Anyone on BA in Winter Storm Grayson off Carolinas?

[billslowsky]

I know I will get flamed for this, but all the comments about the ship being able to withstand the storm remind me of the claims made about the Titanic before she sailed. LOL

 

It's sailing this afternoon. Let's see how that goes.

[ColinIllinois]

It's really unfortunate that passengers had to go through this. I absolutely understand that people never expected weather like this to happen and were scared and frightened, most likely considering their cruise as a failure.

 

Having said that, this is a valuable lesson for cruisers to learn. The ocean/weather combination is one of the most powerful and very often UNPREDICTABLE forces on the planet. Being a retired sailor myself I can tell you that command decisions that are made and seem to be sound and logical one minute can be thought of as wrong just an hour later when that combination of ocean and weather unpredictability raises it's head.

 

Usually though, this is one of those events that you hear happen to other people, not to you. But it can, and does. Cruise lines are in a lose/lose situation when these things happen. Someone is bound to be unhappy.

 

Again, sorry for those of you who had to go through that event.

[mkerewski]

Wonder how they fixed all the balcony doors, flooded floors, wet rugs in cabins etc...fast enough for the next passengers to board. I bet some cabins were a mess. Hmmm

 

On board now...the few cabin that got wet are being dried out with heavy duty dryers since they got back yesterday, la cucina which has water was all fixed up and open for dinner last night. They made quick work of the repairs

[mking8288]

One of the FAQ here is who is the CD onboard xxxxx ship ... for those who were on the roller coaster ride earlier in the week. Who was the CD ... I think I read somewhere Alvin was, not Dan Dan that apparently many liked :confused:

 

I am sure the Captain and his senior officers, including the Staff Captain were "all hands" on the bridge during the stormy passage - was the CD helpful at all to assist in communicating updates to all ?

 

It does sounded, NCL, should review its crisis communications at sea. And the BA's "live" navigational channel info (Ch. 21) provided very little and limited information while at sea - although, some will likely freaked out at the instrumented readings.

Edited January 6, 2018 by mking8288

[April42749]

I know I will get flamed for this, but all the comments about the ship being able to withstand the storm remind me of the claims made about the Titanic before she sailed. LOL

or the World Trade Center before 9/11

[Mrmas]

I know I will get flamed for this, but all the comments about the ship being able to withstand the storm remind me of the claims made about the Titanic before she sailed. LOL

Last time I looked I didn't see any icebergs between NYC and the Bahamas... Lol

 

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[mkerewski]

or the World Trade Center before 9/11

 

I would highly advise that in no way shape or form does anyone have the right to compare 9/11 to anything.

[irockadidas]

Maybe they are waiting for a ice breaker to clear some ice from the river?. The US guard posted this video of them clearing the Hudson River:

 

Awesome Video!!

[delia285]

I am on deck 8 forward, part of the dividers between rooms on the balconies were ripped apart. There are nuts and bolts all over, chairs and tables strewn across the balconies. La Cucina was cleaned up pretty good with the floods yesterday. I have been on other NCL cruises during severe storms so the crew is doing the best

 

 

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[uneamie]

Multitasking means taking your eye off the ball. You don't expect surgeons to "multitask" during surgery?

And yet other Captains of other ships that have been through worse seem to have been able to communicate with their passengers regularly to assure them of what was going on. Sorry but this Captain is not a surgeon and is not the sole person eyeing the ball.

[delia285]

I am on deck 8 forward, part of the dividers between rooms on the balconies were ripped apart. There are nuts and bolts all over, chairs and tables strewn across the balconies. La Cucina was cleaned up pretty good with the floods yesterday. I have been on other NCL cruises during severe storms so the crew is doing the best they can.

