January - Weather warmer in Eastern or Western Carib?

[Newbie41]

Hi,

We are taking a cruise in early to mid January departing from either Miami or Fort Lauderdale. We are undecided on the itinerary. At that time of year is it warmer in the eastern carib (Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas) or the western carib (Cozumel, Belize, Grand Caymen)? Or is the weather similar in both?

[Keith1010]

In general, Western should be warmer. Bahama's would be the cooler of the places but it is still a nice time to sail to either area.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done both the eastern and western cruises in January.

The western was warmer. Bahamas are chilly at that time of the year.

[Newbie41]

Hi thanks for your replies. You indicated that Bahamas are cooler at that time of the year. What is the weather like in other Eastern Carrib islands?

[GTO-Girl]

I think we must have been lucky because we have taken multiple Winter cruises that included the Bahamas and each time it was mid 80's.

 

I'm sure that's not always the case....

Edited October 15, 2014 by GTO-Girl

[Nebr.cruiser]

The Bahamas can be cooler; we've always had at least 70's there, but they will have similar weather to Florida; cold spells in Florida usually equals cool weather in the Bahamas.

 

So far we've never had anything but warm to hot weather once in the actual Caribbean, such as St. Thomas. The coolest weather we've ever had was a western Caribbean cruise out of Galveston, but even then temps were in the low 70's, and that was only once. Other western itineraries have been quite hot. We've probably cruised in the Caribbean at least 20 times, out of Florida all but one time.

 

If I have a choice, I'd go the southern route!

[Underwatr]

The Bahamas are off Florida and aren't really in the Caribbean. If you get down to St. Thomas or lower you be as warm or warmer than the Western Caribbean.

 

My own experience is limited but I've been cold in Playa del Darmen at Christmas and in Nassau in February but never in the Caribbean per se.

Edited October 15, 2014 by Underwatr

[cruiser2053]

What about the ocean is it noticeably warmer in different parts of the Carribean in January or February?

[sweetTcruiser]

What about the ocean is it noticeably warmer in different parts of the Carribean in January or February?

 

I've been once to the Bahama's (Nassau, Coco Cay) in January. The weather was beautiful, but the water was cold.

[Life is Good Cruising]

We cruise quite often to the Caribbean in the month of January, which does not include the Bahamas. The water temp is basically the same whether it be the Eastern or Western Caribbean, as the temps in western may be a little bit hotter. We prefer the ports on the Eastern route versus the Western because of their beaches. When going to St. Thomas you can also go to beautiful St. John's which has one of the world's top beach, Trunk Bay. Love going to Orient and Maho Beach in St Maarten.

 

Where ever you decide to go, have a wonderful cruise!

[navybankerteacher]

Forget the Bahamas - nothing to do with the Caribbean. Most eastern Caribbean ports are significantly further south than Cozumel and Grand Cayman - and the water is likely to be somewhat warmer - but it is pretty fine year round.

[cb at sea]

Bahamas are in the Atlantic...not the Caribbean!

[MCC retired]

Better chance of warmer waters in the Western Caribbean .

The Eastern Caribbean itineraries spend most of the trip in the Atlantic Ocean .

[fishywood]

Winter weather at sea is as unpredictable as the responses above.

Eastern Caribbean tends to be more temperate.

Bahamas are usually very similar to Florida, where we have a few short blasts of decidedly non-tropical weather each winter.

While infrequent, nasty midwestern cold fronts have been know to make their way all the way down to the Yucatan.

And of course there are no guarantees--but while not toasty-warm, the water should feel warm enough to swim in for either of the posters from Wisconsin.

Edited October 15, 2014 by fishywood

[AKman2495]

The difference is the tropics. The tropic of cancer is a "line" that lies 162 miles south of Florida. Once you cross that line you are in the "tropics" the Caribbean in in the tropics. The climate in the tropics is generally uniform year round.

 

I have found that the further south you go towards the equator the warmer it gets. Also, the Eastern Caribbean can have nice trade winds which moderate the temperature.

 

We did a 2 week cruise from the last week of January to the first week in Feb in the Caribbean. We started in the Bahamas, which were pleasant, but cooler.

 

Once we were in the tropics, it was always 78-82 degrees. every day like clock work.

 

Last November we sailed in the Western Caribbean and it was also very pleasant, although maybe slightly warmer.

 

As long as you are in the tropics, you will be fine.

[dorisis]

The further south you go, the warmer it will be. Thus it will be warmer in the southern Caribbean.