Bliss in February out of New York

[mamashamiller]

It’s it rocky until you get to Florida?

flights to Fort Lauderdale are crazy expensive because it’s vacation week so I was wondering if leaving out of New York is ok during the winter 

 

[wilmingtech]

We were on the Anthem out of NYC in December 2017. It was cold and there was snow on the lifeboats for about a day as we headed south.

 

What you lose out on are the days of waterfront and outside dining, aqua park and sports complex. But plenty to do besides that. Best to see a show on the first and last nights and enjoy the outside of the ship when you hit the warm waters.

 

We had pretty smooth sailing all the way south and back on our cruise. Weather is always a gamble though. You could get sunny skies and 50-60 degrees or a snowstorm.

 

We chose that winter sailing because there were 6 of us and the price for flights would have been more expensive than the cruise.

 

 

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Peachypooh]

The nice thing about cruising out of a port you can drive to is not having to worry

about flight delays due to poor weather. Especially in the winter time.

[ColeThornton]

It's definitely going to be cold but as far as the seas go no one can tell you in advance what your cruise will be like.

 

Tons of people sail during the winter from the Northeast.  Go for it.

Edited November 7, 2019 by ColeThornton

[GA Dave]

Brrrr.....

Edited November 7, 2019 by GA Dave

[Proud Dance Mom]

Sailed out of NYC a few years back on Jan 6th on the Breakaway.  NYC had just had a big storm closing the highways from Albany into NYC.  Was bitterly cold for sailaway and sailing passed the Statue of Liberty and under the bridge, but by lunch the following day was able to sit with just a sweater and play cards in the covered section of the then Uptown Grill.  Same thing for the last sea day coming back, was able to sit with just a sweater.

 

We are going to try it again and am booked on the Bliss for Feb. 2nd, 2020.  If you have the drink package, bring a thermal cup -  Hot Chocolate with Amaretto helps ward off the chills, 😉

[ColeThornton]

22 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

Brrrr.....

 

 

That's one way to control the chair hogs!

[BirdTravels]

The nice thing about the Bliss is that it was purpose-built for cold weather. So, if it cool (not icy cold) there are heaters in the out door dining areas (buffet, waterfront), and the pools and water features are all heated, large observation lounge for indoor space. 

Edited November 7, 2019 by BirdTravels

[tokidoki]

19 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

The nice thing about the Bliss is that it was purpose-built for cold weather. So, if it cool (not icy cold) there are heaters in the out door dining areas (buffet, waterfront), and the pools and water features are all heated, large observation lounge for indoor space. 

interesting about the heaters😁   I figure when I leave March 1,  it will be cold the first/last days @ sea, otherwise by Tuesday we will probably be in 80 degress!

[Laszlo]

2 hours ago, mamashamiller said:

It’s it rocky until you get to Florida?

flights to Fort Lauderdale are crazy expensive because it’s vacation week so I was wondering if leaving out of New York is ok during the winter 

 

My wife and I did a 14 day a few years ago on the BA out of NYC in February. It very cold yet the seas were calm on the way down. Coming back was a completely different story, All outside decks were closed the last two days. We couldn't get off fast enough, the only thing that saved us was our thermal spa passes.....and it was overflowing the last two days

[coastcat]

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The nice thing about the Bliss is that it was purpose-built for cold weather. So, if it cool (not icy cold) there are heaters in the out door dining areas (buffet, waterfront), and the pools and water features are all heated, large observation lounge for indoor space. 

This.

 

When I was on the Bliss in late September (Alaska), a buffet visit turned into the usual “er, are there any empty tables anywhere?” search. A crew member suggested I go to the outdoor seating because it was heated and usually fairly empty. And that was my go-to Garden Cafe seating for the rest of the trip. 

 

One of my fellow Studio travelers noted that he was alone in the pool for the first few days because no one else seemed to realize it as heated!

Edited November 7, 2019 by coastcat

[FLAHAM]

I would consider the 14-day Bliss cruise out of New York in February, but not the 7-day.  The 7-day cruise goes to particularly uninteresting ports.  In addition, who wants to lose at least 2 out of 7 days of lounging in the sun to cold weather?

[luckyinpa]

4 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The nice thing about the Bliss is that it was purpose-built for cold weather. So, if it cool (not icy cold) there are heaters in the out door dining areas (buffet, waterfront), and the pools and water features are all heated, large observation lounge for indoor space. 

 

are you saying ill have a heated pool on sailaway out of NYC in december? 