 

 

 

 

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[FWCruisers]

I know many people have commented on this post describing what it was like on board, but I wanted to add my 2 cents. To preface - I have worked for the USCG for 08 years and was stationed on an 87' cutter out of Rhode Island that regularly patrolled the Hudson and Long Island Sound area. I have been in way worse situations than what we experienced, but to say this trip was unsettling is an understatement. I know the ship was going to make it through the storm, but it's easy to see how others would not be so comfortable. Around 0100 I woke up to being tossed around in the room. I didn't think much of it, but my wife started to be concerned when our aft balcony door kept coming unsealed. She went out of the room to check in with guest services to make sure everything was alright. I just laid down to try and get some rest, which is when she came in and told me that "I had to see what was going on!". We went down to deck 8 where water was pouring through the ceilings by the stairs, and in the casino. The ship was leaning hard enough that our upper body was at least at a 15-20 degree angle when walking. People looked like zombies in the casino and by the elevators, trying to ask for help or to figure out what was going on. After a minute we went back up to our room and lay down again. Within 15 minutes our cabin door opened up, the balcony door seal was at least an inch from connecting, and everything on our counter flew off and all of the glass broke everywhere on the floor. My wife tried to go to customer service and at the stairs on deck 08 security asked her what she needed and told her to go back to her room and to call the desk. Everything was shut down, we weren't allowed to travel to any part of the boat, and there was no announcement. To think cruisers should expect something like that cruising out of New York is laughable from the standpoint that water was coming through the doors, the ceiling, almost all balcony staterooms, and at least 02 inches in some hallways and all with no communication whatsoever from the bridge.

 

I have a picture on my phone from Sunday that showed what type of storm we would be heading into. Every single weather scientist that I follow expected the worst part of the storm would be the Atlantic Ocean with waves potentially reaching 50'. I doubt they reached the 50' as predicted, but consistently 25-30 with some reaching 40'. I would be interested in looking at buoy data to know the true measurements as none of the officers I talked to would provide an educated guess. If the captain would have made an announcement at 0130 letting everyone know what to expect and to re-affirm to the guests that the ship was made for this type of weather than many would have been calmed. Instead, we were greeted by security telling us to go back to our staterooms and to just ride it out in silence. That was unacceptable, along with trying to tender people over to GSC. Anybody that looked outside before we anchored knew that it should have been cancelled, and they would know that information from the bridge. Sorry for the long post.

[bob brown]

Does anyone on board know if they changed captain's? Or if they know the name of the captain, now?

[floridian1]

If the captain would have made an announcement at 0130 letting everyone know what to expect and to re-affirm to the guests that the ship was made for this type of weather than many would have been calmed. Instead, we were greeted by security telling us to go back to our staterooms and to just ride it out in silence. That was unacceptable, along with trying to tender people over to GSC.

 

I agree with you 100% on that. Imagine the people who were taking their first cruise ever and how terrifying it must have been for them. The captain, or any officer could have really done more to calm guests fears.

[RJB]

Sounds like NCL dropped the ball big time. Needed to keep in constant contact with their guests aboard. Need to get rid of that Captain right away. Can't keep people in the dark in this kind of situation. :(:(:(

[suzycruise]

I know many people have commented on this post describing what it was like on board, but I wanted to add my 2 cents. To preface - I have worked for the USCG for 08 years and was stationed on an 87' cutter out of Rhode Island that regularly patrolled the Hudson and Long Island Sound area. I have been in way worse situations than what we experienced, but to say this trip was unsettling is an understatement. I know the ship was going to make it through the storm, but it's easy to see how others would not be so comfortable. Around 0100 I woke up to being tossed around in the room. I didn't think much of it, but my wife started to be concerned when our aft balcony door kept coming unsealed. She went out of the room to check in with guest services to make sure everything was alright. I just laid down to try and get some rest, which is when she came in and told me that "I had to see what was going on!". We went down to deck 8 where water was pouring through the ceilings by the stairs, and in the casino. The ship was leaning hard enough that our upper body was at least at a 15-20 degree angle when walking. People looked like zombies in the casino and by the elevators, trying to ask for help or to figure out what was going on. After a minute we went back up to our room and lay down again. Within 15 minutes our cabin door opened up, the balcony door seal was at least an inch from connecting, and everything on our counter flew off and all of the glass broke everywhere on the floor. My wife tried to go to customer service and at the stairs on deck 08 security asked her what she needed and told her to go back to her room and to call the desk. Everything was shut down, we weren't allowed to travel to any part of the boat, and there was no announcement. To think cruisers should expect something like that cruising out of New York is laughable from the standpoint that water was coming through the doors, the ceiling, almost all balcony staterooms, and at least 02 inches in some hallways and all with no communication whatsoever from the bridge.

