Sailing from New York in Feb/Mar?

[Grovest]

A big attraction to Norwegian are all the outdoor activities on board - especially the ware park in the case of the Norwegian Breakaway. However, sailing from so far North the ambient temperatures I would think for the first two and last two days could be rather cool.

 

Do they close the outdoor water activities when the days are cooler, or do they leave it up to passengers to decide if they are willing to risk hypothermia to use the attractions?

[waverley7]

Morning Grovest,

 

I can't actually answer your question. :p

 

We sailed out of NYC the first week in April, it was gorgeous weather! (Had to wear a sweater on departure)

 

One of my favorite ports for sailaway for sure! We must have got far enough away that first night because the next day was lovely on the Lido deck!

[spidybabe]

Things are usually kept open.

It all depends on mother nature. We sail a lot in January from NY with good weather. Once DD and many others were in pool/hot tubs first sea day. Once in June, we couldn't go outdoors on first sea day, due to high winds. You never just never know

Safe sailing

[Poipu04]

Things are usually kept open.

It all depends on mother nature. We sail a lot in January from NY with good weather. Once DD and many others were in pool/hot tubs first sea day. Once in June, we couldn't go outdoors on first sea day, due to high winds. You never just never know

Safe sailing

 

I have sailed in the winter too from NY (Jan. and Feb.) Sometimes the hot tubs are open. Sometimes the decks are icy and after sail away, they closed the decks. Sometimes they have the outdoor BBQ on sail away, even if its 20 degrees.

[Grovest]

I noticed you have sailed both the Gem and the Breakaway from New York. We are trying to decide between the 7 day Bahama cruise on Breakaway and 10 day Eastern Caribbean on the Gem. Any thoughts about the two boats and itinerary?

 

Thanks.

[dexddd]

You are correct about the first 1.5 days there and back generally being a bit cold. Things being opened could also change on sea conditions as they closed some things including the waterfront mid-cruise for most of one day due to rough seas and wind.

 

As far as Gem or BA, well, it depends what you want I guess. We've been on both and found the BA not to our liking. Yes, it has the slides, entertainment and dining options but just seemed too crowded. We also did the Bahamas run on BA and only planned to get off at GSC but we missed the island. Me, I'd take the Gem 10 day.

[luvtheships]

In Jan/feb/mar you would be doing the 14 day cruises correct?

 

If so by the afternoon of the 1st sea day or the morning if the 2nd sea day you will be in warm weather

 

If however you are doing a 7 day Bahamas milk run on the BA....

 

Seriously rethink that for warmer months

 

Or consider the gem 10 day winter cruises from NYC

 

I've done both the gem and BA in January on the longer cruises and you lose 2 days at most in cool weather. Perhaps 3. And that's accounting for going and coming not each way.

 

 

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[boopsahoy]

I noticed you have sailed both the Gem and the Breakaway from New York. We are trying to decide between the 7 day Bahama cruise on Breakaway and 10 day Eastern Caribbean on the Gem. Any thoughts about the two boats and itinerary?

 

Thanks.

Gem 10 day. We take it every winter! :D

[Freckle53]

We were on the Breakaway last February. It was gorgeous in NYC for February--like 50's-60. It was warmer the next morning. The last 1.5 days coming back it cooled significantly. We had a great time and February to and from the Bahamas was better than February in upstate NY, but I don't think I'd sail in the winter from the north again.

[Jrlang1]

I have done 2 trips on the Gem out of NYC in February. On both by the time we woke up the first morning it was comfortable outside. The problem with NYC in the winter is the sea can be rough. On both we had a storn one of the ways to or from the Caribbean.

 

The worst had towels on the life boat deck keeping the water out. The crew must have not likes us, the free cruise give away was in spinakers and they placed the tumbler in the middle of the dance floor. So many people fell, so many people were hugging the posts.

 

I am kinda messed up, I enjoy the rough weather.

[riclop]

A big attraction to Norwegian are all the outdoor activities on board - especially the ware park in the case of the Norwegian Breakaway. However, sailing from so far North the ambient temperatures I would think for the first two and last two days could be rather cool.

