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Sailing out of Baltimore in January


kidz_rn
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We are experienced (20+ cruises) cruisers looking at booking a 12-nighter out of Baltimore in January 2020, but have concerns having never sailed out of a Northeast port in the winter; i.e., what's it like being stuck inside for 3 sea days until we're finally in warmer waters? And then 3 more increasingly freezing sea days on the way back? Jam-packed Solarium? Choppy January seas on the open Atlantic?  All replies are welcome!

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 We sailed Grandeur out of Baltimore on Feb. 2 this year.  There was a skim of ice on the harbor and well into Chesapeake Bay as we sailed out.  But by mid afternoon on February 3 we were in the 70 F waters of the Gulf Stream.  

 

There is NO 3 freezing sea days either way.  Your last full day will be cold, but the Atlantic from the mouth of the Chesapeake and south is simply not that terribly cold.

 

We’ve also sailed from New York in the winter a number of times - chill on the first and last sea days is a small price for not having to fly to Florida.

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We sailed out of Bayonne this past January and had the comedy seas out of 40+ cruises. The seas were as smooth as a lake. But if there's a storm in the area, all bets are off. You cannot predict the weather. In terms of temperature, by the end of the first day at sea, if was warm enough to put on shorts and walk around the upper decks.

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We sail out of Baltimore almost every winter.  We board in sweaters and jackets so we can stand out on deck to watch the ship sail under the bridges.  Once it is warm enough, perhaps a day later, we put the jackets and stuff under the bed, usually in a compression bag.

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We sailed out of Baltimore in December and in August.  The water was rougher in December but not terrible.  The cruise line understands that people are going to be inside on first and last day and plans activities accordingly.

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6 hours ago, kidz_rn said:

Since the consensus is so favorable, we will go ahead and book this cruise.

Thank you for your replies!

Enjoy your cruise. Driving or taking Amtrak to Baltimore certainly beats flying in winter.  I would still go the day before - you don’t need the hassle/risk of traveling  on embarkation day.

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