Port of Tampa fog this morning....

[manders175]

Mine would involve a lot of the 2nd one. :)

 

I'm getting very nervous about my cruise on Saturday. Nothing I can do, though...

 

(And thanks, as always, Bob!).

 

I will kindly thank you to please get in on time!! I get on after you get off! LOL :)

[bluegirlum]

I will kindly thank you to please get in on time!! I get on after you get off! LOL :)

 

As much as I would love another day in the warm weather, I really want to make our 11am flight, so I'll try! I know I would be very crabby if I got no sleep due to a fog horn going off all night, then having to deal with the logistics of getting back home. Maybe we can both start doing "no-fog" dances or something. :)

[orville99]

Fog really bad in PC this morning. Wonder if Enchantment got in on schedule

 

She got in with no problem (but we could barely make her out through the fog on the webcam this morning). PC is a relatively easy port to navigate compared to Tampa.

[Tutone56]

Fortunately we are able to fly down a few days ahead of time and are staying an addition night after the cruise. I didn't know about the fog possibility while planning this trip, so I'm glad we have the extra time.

[bluegirlum]

12:00 PM EST Update from RC Webpage:

 

While the weather by the Port of Tampa has improved, unfortunately the fog at the ship's current location has not yet dissipated. Unfortunately, Brilliance of the Seas has still not begun the four hour transit to the port. We are still waiting for word from the local authorities that the ship can begin the journey.

 

Because space in the cruise terminal at the Port of Tampa is very limited, we ask that guests scheduled to sail on Brilliance of the Seas today, Monday, February 25, not arrive to port until we are ready to begin check in and boarding. We will be providing regular updates on our website - http://www.royalcaribbean.com - as well as through e-mails and text messages.

 

As a gesture of goodwill, and to thank guests for their understanding, Royal Caribbean will provide each guest with a $20 credit to their onboard account to cover lunch in Tampa and any incidental cost they might incur due to the delay in boarding.

 

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions in Tampa and will update this information again at 3:00 p.m.

 

So...where are they that they're 4 hours out?

Edited February 23, 2015 by bluegirlum

[At Sea 4Ever]

Eat, drink, trivia, etc.

 

 

Would the pools be open?

[T2B2]

Hi All,

 

We are currently on the BOTS holding about 160 nm outside of the port and have been since around midnight. At 5 am they made the first announcements that we would be delayed due to the fog.

 

We have been receiving updates about every 2 hours. The captain just gave the latest update that the coast guard still has the channel into TB closed due to visibility under .5 mile. Needs to be greater than a mile to open.

 

Fog is burning off here at the ship but probably only 3/4 mile visibility here but captain says it is worse still closer into the channel.

 

RCI has turned on ship to shore calling as almost everyone is missing flights and needs hotel rooms. Hard to get an outside line. Took 30 mins trying myself to call American who were very accommodating.

RCI also enabled free wifi which is very slow but a nice touch. Lunch is being served and looks like dinner will be here too. We are told to expect a 4-5 hour journey in once we start moving. There is NO ETA on when we will start moving.

 

I will try and post again when we start in. Atleast we have Coach Meyer, Brutus, and the National Championship trophy on board with a few thousand buckeye fans in good spirits. Go Bucks!

[T2B2]

Would the pools be open?

 

Everything here on the ship is open. Bars, restaurants, and casino. Because we are outside the territorial marker we are still at see in international waters so gaming can continue along with duty free shopping.

 

Biggest problem with the pools open is almost everyone checked their luggage in last night with thier swimsuits. Many people here in cold weather clothes as we expected to get off and head back to the frozen north.

[rafinmd]

Hi All,

 

We are currently on the BOTS holding about 160 nm outside of the port and have been since around midnight. At 5 am they made the first announcements that we would be delayed due to the fog.

 

We have been receiving updates about every 2 hours. The captain just gave the latest update that the coast guard still has the channel into TB closed due to visibility under .5 mile. Needs to be greater than a mile to open.

 

Fog is burning off here at the ship but probably only 3/4 mile visibility here but captain says it is worse still closer into the channel.

 

RCI has turned on ship to shore calling as almost everyone is missing flights and needs hotel rooms. Hard to get an outside line. Took 30 mins trying myself to call American who were very accommodating.

RCI also enabled free wifi which is very slow but a nice touch. Lunch is being served and looks like dinner will be here too. We are told to expect a 4-5 hour journey in once we start moving. There is NO ETA on when we will start moving.

 

I will try and post again when we start in. Atleast we have Coach Meyer, Brutus, and the National Championship trophy on board with a few thousand buckeye fans in good spirits. Go Bucks!

 

Thanks for the update but I think something missed in the message. If you're actually 160 nm away that's a minimum of 8 hours, not 4-5. I hope something fell through on the distance.

 

Roy

[T2B2]

Thanks for the update but I think something missed in the message. If you're actually 160 nm away that's a minimum of 8 hours, not 4-5. I hope something fell through on the distance.

