Cruising the Caribbean in January

We will be taking a 14 day Southern Caribbean Cruise from Baltimore in January.

I am wondering what to expect weather wise in the Caribbean. Will it be warm enough to swim? Is this a nice time of year to go?

We will be going to San Juan, St. Thomas, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, and Antiqua (if this helps).

All experiences are welcome and appreciated. We want to be properly prepared. Thanks!!

It's always summer in the southern Caribbean. You should be good to swim in all your ports.

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It is always warm enough to swim in the Caribbean. Your seas could be rough til you get down toward Miami and the temperature will be dictated by the jet stream. It could be 80 or 62 for a high. The coldest we have seen was Cozumel with a high of 72 in January with a water temperature the same 72. Fine to swim in. Getting out is cold!

Plan on 2 cold days at the front end and back end til you get past Miami. You will NOT want to be outside.

We will be taking a 14 day Southern Caribbean Cruise from Baltimore in January.

 

I am wondering what to expect weather wise in the Caribbean. Will it be warm enough to swim? Is this a nice time of year to go?

 

We will be going to San Juan, St. Thomas, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, and Antiqua (if this helps).

All experiences are welcome and appreciated. We want to be properly prepared. Thanks!!

It's always summer in the Caribbean so your ports of call will be very warm. :D

The cold part will be your sea days between Baltimore and the Caribbean.

The temps there stay about the same year round. Leaving the first day or two you might be a little cold. Even leaving from Galveston in the winter can be hit or miss as for if you need shorts or a jacket. But once you get a day out, you will be in "summer."

We will be taking a 14 day Southern Caribbean Cruise from Baltimore in January.

 

I am wondering what to expect weather wise in the Caribbean. Will it be warm enough to swim? Is this a nice time of year to go?

 

We will be going to San Juan, St. Thomas, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, Grand Turk, and Antiqua (if this helps).

 

All experiences are welcome and appreciated. We want to be properly prepared. Thanks!!

Great pleasant weather in the carib.

The weather and water will not be as hot as in the summer in the Caribbean which may be a good thing. We were there this past February and the water was warm enough, but you had to get used to it. Sometimes cool. The sun will fry you though so use sunscreen.

We were in the Caribbean in January last year while NY was having Snowstorm Jonas. We enjoyed the warm weather and the beach.

The weather and water will not be as hot as in the summer in the Caribbean which may be a good thing. We were there this past February and the water was warm enough, but you had to get used to it. Sometimes cool. The sun will fry you though so use sunscreen.

^ This exactly. I agree with you, as we have experienced the Caribbean in and out of summer and there is a difference in the water temperature, despite what others may say. The ocean is cooler and you do have to get used to it. It's always lovely to swim in each port but just be prepared for rougher seas and cooler water temps.

^ This exactly. I agree with you, as we have experienced the Caribbean in and out of summer and there is a difference in the water temperature, despite what others may say. The ocean is cooler and you do have to get used to it. It's always lovely to swim in each port but just be prepared for rougher seas and cooler water temps.

You have to be really temperature-sensitive to need much more "getting used to" Caribbean water temperatures in the winter. While summer sea temps may hover around 80 - 83 F, winter temps will hang around 76 - 79 F in most of the Caribbean. There are anomalies however due to varying currents: St. Martin actually has been reported as having February average sea water temps a degree or two warmer than those in August.

You have to be really temperature-sensitive to need much more "getting used to" Caribbean water temperatures in the winter. While summer sea temps may hover around 80 - 83 F, winter temps will hang around 76 - 79 F in most of the Caribbean. There are anomalies however due to varying currents: St. Martin actually has been reported as having February average sea water temps a degree or two warmer than those in August.

Very true. Depends on WHERE you go. We went to Aruba and it was quite warm. So was Venezuela and Barbados. All in all, the temps in winter are only a few degrees cooler, if at all. We have never felt that it took long to "get used to them." When I lived in Iowa, the temps at the pools and lakes was colder in the summer than the Caribbean is in the winter.

Very true. Depends on WHERE you go. We went to Aruba and it was quite warm. So was Venezuela and Barbados. All in all, the temps in winter are only a few degrees cooler, if at all. We have never felt that it took long to "get used to them." When I lived in Iowa, the temps at the pools and lakes was colder in the summer than the Caribbean is in the winter.

We cruised the end of Nov into Dec about five years ago. The water in Nassau was chilly, but HMC AND GT were gorgeous. We told people that even Nassau was warmer than an Iowa lake in August :)

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Hello Vlyn,

January is the one of the best times to cruise the Southern Caribbean. The weather is warm but, not oppressive.

Typically the highs are in the 70's and mid 80's.

San Juan

is a great port stop. Check out Old San Juan very colorful shops and houses very near the cruise pier. Also don't miss the wonderful El Morro Fort. This massive fort is a very interesting place to explore and there is a convenient bus just across the street that will bring you directly back to the cruise pier.

St. Maarten

Orient Bay Beach is very beautiful. Your ship will have either a two-hour or four-hour beach transfer there that usually includes round trip transportation, a beach chair and cocktails.

Have a great Caribbean Cruise.

Jonathan

Nassau (Bahamas) are NOT in the Caribbean...they are in the Atlantic, and can experience Florida-like temps. Once you get into the actual Caribbean, it's shorts and tees. Whether the water is warm enough to swim depends on what you're used to. If it's hot enough, then 79 degree water will be refreshing. I prefer water temps in the 80's tho!