[mking8288]

Ships - large & small, mega-sized ones - don't like to sail directly into the gale force cross-wind, sea swells and batter giant waves with loads of passengers & crews onboard, and with latest onboard navigational instruments & weather apps, steer around & plot a best course/heading to avoid it.  There is no guarantee about the ship being rocky but generally speaking, NCL like other cruise lines, are very good for what they do ... relax.  Book a mid-ship & lower deck location would be your preferred place to ride out any such encounters - the worst of it typically will not last more than half a day or so, often a few hours.  

 

We just did a 14 nights out of NY this January on the Escape to West Caribbean, stopping at Port Canaveral but missed GSC due to wind/rough seas in the Bahamas, temps in the 70's & sunny - shorts by late afternoon of Day 2.   Our 3-in-1 parka stayed in the closet the whole time, only needed the zipped out fleece jacket/liner on the morning of day 2 & the last sea day on its northbound run, as it got progressively windy & chilly.  

 

Trip insurance is recommended but of course, it's your money to choose being self "insured" 

[Vyhanek]

You'll have to get basically to Port Canaveral to get any type of warm wether in December.    Then same thing on the return trip.

 

That sort of cruise is not for everybody.    Know what you're getting in to and decide if you can be in jeans and a jacket basically the whole time.   Maybe you gamble a lot, or read or spend a lot of time in the spa or you don't care about being warm and enjoying outside on the deck.   

 

Personally, Id pay to fly to get too Florida.   My vacation is too precious to burn 2 days on each end getting to/from warm waters.

Edited November 7, 2019 by Vyhanek

[softl]

I'll be sailing the Bliss out of NYC in a few weeks. Staying in the Haven so we get the enclosed pool! I'm not a winter person, but I'm sure I'll find things to do until we hit warm air. My Bride likes the casino, I like the bars! Win, win.

[luckyinpa]

3 hours ago, softl said:

I'll be sailing the Bliss out of NYC in a few weeks. Staying in the Haven so we get the enclosed pool! I'm not a winter person, but I'm sure I'll find things to do until we hit warm air. My Bride likes the casino, I like the bars! Win, win.

 

thats the only reason i booked the christmas cruise on bliss. i know  haven will still be crowded but at least not with the entire ship. plus im hoping they keep the hot tubs hot  no matter the temp outside

 

ships like bliss and anthem that are built for cold are better than something like the breakaway. with the BA there are so many outdoor activities that you really take a hit when you have crappy sea days and outside is shut down

 

 

[geegee1]

On 11/7/2019 at 9:34 AM, mamashamiller said:

It’s it rocky until you get to Florida?

flights to Fort Lauderdale are crazy expensive because it’s vacation week so I was wondering if leaving out of New York is ok during the winter 

 

Have cruised out of NY in February many times.  We've had beautiful weather and cold weather. The rockiest it has ever been in our experience was once going from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas.  

[Gershep]

Cruised out of NY the end of January 2018 we had a beautiful sail away night. Seas weren't too rocky going down but were rocky coming back. 

[wyknotcruz2da]

We sailed on the Breakaway in Feb 2014 out of NYC..it was 50 degrees and sunny..very smooth sailing..but totally depends on weather..We are sailing Dec 1 on the Bliss and hoping for  it to be as nice

[KateQ22003]

On 11/7/2019 at 10:30 AM, Proud Dance Mom said:

Sailed out of NYC a few years back on Jan 6th on the Breakaway.  NYC had just had a big storm closing the highways from Albany into NYC.  Was bitterly cold for sailaway and sailing passed the Statue of Liberty and under the bridge, but by lunch the following day was able to sit with just a sweater and play cards in the covered section of the then Uptown Grill.  Same thing for the last sea day coming back, was able to sit with just a sweater.

 

We are going to try it again and am booked on the Bliss for Feb. 2nd, 2020.  If you have the drink package, bring a thermal cup -  Hot Chocolate with Amaretto helps ward off the chills, 😉

We are booked on this cruise as well! I may have to join you for that cocoa with Amaretto 🙂

 

Kathy

[jhawknj]

I sailed 4 years ago mid December out of NYC on the Breakaway and weather was great no snow going or coming home. I had a little choppy seas on the last day before getting back in NYC. Had sunny cool day leaving. Taking the same cruise this December I hope I get the same weather I am taking 2 first timers with me. Just looked at the weather history and it was 66F when in NYC the day we left.

[mamashamiller]

What deck for sail away on bliss if the weather permits