 

Do they close the outdoor water activities when the days are cooler, or do they leave it up to passengers to decide if they are willing to risk hypothermia to use the attractions?

 

It won't be cool , it will be cold.

[JIMESOPUS]

I noticed you have sailed both the Gem and the Breakaway from New York. We are trying to decide between the 7 day Bahama cruise on Breakaway and 10 day Eastern Caribbean on the Gem. Any thoughts about the two boats and itinerary?

 

Thanks.

 

I did both itineraries .... Had a great time on the BA but didn't enjoy the stops, Florida was Ok - missed their island so we had two days in the Bahamas and after the first day stayed on the ship. Loved the Gem and except for PR really enjoyed the other islands.

[fdpevey]

You also could do what we did when we cruised out of NYC in January on the Breakaway and add the cost for Thermal Spa passes to your cruise fare.

 

It's a wonderful place to spend those chilly days at sea ... and, quite frankly, even the nice afternoons after port. I may never again sail without a Thermal Spa pass.

[luvtheships]

It won't be cool , it will be cold.

 

 

Not true

 

The cruise will be out of cold weather 36 hours after sail away

 

 

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[luvtheships]

I noticed you have sailed both the Gem and the Breakaway from New York. We are trying to decide between the 7 day Bahama cruise on Breakaway and 10 day Eastern Caribbean on the Gem. Any thoughts about the two boats and itinerary?

 

Thanks.

 

 

Now that you clarified that you are indeed looking at only a 7 day BA versus the 14 day BA

 

It's really a no brainer

 

Do the 10 day gem if you actually want a nice Caribbean cruise

 

If you want to experience the BA though then wait until warmer months as you will more than likely miss great stirrup cay....Nassau is disgusting...and port Canaveral is not a great stop in terms of timing for Disney and the beach water will be cool other than that the space center is very nice however

 

Also aren't the 7 day BA winter cruises only during the Christmas/new year and mid winter holiday breaks? Good luck with that. Lol

 

 

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Edited November 22, 2016 by luvtheships

[denatravels]

Not true

 

The cruise will be out of cold weather 36 hours after sail away

 

 

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Also not true (necessarily). I had 6 days of bad weather when I did this two years ago. You really cannot predict for sure what it's going to be.

 

 

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[luvtheships]

Also not true (necessarily). I had 6 days of bad weather when I did this two years ago. You really cannot predict for sure what it's going to be.

 

 

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Well yes you did encounter bad weather unfortunately ...but in the absence of storms etc...but with just regular winter low temps out of NYC....again ... without storms ...and I stress that point

 

The weather will be nice 36 hours out

 

Jan 4 2015 cruise...in warm weather by Jan 5 at 2 pm

 

Jan 2 2016 cruise....in warm weather by Jan 4 at 9 am

 

Fwiw and IMHO...the horror stories I've heard about winter NYC cruises are related to February and March cruises

 

Not January as far as I've been aware of

 

Logic tells us that it's best to just go at the beginning of the winter and not when winter is in full force ...like February

 

 

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Edited November 22, 2016 by luvtheships

[Turtles06]

We sailed on the Gem's 10-day Caribbean cruise out of NY last February. I love being on ships, and would rather drive to a port if I can, so this worked for us. Did not mind having some chilly weather to start and end (actually, it was pouring rain for sailaway. And a major storm on the way back.)

 

We enjoyed our day in Old San Juan very much, and the other ports were beautiful as well.

 

The major downer on the cruise was the people. We are veteran cruisers, including out of NY and on NCL, and this cruise just seemed to have a perfect storm of drunks and other obnoxious passengers, way more so than on our other NCL sailings out of NY. Made the sea days until we got to OSJ not as much fun. (And no, it wasn't the cruise last winter full of kids on holiday from their Yeshivas that has been much-discussed on here.)

 

YMMV, and hopefully it does.

[brianosaur]

We did a late Oct sail from NYC a few years ago.

 

Pretty funny when the outdoor authentic Caribbean steel drum band is playing Calypso music in FULL WINTER PARKAS with fur lined hoods and balaclava's on!

 

We're from NY so we were in light jackets but those guys were definitely not used to the chilly weather!

