Worst Weather Experience on a Cruise

[as3369]

With the unfortunate rogue wave incident that occurred on the Viking Polaris earlier this week while traversing the Drake Passage, I am curious as to the worst weather experience you have had on a cruise.  I guess we have been pretty fortunate with our 37 cruises (including two Trans-Atlantic sailings) that we've only had moderate (10-12 foot) seas.  TIA for your responses

[TheOldBear]

We have been on the QM2 for two crossings with force 10 winds and some big waves.

For 2017 waves would occasionally wash over deck 2 windows, but ship’s motion was well controlled.

This past fall the waves were a bit lower but seas were confused. The deck 12 pool was not only closed, but drained. 
Some folks seemed to enjoy walking the promenade deck despite the high winds.

[LHT28]

2019  did NYC to UK Via Canada 

we had snow leaving Halifax  then caught inbetween 2 storm systems  in the Atlantic  the ship was like a teeter totter

We missed  NFLD

The  outside decks were closed until we hit UK waters

 

 Then  in Cobh   we were suppose to move to Dublin  but the harbour was closed  so 2 days in Cobh    then  we made  a run for the English coast

fortunately or unfortunately  the Pilot  could not  get on his pick up boat  so he sailed to Falmouth where he was dropped off

 A lot of people with colds/coughs  by the end of the cruise

 

 

[as3369]

7 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

2019  did NYC to UK Via Canada 

we had snow leaving Halifax  then caught inbetween 2 storm systems  in the Atlantic  the ship was like a teeter totter

We missed  NFLD

The  outside decks were closed until we hit UK waters

 

 Then  in Cobh   we were suppose to move to Dublin  but the harbour was closed  so 2 days in Cobh    then  we made  a run for the English coast

fortunately or unfortunately  the Pilot  could not  get on his pick up boat  so he sailed to Falmouth where he was dropped off

 A lot of people with colds/coughs  by the end of the cruise

 

 

This would definitely be a memorable cruise.  We had considered a trip to Antarctica but the Drake Passage is concerning...  500 miles (48 hours) each way of questionable seas.  Both of our Trans Atlantic cruises were on the Southern end of the ocean and we had really nice weather. 

[LHT28]

1 minute ago, as3369 said:

This would definitely be a memorable cruise.  We had considered a trip to Antarctica but the Drake Passage is concerning...  500 miles (48 hours) each way of questionable seas.  Both of our Trans Atlantic cruises were on the Southern end of the ocean and we had really nice weather. 

We will not do  a Northern crossing again  at least not in April LOL

[CGTNORMANDIE]

On our honeymoon in 1971 we were onboard TS Bremen we ran into the tail end of a hurricane off Cape Hatteras. We were hitting 50’ waves for one night.  In 1975 were were returning home on a transatlantic onboard QE2 and had head winds over 100 mph.  That night we hit a trench wave…at least 50’.  The ship dropped so fast it emptied out both closets in our cabin.  I actually saw two ladies in mid air in the casino.  We were onboard RCI Jewel Of The Seas in 2009 sailing just south of Bermuda and ran into a freak storm one night.  The bridge  reported winds of 135 mph.  We were pitching at least 45 degrees…quite exciting.  Three aft cabins broke of their steel stanchion supports.

Edited December 4, 2022 by CGTNORMANDIE

[Heidi13]

1979 Pacific Ocean a few days after passing Hawaii, encountered a storm where we had to "Hove to" (head to wind at minimum speed to maintain steerage) for a couple of days. We were pushed back 30 miles.

[callyourmother]

We are currently on the Sapphire Princess on our way to Antarctica. We left San Pedro on Friday, December 2 and will disembark January 4, 2023 in Buenos Aires.  Read the news about the rogue wave incident on the Viking Polaris last night, it's a bit unnerving!  

 

We've been on a (what was once called "tiger cruise") Naval ship when our son was deployed and on his way back to Camp Pendleton.  We met in Hawaii and experienced being a Marine with him for almost a week, a once in a lifetime experience. The ship didn't have stabilizers, our last night was horrendous.  It rocked & rolled all night long, so much so I went from hitting the wall of my bunk to holding onto a rail on the other side so I didn't fall out. Heard a TV crash to the floor, it was bad.  We don't mind the rocking & rolling but this night was a scary sleepless night.  

