Sea Conditions - December

[robmtx]

I have heard that tendering can be quite a challenge during the rougher season. When is that? Or, is mid December part of that season? Going in 2 months and curious what to expect. I do acknowledge that bad seasons can have good days and good seasons can have bad days and know my results will vary, but curious minds wanna know. 

[Capt_BJ]

mid December will be on the front edge of "IF" season .... more common to have issues Jan thru March

 

What you want to be watching for is wind and seas out of the west, either strong or steady for several days leading up to your day.  Because Georgetown has no protected harbor, weather out of the west blows straight in and this is when you can get enuf swell to make tendering a problem.  If the same weather is out of the east, the island provides 'a lee' and the seas can be calm west of Georgetown .... weather out of the west is more common early in the year ...

 

SOMETIMES if the conditions are poor on the west side near Georgetown, the alternate anchorage on the south shore near Spotts Beach can be used for a couple of ships ... the facilities are limited here and you get bused to town.

[robmtx]

On 10/14/2019 at 4:27 PM, Capt_BJ said:

mid December will be on the front edge of "IF" season .... more common to have issues Jan thru March

 

What you want to be watching for is wind and seas out of the west, either strong or steady for several days leading up to your day.  Because Georgetown has no protected harbor, weather out of the west blows straight in and this is when you can get enuf swell to make tendering a problem.  If the same weather is out of the east, the island provides 'a lee' and the seas can be calm west of Georgetown .... weather out of the west is more common early in the year ...

 

SOMETIMES if the conditions are poor on the west side near Georgetown, the alternate anchorage on the south shore near Spotts Beach can be used for a couple of ships ... the facilities are limited here and you get bused to town.

Thanks. This is helpful. Although completely out of our control I like to know what may influence their decision making process. 

[Capt_BJ]

also keep in mind that due to distances and speed of the average cruise ship, if an alternate port is a possibility the decision must be made in sufficient time to get to the alternate place ..... ya can't get to GC see it is poor conditions and quickly go someplace else for the day ..... you can do a sea day in this situation but changing ports  must be decided earlier if it is even possible.

[marci4tony]

We've been in early November where it was borderline - My poor daughter got sick on the tender ride to shore 😞

Was a rough snorkel too, but everything worked out just fine.

[Single_dreamer]

Our ship tenders on Dec 17. I really hope the seas are calm. I booked this cruise specifically to visit GC for the first time. 

[cb at sea]

There is no "rougher" season....rough seas can happen anytime.   It's never a good idea to book a cruise for a specific port....you just NEVER know what could happen.   Anything from wind to storms can defeat your best-laid plans!