[mking8288]

For those of us who live within easy driving distance of NYC as the homeport (and, CL at nearby NJ on other lines) - we might be trading off the disadvantage (I won't necessary called it a "loss") of 2 or 2.5 sea days in chilly & possibly cold weather sailing in February's winter weather, but March can sometimes be rather warm.

 

Getting into NYC the night before a cruise are a necessity for some (i.e. those coming across the border or points further north & east (MA, NH, RI and VT, etc.) or even those driving up from nearby PA or MD - once you get into NY with a warm place to stay (hotel, friends or relative's place, etc.) - making the way across to the piers/cruise terminal is usually not a major obstacles - major car services, including our local ones have fully winterized vehicles in their fleet, in addition to AWD and 4WD for ground transportation ... although, they can be in short shortage unless booked & reconfirmed again.

 

But, this is far better than attempting to FLY south with an incoming blizzard or even snow storm, depending on the airports, airlines & aircrafts being flown - never fun to deal with travel waivers, delays and of course, cancellations - without and even with trip insurance & rebooking, as the airports can be shut down for just 12 to 24 hours but the next available flight, sometimes on standby basis only, isn't a practical option for 48 to 72+ hours. Plus, LCC (non-legacy) or discount airlines will not endorse or permit one (typically, with some exceptions) to fly on another carrier - but their own flights even if re-routing is an option ... JetBlue being one of them ("no dice")

 

We've weighted against the pro's & con's of flying south to take on different itineraries & ports ... and, one must also take into consideration of post-cruise issues if one cannot fly back in time for work on the following/next day ... if weather systems are in play.

 

For 2 consecutive days this week, it didn't take anything worst than wind gusts of 40 mph to affect flight operations at all 3 NYC area airports - EWR, LGA & JFK - and, folks had missed their flights/connections heading "wherever" for the holiday with family, friends and loved ones, etc.

 

LGA is now experiencing 2 hours of delay on both arrival & departure - today being one of the busiest travel day for Thanksgiving as many are not waiting until the last minute - it's a pure zoo outside at the curbside, according to our Uber/Lyft driver earlier around noon as we took a ride nearby (thanks, T-Mobile for the comp'd "Ride Credit" this week & driver just came from there) Can't imagine what it's like inside at the ticketing counter & at the boarding gates :eek:

 

Aside from NCL's heated pool & hot tubs (which should be less crowded - just dress warmly) & not being able to "fully" enjoy the outdoors - it's always nice & warm inside, enough to do & the comfort of one's stateroom ... sure outweight flying the metal tin-cans, strapped to the seats & paying for those boxed snack boxes for a fee, etc.

 

When the weather is "bad" - airlines start readily cancelling flights on a preemptively basis (except for long-haul international as those are often the last to go & first to takeoff again) ... doesn't happen that often for winter cruises out of NYC. Every so often, sailing might be delayed for sailing or arrival to accommodate their air pax booked to connect to the ship. Having insurance would obviously afford one - some protection against financial losses, but not against vacation time already taken for work.

 

Just "food" for thoughts. GEM is doing longer sailings in early 2017 - should be interested to see their occupancy & what folks think afterward ... seeing some pretty active Roll Calls on the 10 days. One of my BIL & his group are leaving this Sunday on the BA doing 14 days (Caribbean) ... if only we got unused vacation time remaining for 2016. ;) - and, fully sold out at this moment, it appeared.

Edited November 23, 2016 by mking8288

[GoonerBill]

We went out of NYC on the Gem early March 2014 and late January 2012. We are going soon again... 2/27/17. On both trips south, the Captain puts the pedal to the metal the minute you get out of the harbor. Had dinner, couple drinks, some casino, and crashed. After dinner ya gotta hit the promenade deck, and watch how fast you are going...wow! You wake up in the Gulf Stream and it's getting warm. By that night or the next AM....tropics! Returning, might be a bit cool the last day, but just like the way down, the Captain waits in the warm weather as long as he can, then sprints for NYC. Bottom line is the Captain wants you to be as warm as possible for as long as possible.

Edited November 27, 2016 by GoonerBill