 

I have a picture on my phone from Sunday that showed what type of storm we would be heading into. Every single weather scientist that I follow expected the worst part of the storm would be the Atlantic Ocean with waves potentially reaching 50'. I doubt they reached the 50' as predicted, but consistently 25-30 with some reaching 40'. I would be interested in looking at buoy data to know the true measurements as none of the officers I talked to would provide an educated guess. If the captain would have made an announcement at 0130 letting everyone know what to expect and to re-affirm to the guests that the ship was made for this type of weather than many would have been calmed. Instead, we were greeted by security telling us to go back to our staterooms and to just ride it out in silence. That was unacceptable, along with trying to tender people over to GSC. Anybody that looked outside before we anchored knew that it should have been cancelled, and they would know that information from the bridge. Sorry for the long post.

 

I know many people have commented on this post describing what it was like on board, but I wanted to add my 2 cents. To preface - I have worked for the USCG for 08 years and was stationed on an 87' cutter out of Rhode Island that regularly patrolled the Hudson and Long Island Sound area. I have been in way worse situations than what we experienced, but to say this trip was unsettling is an understatement. I know the ship was going to make it through the storm, but it's easy to see how others would not be so comfortable. Around 0100 I woke up to being tossed around in the room. I didn't think much of it, but my wife started to be concerned when our aft balcony door kept coming unsealed. She went out of the room to check in with guest services to make sure everything was alright. I just laid down to try and get some rest, which is when she came in and told me that "I had to see what was going on!". We went down to deck 8 where water was pouring through the ceilings by the stairs, and in the casino. The ship was leaning hard enough that our upper body was at least at a 15-20 degree angle when walking. People looked like zombies in the casino and by the elevators, trying to ask for help or to figure out what was going on. After a minute we went back up to our room and lay down again. Within 15 minutes our cabin door opened up, the balcony door seal was at least an inch from connecting, and everything on our counter flew off and all of the glass broke everywhere on the floor.

 

What was you aft balcony cabin # Please?

I was to board today in aft 9318 but flight was cancelled from .CA. just curious as to the amount of damage in cabin. Thanks.

 

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[LabRat]

I know many people have commented on this post describing what it was like on board, but I wanted to add my 2 cents. To preface - I have worked for the USCG for 08 years and was stationed on an 87' cutter out of Rhode Island that regularly patrolled the Hudson and Long Island Sound area......

 

Thank you for posting this.

[MM40]

Just off the ship, cannot believe we are finally on land... and we are seasoned cruisers. This was a cruise from hell.

 

Matko Candrlic was was our captain. Stay as far away as possible from this ship for as long as he is in charge. How dare he knowingly takes us right into a cyclone, endangiring our lives!!! Families with crying children, scared disabled, sick passengers on the floor, tilted, jerking and rocking ship, broken windows and balconies, howling wind inside, water filling public spaces and cabins, passengers and staff injured, code ‘alpha’ in the middle of the night, no announcements until captain is pressed to make them, no ownership from the management, no attention to passengers... the list can go on and on. The worst decisions from the management from day 1 and all throuout the cruse.

 

And to all of you, self-appointed judges and ‘how bad can it be’ commentators - talk to the passengers before making your sarcastic remarks! Hope you never have to live through anything like this.

 

After having time to reflect and speak to many people during disembarkation, I’ve come to the realization that I was on the”best” side of the ship & that’s why I felt safer than some of the other posters and fellow passengers.