 

Roy

 

Well trying to do the math here from statue miles. The onboard voyage channel doesn't give distance remaining but using wifi and the GPS in my phone mapping as the crow files to TPA airport it came up 185 miles and then working that back in google to NM it came up 160 NM.

 

I assume once we start moving they are going to really get up to full speed until we get to the bridge and have to work the channel.

 

I guess we will see.

[bluegirlum]

 

 

 

I will try and post again when we start in. Atleast we have Coach Meyer, Brutus, and the National Championship trophy on board with a few thousand buckeye fans in good spirits. Go Bucks!

 

My worst nightmare!!! :eek::eek: (Michigan alum here who will be on that ship on Saturday)

 

Thanks for the updates. Glad everyone is safe and in good spirits. Hope you all get back soon.

[orville99]

Thanks for the update but I think something missed in the message. If you're actually 160 nm away that's a minimum of 8 hours, not 4-5. I hope something fell through on the distance.

 

Roy

 

 

Probably more like 60. It's easy to mistake 160 for 60, since it's tough to hear the announcements on that ship. From the skyway bridge to the dock is only ~two hours, and another ~two hours to the marker, so a 4-5 hour sail would put them ~60 nm out.

[Clarea]

...today, Monday, February 25, ...

Boy, they really know how to confuse people.

[Folk Singer]

So I notice the BOTS is still not back in port this morning. I know the fog was horrible. What time do they usually get back in when the fog is that bad?

 

Just curious. Thanks everyone.

 

I'm sailing her in 10 days so I guess the morning fog is still a possibility?

 

Good question.

[bluegirlum]

Boy, they really know how to confuse people.

 

Oh, geez. I didn't even catch that. Yikes!

[orville99]

this is something unique to Tampa? In San Francisco, the fog is so thick , you cant see five feet in front of you, yet ships sail in and out of the bay with no problems.

 

Tampa bay is shallow, the navigable channel meanders back and forth continuously, there are at least three opposing channels that crisscross the main channel between ST. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Clearwater, and Brilliance has approximately a 6 ft. clearance under the skyway bridge (and you have to be exactly in the center of the bridge to get that) and it's a very difficult channel to navigate on a sunny day let alone in dense fog.

Edited February 23, 2015 by orville99

[orville99]

Oh, geez. I didn't even catch that. Yikes!

 

If they wait much longer to start moving, that date may be accurate. Fog is supposed to roll in again tonight.:eek:

[bluegirlum]

Sorry for all the posts, but I'm now kind of obsessed with this...

 

The earliest they will get in is 7pm. What is the turnaround time before it leaves for the next cruise?

 

That next cruise is a 4 day to Cozumel. Any thoughts on how that will be impacted?

 

I board when that sailing returns. I'm guessing I should assume that until/unless told otherwise, my sailing will remain the same?

[bluegirlum]

If they wait much longer to start moving, that date may be accurate. Fog is supposed to roll in again tonight.:eek:

 

:eek::eek::eek: Don't tell me that!!!

[T2B2]

Probably more like 60. It's easy to mistake 160 for 60, since it's tough to hear the announcements on that ship. From the skyway bridge to the dock is only ~two hours, and another ~two hours to the marker, so a 4-5 hour sail would put them ~60 nm out.

 

I think you are close. My GPS might be off trying to use wifi only. Looking at the legend on the screen and its scale it looks like about 75-80 km on their scale. The only real announcements have been NO ETA on movements and 4-5 hours once we get clearance to move. Outside the ship is getting nice and clear for sure. The in stateroom channel has a feed of the sunshine expressway bridge showing folks that there still is dense fog there.

[orville99]

Sorry for all the posts, but I'm now kind of obsessed with this...

 

The earliest they will get in is 7pm. What is the turnaround time before it leaves for the next cruise?

 

That next cruise is a 4 day to Cozumel. Any thoughts on how that will be impacted?

 

I board when that sailing returns. I'm guessing I should assume that until/unless told otherwise, my sailing will remain the same?

 

 

If it gets in at 7PM, probably won't leave until after midnight, but tomorrow is a sea day, and Brilliance usually only turns about 18 knots on the Cozumel leg, so she has plenty of top end speed that's available.

[Clarea]

this is something unique to Tampa? In San Francisco, the fog is so thick , you cant see five feet in front of you, yet ships sail in and out of the bay with no problems.

Can happen anywhere, but Tampa and Galveston seem to have fog that affects cruise ships most often.

[pkmason]

Please keep the info coming T2B2!! My parents are in Tampa waiting on the Brilliance to arrive. They have already handed their luggage over which may not have been a good move if they don't get y'all moving soon!!! :eek:

[T2B2]

 

Downloaded tapatalk to post pictures. For those who want to play along here is here is exactly where we sit. 27*36.49 N 083*00.59 W

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[manders175]

Thanks for the updates T2B2!! Hopefully you guys can get back soon. I'm glad you have fellow Buckeye fans on board with you though to keep your spirits up!!

 

O-H...!!:D