 

Hoping for the best!  Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and families of the Viking Polaris.

 

[as3369]

On 12/3/2022 at 9:08 PM, CGTNORMANDIE said:

On our honeymoon in 1971 we were onboard TS Bremen we ran into the tail end of a hurricane off Cape Hatteras. We were hitting 50’ waves for one night.  In 1975 were were returning home on a transatlantic onboard QE2 and had head winds over 100 mph.  That night we hit a trench wave…at least 50’.  The ship dropped so fast it emptied out both closets in our cabin.  I actually saw two ladies in mid air in the casino.  We were onboard RCI Jewel Of The Seas in 2009 sailing just south of Bermuda and ran into a freak storm one night.  The bridge  reported winds of 135 mph.  We were pitching at least 45 degrees…quite exciting.  Three aft cabins broke of their steel stanchion supports.

Wow.. the Cruise Weather Gods certainly haven't been kind to you.  I think after the first experience, it may have been my last cruise.  Happy Sailing!

[as3369]

On 12/4/2022 at 2:25 AM, callyourmother said:

We are currently on the Sapphire Princess on our way to Antarctica. We left San Pedro on Friday, December 2 and will disembark January 4, 2023 in Buenos Aires.  Read the news about the rogue wave incident on the Viking Polaris last night, it's a bit unnerving!  

 

We've been on a (what was once called "tiger cruise") Naval ship when our son was deployed and on his way back to Camp Pendleton.  We met in Hawaii and experienced being a Marine with him for almost a week, a once in a lifetime experience. The ship didn't have stabilizers, our last night was horrendous.  It rocked & rolled all night long, so much so I went from hitting the wall of my bunk to holding onto a rail on the other side so I didn't fall out. Heard a TV crash to the floor, it was bad.  We don't mind the rocking & rolling but this night was a scary sleepless night.  

 

Hoping for the best!  Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and families of the Viking Polaris.

 

Hoping that you have clear skies and calm seas during your Drake Passage.  These stories are fascinating!

[LHT28]

31 minutes ago, as3369 said:

Wow.. the Cruise Weather Gods certainly haven't been kind to you.  I think after the first experience, it may have been my last cruise.  Happy Sailing!

I agree

 Our first cruise back in '74  we hit  a storm out of Bermuda sailing to Montreal

the ship was 20,000 GRT  the waves were up over the bow of the ship

I was so sick I vowed  never again

 

in the '80's  we did sail again  it was fine  but have had a few rough seas  but have not been  as sick as the 1st  cruise

thank goodness 😉

 

[CGTNORMANDIE]

5 hours ago, as3369 said:

Wow.. the Cruise Weather Gods certainly haven't been kind to you.  I think after the first experience, it may have been my last cruise.  Happy Sailing!

It was an adventure to be sure…lol.  I never had a bad cruise thanks to Bonine.  The first time on the Bremen on my honeymoon I had my arms wrapped around the toilet bowl.  A kind stewardess came with a pill.  It knocked me out and the next morning I was starving so we went to breakfast.  The funny thing was I had sailed on a ship and my wife had not.  It was her first time.  My bride kept saying that she really loved being all snug in her bunk and being rocked to sleep lol. I knew then that I had a cruise mate for life.  51 years later we are ready to sail again…just as soon as I have my kidney transplant!  

[CGTNORMANDIE]

5 hours ago, as3369 said:

Wow.. the Cruise Weather Gods certainly haven't been kind to you.  I think after the first experience, it may have been my last cruise.  Happy Sailing!

We have had many other bad weather experiences but the good thing is that it only lasts one day or one night most of the time.  We did run into a storm on the SS France while headed home.  That storm lasted two days.  I have pictures of me in the pool and the waves crashing ten feet in the air.  They had to close the pool right after that…lol.  I remember sailing on the Gallilao out of Newport RI to Bermuda.  The waves were hitting the ship broadside.  We both got sick and took A pill that knocked us out.  When we woke up all was well but we had missed breakfast…lol.  We loved every cruise we were ever on and would not trade it for the world.

