From Bayonne/NYC South - when does it get warm in Dec?

Hi, we're taking an East Caribbean cruise out of Bayonne for 12 days in Dec and are wondering how soon it gets warm enough for shorts? We have 3 days at sea coming and going. Knowing when it gets warm will help with the clothes packing!

That may be hard to predict, but I would guess it would not warm up until you are at least three days out of home port. Enjoy your cruise.

Can't say for sure but assuming you sail on embarkation day at 5 P.M., you should at least be off the coast of Virginia first morning or perhaps a little south and it could well be warm enough for shorts by noontime or so.

By next morning, you're off Florida.

Thanks, I was hoping sometime the next day!

It's very hard to predict. This past December, we sailed out of NYC on 11 DEC, and when we arrived at Port Canaveral, they were suffering from an unusually cold snap--around 36 degrees! Other times you can leave NYC in 'shirtsleeve weather', even in December. But I would say on average, you can expect temperate weather on the second noon of your cruise.

Going south from New York you will most likely hit the Gulf Stream's 70 degree water by mid-afternoon of the first sea day - just under 24 hours out - check ocean temperature sites for current seawater temp info.

hard to predict for december

the last couple of years the weather along the east coast has not been good -- even florida has been cold

Of course, the ocean water in December is significantly warmer than it is in April. Because the ocean waters retain heat, it takes until February or March before the winter weather completely cools the sea -- and then several months for the spring and summer weather to warm it back up. Generally, the water is at its warmest in early October and its coldest in early March.

Of course, the ocean water in December is significantly warmer than it is in April. Because the ocean waters retain heat, it takes until February or March before the winter weather completely cools the sea -- and then several months for the spring and summer weather to warm it back up. Generally, the water is at its warmest in early October and its coldest in early March.

At sea, is the air temperature always determined by the water temperature when sailing on a line from NYC to the Caribbean? Or can air masses from shore sometimes affect the air temp.? I would think that on a line from NYC to Florida, staying closer to the shore, the shore temperatures would have more of an effect than the sea temperatures.

But than hey, I'm no meteorologist....:confused:

On our Caribbean voyages from New York I always notice a significant change by the second night. It goes from frigid temperatures in New York to a refreshing sea breeze.

Midway through your second full sea day you should be cruising into warmer climes.

Jonathan

you'll be freezing your *ss off till you get to south carolina

And, maybe AFTER SC....if there's a far-reaching cold front (like we've had the last couple of years!!!), it won't get warm until you're past the Bahamas....pack layers, so you can bundle up that way. Easier to pack than "winter-wear"!