as i can get my cabin to at least 68 degrees, i'd be happy

 

and then spend my time in the warm spots meeting others, or even venture out in winter gear in the wind protected places.

 

and when that roof is closed, the pool area is nice and warm, yet humid, and is fine for swimming.

[Seago2]

I've done it many times at this point. Yes, you have to wait until the afternoon of the first sea day for it to warm up, but you also don't have to make sure your stuff is packed perfectly and get on a plane. The problem with the winter weather is that flights can get backed up- for days. And days. So you have to fly in the day before- even that is no guarantee that you will make it. Why pay for air travel if the ship will get you there? Plus, in the winter I am not tan. Leaving from NYC is easier on the skin. I still get a good tan but I can ease into it.

 

The major problem is having to bring two sets of clothes, including winter jackets and boots.

[mavis2222]

Thank god I live In Ga.. LOL. I drive to all the ports in Fla or Gulf coast where the weather is warm to board a ship. There is nothing more "depressing" then having to deal with cold weather expecally on trip back to reality.

[mizLORInj]

I am grateful the NY port has ships sailing year-round. I still sail from FL, just did this month, but I prefer the one hour ride to NY vs. the 1/2+ day travel each way to FL. (flying used to be fun; now it's just a hassle).

 

We sailed NCL Gem late December and it was sunny the day we left, not warm of course, but the warm sun felt good. We were off the coast of SC by the second day and you defintely felt a difference in outside temp.

Coming back it was cold the entire last sea day. I would sail from NY in winter again. I'm on a ship; not much else matters to me at that point!

[e150club]

No Chogs on serenity deck.

[Mel921]

Thanks for the input everyone. There are 6 of us that will be sailing. We can leave NYC and take a longer cruise or fly to FL and take a shorter cruise. If we could afford to fly to FL and still take a long cruise, then we would probably do that, but it's a significant savings for us to leave out of NYC.

 

Great things to contemplate here...hmmmm lol

[serene56]

They close the roof but the air temp will still be too cold for the pool for some time.

 

 

and LOUD. with the roof closed-- wow.

and let me tell you the number of kids that will still swim no matter how cold out it is.

 

and that hot tub located in that area?? will be full of kids

[westview1]

and LOUD. with the roof closed-- wow.

and let me tell you the number of kids that will still swim no matter how cold out it is.

 

and that hot tub located in that area?? will be full of kids

 

You're right about the noise level. We were on the Glory last year to Canada and the roof was closed, I remember it being warm and loud. I think if they take a cruise when schools are in there won't be a lot of kids.

 

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

[golfadj]

There was a picture of the Pride about a year or so ago with a foot of snow on it.

 

Lots of people didnt make the ship.

[RuthlessBoss]

There was a picture of the Pride about a year or so ago with a foot of snow on it.

 

Lots of people didnt make the ship.

Maybe someone has a link to it. I saw it too, so odd to see snow on the deck.

[serene56]

You're right about the noise level. We were on the Glory last year to Canada and the roof was closed, I remember it being warm and loud. I think if they take a cruise when schools are in there won't be a lot of kids.

 

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

 

Our cruise was the week BEFORE Presidents week and there were over 500 kids onboard. Rarely saw them except at the kids activities

[golfadj]

Maybe someone has a link to it. I saw it too, so odd to see snow on the deck.

 

Not my idea of a winter cruise so we always start off from Florida.

[JeanieTheMom]

There was a picture of the Pride about a year or so ago with a foot of snow on it.

 

Lots of people didnt make the ship.

 

I also saw a Pride review from last winter with an icicle almost a foot long hanging from the outdoor shower head on the lido deck.

[Crusin Karen]

Thanks for the input everyone. There are 6 of us that will be sailing. We can leave NYC and take a longer cruise or fly to FL and take a shorter cruise. If we could afford to fly to FL and still take a long cruise, then we would probably do that, but it's a significant savings for us to leave out of NYC.

 

Great things to contemplate here...hmmmm lol

How much shorter would the cruise from FL be? You never said where you are coming from. Would you be DRIVING to Manhattan? Because then you would have to factor in parking fees, hotel for at least one night and food...EVERYTHING in Manhattan is super $. And even tho you could do a day of "sightseeing" in Manhattan, remember it can/probably be cold/wet/snowy/icy/blah....weather is just a crap shoot that time of year. Whereas if you flew to FL you would at least (hopefully!) be flying into nice weather....I am sure you can list pros and cons and make a price list and figure it out. My lst preference would be WTH, get me on a cruise ship for as long as I can! :D But if it's just a day difference, might be more comfortable for all of you to cruise from FL. OR you could wait until next May and sail out of Manhattan on the Splendor knowing that the weather is usually pretty nice at that time of year...;) Let us know what you decide! Or give a few more details and we can help you! :p