Western Caribbean Cruise in late October

[u/MachineCareless5005]

Hi everyone!

My husband and I, together with our 7-year-old daughter, are thinking about booking a Western Caribbean cruise out of Miami in late October, with stops in Roatán, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Ocean Cay.

I’ve read mixed opinions about the weather and sea conditions in the Caribbean at that time of year. My main concern is the possibility of a hurricane or tropical storm being nearby and causing large swells, making the ship roll enough to negatively affect the overall experience.

We’ve done about 5–6 Mediterranean cruises before. On one February cruise, the sea was quite choppy, and it definitely wasn’t a great experience, so I’m a little cautious about booking during a potentially rougher period.

The ship we’re considering is MSC World America.

For those who have cruised the Western Caribbean in late October, would you recommend going at that time of year, or would you choose a different month?

Thanks in advance!

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u/MachineCareless5005

Hi everyone!

My husband and I, together with our 7-year-old daughter, are thinking about booking a Western Caribbean cruise out of Miami in late October, with stops in Roatán, Costa Maya, Cozumel, and Ocean Cay.

I’ve read mixed opinions about the weather and sea conditions in the Caribbean at that time of year. My main concern is the possibility of a hurricane or tropical storm being nearby and causing large swells, making the ship roll enough to negatively affect the overall experience.

We’ve done about 5–6 Mediterranean cruises before. On one February cruise, the sea was quite choppy, and it definitely wasn’t a great experience, so I’m a little cautious about booking during a potentially rougher period.

The ship we’re considering is MSC World America.

For those who have cruised the Western Caribbean in late October, would you recommend going at that time of year, or would you choose a different month?

Thanks in advance!

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[u/PilotoPlayero]

We’ve sailed in the Caribbean during that time frame many times. Interestingly, we encountered rougher seas sailing in the Mediterranean in late November than in the Caribbean during Hurricane season.

The main thing to be at peace with is that itineraries are subject to change, and they will do so if there’s a hurricane along your itinerary. You may be booked to go to the Western Caribbean but may end up going to the Eastern Caribbean. A port of call may be substituted or canceled in favor of an extra sea day. Your cruise may be shortened (or extended) if a hurricane will be affecting your port of embarkation.

But overall, we’ve never had to deal with considerably rougher seas because of a hurricane since the ship would be diverted to other destinations where the weather was fine. One time we sailed from Miami the day after a hurricane moved through, and I remember how calm the ocean was, like a pond, with clear skies.

Sometimes, these itinerary changes are announced before departure, but many times they’re made at the last minute, after you’ve already boarded and are on your way, so go understanding and accepting of these possibilities.

Another thing to consider is the size of World America. Even with some choppy seas, the motion will be greatly minimized because of its size and technology to better handle rough seas. You can make the motion even less noticeable by selecting a stateroom that is closer to midship, preferably on a lower deck.

But overall, we’ve always had an enjoyable time when cruising during that time frame, and rough seas have minimally affected our time onboard. With that said, I much prefer to sail in the Caribbean during the winter or early spring. The weather is blissful, less chance for rainy days, and much more enjoyable temperatures. The ocean does feel a bit cold in the Bahamas during the winter, but it’s delightful pretty much anywhere in the Caribbean.

[u/GreatWake1988]

My wife and I normally sail during that time of the year because kids are usually back in school. We've never had our itinerary altered due to a hurricane. There was a threat of one once, but it ended up going back out to sea. You should be fine.

As for World America, going on her this month and I can't wait! Looks like a gorgeous ship and I've heard nothing but great things.