Cruising in December from NYC

[LLCoolDoc]

Hi Everyone!

 

We are booking a cruise for Christmas and I'm wondering how cold it is sailing out of NYC and for the first couple of sea days..........trying to figure out what to pack!! We will be visiting the Bahamas and Florida......Any insight would be great!! TIA!

[negn]

Hard to tell exactly but know it won’t be warm the first 2 days.   Best would be to have layers.   Maybe a fleece with sweater under.   You can remove1 as it warms.  I’d start checking the weather for a week or so prior to your cruise

[Highlander1]

Have cruised numerous times out of NYC in February and the first week of March. Whwn you wake up on Day 2, your usually between Norfolk and Outer Bancks. 

 

They must head offshore enough to grab some of the Gulfstream effect because its sweatshirt and shorts weather,  seems mostly in the 50's or 60's, a big difference from the day before in NYC.

 

Of course the crew have their parkas, ski caps and gloves on, they take them off when it hits about 80.

 

Only isue with December cruises is the days are short, 8 hours of daylight so get outside while you can, nights can be chilly.

 

[Crazy planning mom]

I know this is the NCL board but the Anthem sails out of New Jersey and has an indoor pool and solarium.

Edited August 25, 2022 by Crazy planning mom

[BermudaBound2014]

The first day and the last can be outright cold. As in snow on the deck cold. Looking at the weather right before you leave should tell you a good idea if it's going to be snowing lol. I sailed on the Anthem a cruise after it had snowed onboard (January). The crew was ecstatic because it was the first time many of them have ever seen snow. This isn't common.

 

The second day out and the day before you get back can also be cold. Even the Bahamas and Florida can be cool. I sailed into Port Canaveral between Christmas and New Years a few years ago and it was in the low 50's with a wicked wind. Definitely needed a light coat in Florida that year. I don't think super cold/snowing is common, but it does happen. 

 

You are likely going to want layers. Lots of layers. And then if the weather is great it's a lovely bonus :). 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by BermudaBound2014

[Quencups]

We did Thanksgiving last year out of NYC to Fla and the Bahamas on the Gem because I always wanted to see if I would like sailing that week....LOL...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOPE not for me...We were in the GV and couldn't enjoy the courtyard for most of the week.  It was FREEZING (to me) until we got to Florida...

[tallnthensome]

Unless you have a crystal ball no one can tell you how cold it will be but considering Santa Claus is in town I would suspect it would be common knowledge that it's going to be cold. What would you expect? I would only expect a couple days of nice weather on that cruise from that location at that time of year. 

[Treasure Hunter]

We sail a lot from New York in the winter. I’d rather spend a day on the ship than in the airport. The temps ( generally)  range from 20-50) but can be much colder. We wear sweatshirts with a non bulky fleece for boarding day and day before debarking. But I’m either at entertainment or casino then so don’t care. I’m so excited on a cruise that I generate my own heat!

[Mike A]

We did the Jewel the 1st week in January in 2012. On the day we sailed it hit 72 degrees and the CD set up an impromptu sail away party. The warm weather continued all the way to Port Canaveral.

On the way back to NY it was warm until 3:00 PM the last sea day when the temperature dropped by 30+ degrees. The morning we returned to NY it was 25 degrees. Our car had 6 inches of snow on it and the Pier 88 Roof Top Parking Lot was like an ice rink. Therefore, be prepared for everything🙂

Edited August 25, 2022 by Mike A

[Treasure Hunter]

Yes, the first time we cruised NCL in many years we sailed on the Gem in the last room in the Haven. It had an outside wall and the temp was 4 degrees. The toilet seat was a block of ice. When we got home the last day it was 65!

[JGmf]

Did Gem out of NYC mid-December last year, 2021.  Front facing cabin. Too cold to linger for the view out of NYC, but what a sunset!  Hope your trip out of NYC harbor is as beautiful.

 

[LLCoolDoc]

Thanks for your responses everyone! I know it is not going to be tropical.....just wanted some guidance on packing!

[tony s]

The bar is warm and the booze flowing. That solves the weather issues,lol

[LLCoolDoc]

Totally agree! Although I will miss be at Spice H20 24/7!!!

[nferr]

I almost always cruise out of NYC. Did it last February on the Anthem. Was about 40 degrees, I wore a light winter coat. Was cool the next morning and warmed up to 60's by afternoon. Reverse coming back. I have left NY in snow, kinda cool having snow and ice on deck. Close to booking a cruise out of NY for Bermuda in early February right now. There's plenty to do inside the ship the first and last nights. Especially with free at sea drinks!

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by nferr

[Travelling2Some]

11 hours ago, Crazy planning mom said:

I know this is the NCL board but the Anthem sails out of New Jersey and has an indoor pool and solarium.

Helpful information.  There are not hundreds of ships sailing out of New York in the winter, never mind hundreds with indoor pools and a solarium. 

[mets123]

On 8/25/2022 at 5:38 PM, nferr said:

I almost always cruise out of NYC. Did it last February on the Anthem. Was about 40 degrees, I wore a light winter coat. Was cool the next morning and warmed up to 60's by afternoon. Reverse coming back. I have left NY in snow, kinda cool having snow and ice on deck. Close to booking a cruise out of NY for Bermuda in early February right now. There's plenty to do inside the ship the first and last nights. Especially with free at sea drinks!

 

What ship leaves the N.Y. Metropolitan area for Bermuda in early February? Most lines don't leave for Bermuda until mid May at the earliest

[navybankerteacher]

I've sailed from NYC in January a number of times- generally by noon of the first full day you are entering the Gulf Stream about the latitude of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay - with temps in 60's to 70.  The day you sail can be very cold - as will your last full day.  When you get to the Bahamas it can be cooler - as low as 40's to 50's as the Gulf Stream will be further off shore.  

[Susan in Maine]

2016 we did a cruise out of Cape Liberty in February and came back in a massive blizzard! We couldn't go on deck for the last 2 1/2 days of the cruise.

[grobma]

I've done the Christmas week cruise out of NYC on NCL twice, and doing it again this year on the Getaway. Christmas Day weather is unpredictable but rarely frigid. Both times, I was comfortable doing the sailaway on deck, albeit in cold weather clothing. But after that, the jacket, hat and gloves go in the closet until the day of return. As someone mentioned previously, by mid-day the second day it feels like late spring, and continues to get warmer pretty quickly. Similarly, heading back it starts to get chilly enough for a sweater or jacket on the last day before arrival.

[shipgeeks]

We sailed out of NYC at Christmas a few years ago, and we sail out of Baltimore in the winter regularly.  For us, being out on deck for the first hour or so is a must!  The lights going on all over Manhattan, and the sunset, were magical!  It has always been cold.  We board in our winter coats, gloves, etc. and keep them on as long as needed.  Then they go under the bed until needed.  So worth it.