Sunday, March 31, 2024

Royal Caribbean Ship Impacted by Sudden Storm in Gulf of Mexico

cruise ship in a storm

The ship was about 125 miles off the coast of Denmark on a trip from Norway to England. “It really hit home when they started handing out orange survival suits to everyone,” Lawrence explained. The ship’s main engine is still functioning, so the vessel can be steered from the engine room.

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cruise ship in a storm

The Carnival Sunshine is already on its next voyage, the cruise line confirmed. Videos shared online by vacationers show flooded hallways littered with glass and other debris, doors ripped off their hinges and downed pipes laying soaked on the floor. Jerry Pike, a local photographer who was sitting in his vehicle in Jetty Park during the outburst, also posted video of the storm.

Ferocious storm floods cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico: video - New York Post

Ferocious storm floods cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico: video.

Posted: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

What it's like if your cruise is extended because of a hurricane?

"Since Disney Cruise Line uses rotational dining, they simply assigned us two more nights of a restaurant. It's really operating like normal in many ways," Meeks said. The entertainment staff will schedule more sea-day activities, just as they did when Castaway Cay got canceled. In the case of Disney Wish, the first announcement came on the evening of Sept. 27 as the storm moved closer to shore. Based on updated forecasts, the captain announced the ship would not return to port until Saturday or Sunday, after the storm had passed and they could better assess the situation at Port Canaveral.

Extra days are generally a good thing

While my cruise only had a change in itinerary, other cruise ships had to remain out at sea longer because of the closure in Port Canaveral. Pete Peterson, owner of Storybook Cruises, which is affiliated with Cruise Planners, said cruise ships keep a close eye on weather developments and will adjust their itinerary depending on the severity of the storm. There are situations where a ship may have no choice other than encountering some weather, such as during a North Atlantic crossing in the fall. If adverse weather is unavoidable, the cruise line may change your itinerary, possibly switching your Bermuda cruise with one along the coast of New England and Canada, or shortening or lengthening your cruise by a day or two. As the Independence of the Seas prepared to depart, strong winds and rain battered the 15-deck ship. In multiple videos posted to YouTube and Twitter, passengers are shown slipping and sliding across the decks while attempting to get safely inside.

Footage shows moment Royal Caribbean cruise ship was flooded during storm in the Gulf of Mexico

It is unknown whether guests onboard Voyager of the Seas were similarly asked to return to their staterooms during the roughest weather. As is standard procedure, the open decks were closed during the storm and for a period of time afterward while safety checks were performed and the area was cleaned up. Although the exact paths and initial development of individual hurricanes are hard to predict, the season is generally busiest between mid-August and mid-September. In the Western Caribbean (including the Riviera Maya in Mexico), storms are more frequent from mid-September into early November. Savvy cruisers often select a cabin in the middle of the ship, which is undoubtedly less prone to movement.

Dramatic video captures chopper pulling pregnant woman from Disney cruise ship

The weather is certainly one of those reasons — even absent a full-fledged hurricane. But when a hurricane is churning, it is very possible that the ship's itinerary will change. While staying at sea and away from the storm is the safest decision, travelers still have a lot of questions, concerns and general curiosity about the change of course. The Points Guy spoke with passengers currently on board Disney Wish to learn what it's like being out at sea for a few extra days during a hurricane. While I think most people understand cruise ships don't sail into hurricanes, the most common question I've received during my cruise is something along the lines of, "how bad are the waves?". Storms tend to move at about 8 to 10 knots, while ships can attain speeds of up to 22 knots and beyond.

Cruise ships can easily avoid storms by sailing away from them and chasing better weather. "The current weather is sunshine with some humidity. We had choppier waves this morning [when the ship was closer to the storm], but from where we are now, you wouldn't even know there was a hurricane in the distance," Meeks said. For Disney Wish, a port change announcement came on the morning of Sept. 28 when the ship was scheduled to dock at Castaway Cay for the day. Rather than head toward Disney's private island, and toward the storm, the ship turned toward the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean where seas would be calmer. There were definitely some guests upset we would not be able to visit Roatan, and that's to be expected because no one wants to be disappointed.

Passenger Brad Morrell snapped a photo of an automated instrument map reporting a 69 knot, or 79 mph, wind. Every day, listen to the captain’s report from the bridge, which includes a description of sea conditions, to decide what preparations you may need to make for the day. If you get seasick, be prepared with over-the-counter motion sickness medications, homeopathic remedies, or a prescription patch from your doctor. The storm is just one of many expected to hit the Florida coast as hurricane season begins in the Atlantic Ocean, which runs from the beginning of June to November 30. So, while safe and provisioned, it might seem strange that the crew must remain on the ship as 50 salvage divers and some 12 cranes begin removing containers from the vessel. According to the BBC, moving the Dali is second priority to clearing the shipping channel in Baltimore’s port, as 11 additional ships remain trapped (four of which are important to U.S. national defense).

What To Do If You Can't Get to Your Cruise Ship Because of a Hurricane

The North Atlantic can pack a punch from September until February, when the barometric pressure plunges, giving even the sturdiest ships a rollercoaster ride through squally seas. Another seaway where storms lurk during autumn and winter months is the Bay of Biscay. This portion of the Atlantic, located off the west coast of France and the northern coast of Spain, is renowned for restless seas that can test the mettle of even the most seasoned sea dog. Without the option to return to Florida as originally scheduled, Disney Wish — along with other cruise ships — is (temporarily) "stuck" at sea. When a ship changes itinerary, they have the opportunity to sail waters far away from the storm. In addition, ships can sail closer to land to find protected waterways that can lessen the effect of the seas.

Dramatic video captured the moment panicked passengers ran for their lives aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship hit by a freak storm — which sent deck furniture flying as the vessel prepared to leave a Florida port. Storm Pia's hurricane-force winds punished the North Sea and much of Europe Thursday and Friday, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute. The rough seas interacting with the ocean floor and coasts built up the rogue wave, which can be twice the size of surrounding waves, according to NOAA. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry.

On Sept. 30 to contact their airline to depart later in the day, if possible. He also advised that they were watching Hurricane Ian carefully and would continue to keep passengers updated on the weather throughout the voyage. In the days before the cruise, my mind was put at ease that we'd be able to sail thanks to his updates.

"We were surrounded by lightning and the ship took a huge hit by a wave and sounded like it split in two," Tutrone tweeted. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. "The Independence was just getting battered by winds as it was trying to push off the dock," Pike said.

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