 

I was on the starboard side of ship, midship deck 10. Most passengers I spoke to who were more fearful and had water issues/damage were on the port side of ship. Port side had the steady winds battering their balconies, starboard side (my side) was protected by the ship so winds weren’t quite as harsh. The strong winds were also breaking the seals on some balcony doors allowing water to enter their cabins which would indeed be pretty scary and maybe where reports of “ship taking on water” may have come from? After all, the wind was most likely pushing the waves into that side of the ship - Just speculating. The ship was listing from port (high side) to starboard (low side).

 

Since I couldn’t see the ocean out of my balcony window (because of so much sea spray) it allowed me to be more relaxed about our situation.

 

Also, I ran in to a nice couple in Wasabi during disembarkation. They said the “code alpha” was for their family. Their brother-in-law was in congestive heart failure (had issues prior to cruise) and commended medical staff for saving his life. They said sometimes things work out for the best. They happened to be in BIL’s cabin because they had water in their port side balcony cabin. They heard him get up in middle of night and knew he was in distress. Medical staff said 5 more minutes and he wouldn’t have made it.

 

I definitely agree with Nybluenblue2 that an announcement from the Captain should have been made much sooner. I commented several times to my DH about that while we were going through the storm but chalked it up to the fact he had more important things to do at the moment like steer the ship :o.

[FWCruisers]

Sounds like NCL dropped the ball big time. Needed to keep in constant contact with their guests aboard. Need to get rid of that Captain right away. Can't keep people in the dark in this kind of situation. :(:(:(

 

That's the conflicting part for me. As far as navigating the storm...the Captain did handle that well. I have been with great Captain's on smaller vessels and you can tell which Captain's are seasoned in heavy weather operations. I never felt like the ship was in danger, but it sure did take a beating. It's a sturdy ship as others have mentioned, but at the same time, there is a limit of punishment that ships can take. Luckily the ships are still pretty new, but there is a lot of wear and tear on them and general maintenance can only go so far until the next dry dock.

 

If there was just some solid communication I think the PR wouldn't be so bad right now. There is no reason for hours to go by without a single announcement. And the following announcements just talked about winds being strong, optimizing speed and direction, and waves being rough. Being a Captain involves more than just driving the ship.

 

Suzycruise - I had stateroom 9320. I believe the aft received the least amount of damaged rooms. The wind wrapped around both sides of the ship so all we could see out of the back of the ship was a barrier of rain with minimal water in the room, at least compared to others. All of the glass was cleaned up by 1200 the next day so the room was perfect after that.

[NLH Arizona]

Also, I ran in to a nice couple in Wasabi during disembarkation. They said the “code alpha” was for their family. Their brother-in-law was in congestive heart failure (had issues prior to cruise) and commended medical staff for saving his life. They said sometimes things work out for the best. They happened to be in BIL’s cabin because they had water in their port side balcony cabin. They heard him get up in middle of night and knew he was in distress. Medical staff said 5 more minutes and he wouldn’t have made it.

 

Thanks for the update on the code alpha.

[billslowsky]

Does anyone on board know if they changed captain's? Or if they know the name of the captain, now?

 

Unless NCL felt he was going against directions, changing the captain would amount to a public admission of negligence, which they certainly aren't likely to do. For all anyone knows, he communicated his plans to NCL and they signed off.

[krj9999]

Not sure Baltimore would be an option (bridge height getting to port).

 

Finally, when conditions became as bad as they did while in the low pressure system a diversion to safe harbor is always an option. Charleston, Baltimore, Cape Canaveral, and more. Pro

[Tuffyleigh]

The bottom line for me is that NCL chose to sail INTO a storm that had hurricane force winds and 40' swells.

[bmwman]

Always difficult from an armchair but I wonder how other Captains would have handled or was this just an act of G-d. I bet Captain Hilden is pleased to be off the BA!

 

I wonder and it really is just a thought is this in any way related to NCL loss of senior bridge crew over the last year.

[suzycruise]

Suzycruise - I had stateroom 9320. I believe the aft received the least amount of damaged rooms. The wind wrapped around both sides of the ship so all we could see out of the back of the ship was a barrier of rain with minimal water in the room, at least compared to others. All of the glass was cleaned up by 1200 the next day so the room was perfect after that.

 

Thank you for answering my question.

 

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