Summer Cruising

[rufio]

So... my husband and I just booked our next cruise A May 2015, 7 night Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy. We've only cruised once and that was in February on the Dream. We're not huge fans of heat, but May works for us so we're going for it. Anyone else who's sailed in May, how's the weather? Are we going to die? We really want to do the Tulum Ruins port adventure in Mexico (anyone done this?), but... yeah. Are we going to die of heat stroke? Coda is from Alaska but we've spent the last three summers in NC, so we're not strangers to heat, but he can be a little whiney about it. Thanks in advance!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

So... my husband and I just booked our next cruise A May 2015, 7 night Western Caribbean cruise on the Disney Fantasy. We've only cruised once and that was in February on the Dream. We're not huge fans of heat, but May works for us so we're going for it. Anyone else who's sailed in May, how's the weather? Are we going to die? We really want to do the Tulum Ruins port adventure in Mexico (anyone done this?), but... yeah. Are we going to die of heat stroke? Coda is from Alaska but we've spent the last three summers in NC, so we're not strangers to heat, but he can be a little whiney about it. Thanks in advance!

Done Tulum in high summer, worth it yes, hot yes take an umbrella for the shade but a great day out.

Take lots of water you will not die but wherever the tour guide stops and talks find shade.

 

[rufio]

Done Tulum in high summer, worth it yes, hot yes take an umbrella for the shade but a great day out.

Take lots of water you will not die but wherever the tour guide stops and talks find shade.

Good to hear! We'll be sure to take umbrellas.

 

[fltink]

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Can't say it enough. But you should be fine. May us hot for sure, but not unbearable. Enjoy every second! You'll love it!

 

[wdwstateofmind]

We've gone the past two Mays (two years ago on the cruise you're going on and this year to the Bahamas)...both were nothing too hot...temperatures both times were in the upper 70s and lower 80s. It's the humidity that will get to you. Drink plenty and just wear your sunscreen, we see way too many people trying to get that speed tan which just isn't worth it. Also, if you happen to enjoy the District, which I hope you do, make sure to hydrate in the process (don't worry either, there are bathroom every two feet there and hangovers in port aren't very fun). The water temperature is also on the cooler side in the upper 60s (Cozumel was a little warmer)...but if you're from cooler climates it'll be fine; I'm just spoiled on the Gulf of Mexico which is always warm.

 

[GoochDSA]

Good to hear! We'll be sure to take umbrellas.

My wife and I visited Tulum this past June while honeymooning in the Playa area. She is not a hat person, but she wore one of those crushable straw hats with the wide brims and loved it (she even wore it around the pool or on the beach when she needed a break from the sun). I just wore a baseball cap and would switch back and forth from wearing to forwards or backwards. I would personally go with the hats over the umbrellas, but I am very anti-umbrellas when site-seeing. Whichever way you choose, you deffinately need something since the site is very open with very little shade (but a real nice breeze, especially on the cliffs). Very much worth checking out. The only bad thing I can say about it (again we didn't do this through DCL) is the walk from the parking lot to the site is pretty long and tiring (or at least it feels that way on a 95+ degree day). Make sure to either bring a few bottles of water or pick a few up at the shops before walking to the site.

 

[ChuckElias]

Our visit to the ruins in Costa Maya last April was HOT. It wasn't hot enough to kill you, but we sweated every minute. I think there's some variance, obviously, and it won't necessarily be that way in May. But it can be brutal. I agree with staying hydrated and finding shade.

 

[Cesar R M]

Visiting Cancun and the surrounding areas is tolerable due of the fresh wind.
there is usually a lot of constant wind-breeze in the Yucatan area.

But I agree with Chuck.. the Heat levels can go easily to 35C to 44C

Not as bad as Houston's parking lots during dry summer times, but you get the idea.

 

[Melissa Mouse Ears]

It is hot for sure but not nearly as bad as July or August. I am a fan of a hat with a brim and have used those cooling handkerchiefs or bandanas that are in the sports stores like Academy.

 

[wdwstateofmind]

Our visit to the ruins in Costa Maya last April was HOT. It wasn't hot enough to kill you, but we sweated every minute. I think there's some variance, obviously, and it won't necessarily be that way in May. But it can be brutal. I agree with staying hydrated and finding shade.

And when you say ruins are you referring to the actually town of Costa Maya outside the initial port? At least in 2013, you could go there and see some ruins for free! It was obvious that they got hit hard by a hurricane and the Mexican government had all but given up on funding any kind of improvements; even the apartments and hotels were going up where now just ruined skeletons...

 

[ChuckElias]

And when you say ruins are you referring to the actually town of Costa Maya outside the initial port?

No. Here's the entry from my trip report:

"We chose the Chocchoben Mayan Ruins excursion. We felt lucky, because all of the watercraft excursions were cancelled, due to the rough seas. "Chocchoben" means "red corn" in Mayan. This excursion was a 1 hour bus ride to the ruins site, then a 2 hour tour of the site, then a half hour for shopping before the hour-long drive back to the port. It was VERY interesting. Lots of great information from our very knowledgeable guide, Lisbeth. I really enjoyed the excursion, but I would not recommend it for families with small children under the age of 13 or so. There was very little to hold a child's attention, except possibly for climbing on the ruins, which is only about a half hour or so of the tour. Additionally, as much as I liked the excursion, it was just too long. We reported to the theater at 12:25 (before "all ashore") and get back at 5:40 (after "all aboard"). Because we got back to the ship so late, we had to rush to dinner."

You can read the whole report at http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/a-fantasy-cruise-come-true-dcl-april-13-20-2013.863840/