Western Caribbean - timing
 

I'm searching now for a cruise out of Miami, main reason is to visit Belize, if only for a few hours!

Is January OK time to go? Due to work, can't go Nov-Dec-Feb, and Mar-Apr usually family-related.

Weather and waves worry me - almost got sick going from Costa Rica to Jamaica in January of this year.

Faina from Miami to Belize the water is much calmer than the route from CR to Jamaica. I have done that area several times in January and the water was calm. Just take along your bonine just in case but I wouldn't worry about it!! I see that NCL and RCL have some great deals on that cruise in January. Enjoy!!

We had an awful cruise last holiday season (over New Year's) and experienced really bad waves between Grand Cayman and Cozumel and back to Miami. Pretty much ruined any chance of being outside. Was one of the most miserable travel experiences we have had. We almost were unable to get off the ship in Cozumel (too wavy to dock), but after a couple of hours, they were able to bring us in. Thought we were going to get blown off the pier though. Wasn't stormy weather, just stormy seas. Had a friend who used to work in the cruise industry and she said this was common. Wish we had known!

Thank you both! We read CruiseCritic reviews too, and decided to go ahead and make reservations for the January 10-17 cruise on Norwegian... ummm... something :) If the weather is bad, we'll just enjoy being pampered like not having to make the bed, or not having to cook! We'll also explore Miami pre-tour.

Good for you Faina. Being pampered is what its all about the rest is bonus! Its such a good time to take advantage of some of the bargains out there. I am sure it will be smooth sailing but just in case "Bonine" is my friend.

I take ginger before, during, and after a cruise - to avoid "sea legs" after the cruise. Bonine is my back-up, I took it once on the day we were bounced from Costa Rica to Jamaica, now I know it works.

Bonine is wonderful. It doesn't make you drowsy (well nobody I have given it to but there is always an exception I guess) On our Antarctic cruise when we encountered one of the worst storms ever the people who said they didn't need it because they had patches etc were lining up for it. Thank goodness for the costco size bottle (meclizine). I was the hero. That cruise was something else again - due to inclement weather 3 of our ports were cancelled so we were 12 days at sea at one stretch.

12 days at sea?? Have you ever cruised again :))

Yes we love cruising. It didn't bother me at all but it is nice to see the ports of course. I have over 300 days with HAL alone and have done a couple dozen Princess and a few Celebrity. Some passengers were quite upset but when you cruise in those waters you have to expect that you could as we did encounter bad weather. We had just one port cancelled last September in France on our Med cruise so that wasn't bad. I just love the fact that as you said - I don't have to cook!!!!!