[as3369]

On 12/3/2022 at 10:08 AM, LHT28 said:

We will not do  a Northern crossing again  at least not in April LOL

Yes, we were booked on a Northern TA but decided against it.  I don't mind a day or so of rough weather but can't imagine several days of worry.  

[deja moo]

Coming back from Panama on the Carnival Liberty in 06 we had 20' seas one night. I didn't get sick, but if it would have been 21' seas I would have. Funny thing was the show in the theater that night was Chinese acrobats and they didn't miss a lick with the ship rock and rolling. Amazing!

[CGTNORMANDIE]

8 hours ago, as3369 said:

Yes, we were booked on a Northern TA but decided against it.  I don't mind a day or so of rough weather but can't imagine several days of worry.  

North Atlantic crossings can be dicey in April and October-November but the Queen Mary 2 can really handle the North Atlantic in all its’ guises.  It is the best ship to sail on North Atlantic crossings bar none.

[Hlitner]

Having cruised all over the world our worst weather incident happened quite close to NYC in August of 1991 while on the Celebrity Meridian.  We departed the Manhattan cruise terminal on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon on our way to Bermuda.  Meanwhile, Hurricane Bob was moving up the east coast.  Our Captain made an announcement (before departing NYC) that we would steer an easterly course before later turning south towards Bermuda.  He explained that we would keep a 200 mile distance between us and the dangerous storm.  But during the night the storm changed direction and our ship, along with the Nordic Prince, found itself in the storm by 5am.  Winds were over 90 knots and seas got up to about 40 feet.  Our ship did well, but the Nordic Prince took a big shot off its bow quarter (leaving a big dent in the hull).  After rocking and rolling all day we came out of the storm in late afternoon and were in calm seas by dinner time.  Many passengers and crew were sick, most never got out of their cabins, and it was a wild sea day.  Upon arriving in Bermuda, many on the Nordic Prince took RCCL up on an offer to simply fly home.  On our ship the only injury was to a cook who was scalded by some hot water.   We have spent over 1300 days on cruise ships (in all the seas except Antarctica) and nothing came close to that 12 hour wild ride.

 

Hank

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Hi Hank, sounds like you were on the right ship!  The Celebrity Meridian was originally the Gallilao.  She was built for the Australian route from Europe and could take a heavy sea.  We were onboard her when Chandris had just acquired her before the Meridian refit.  I was actually sitting by myself having a cocktail while the Chandris executives were at the next table with plans unfolded designing the soon the be Meridian…the first Celebrity ship.  We also hit some rough seas while onboard…enough to cancel our Gala Dinner…lol.  

[shipgeeks]

In 1969 I took a cargo ship from NYC to Australia. Somewhere in the Pacific we encountered rough seas for several days.  One of the 12 pax did not leave her cabin for the duration; the rest of us were fine with eating our meals at tables with the cloth wetted down, and running up the stairs a few at a time, then pausing as the ship went the other way.  No seasickness (we didn't have CC to tell us everyone should pack, and take, meds just in case).

One night we were tossed out of our beds, but with no damage evident.  The next morning, at breakfast, the officer at our table explained that the crew on the bridge had been unable to figure out our course reading, and finally realized we had been turned around by the storm and were heading back to the US. That was corrected, and we had no more problems.  At our first Australian port the 40 tons of dynamite we were carrying were off-loaded.

[Heidi13]

23 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

In 1969 I took a cargo ship from NYC to Australia. Somewhere in the Pacific we encountered rough seas for several days.  One of the 12 pax did not leave her cabin for the duration; the rest of us were fine with eating our meals at tables with the cloth wetted down, and running up the stairs a few at a time, then pausing as the ship went the other way.  No seasickness (we didn't have CC to tell us everyone should pack, and take, meds just in case).

One night we were tossed out of our beds, but with no damage evident.  The next morning, at breakfast, the officer at our table explained that the crew on the bridge had been unable to figure out our course reading, and finally realized we had been turned around by the storm and were heading back to the US. That was corrected, and we had no more problems.  At our first Australian port the 40 tons of dynamite we were carrying were off-loaded.

 

Wetting the table cloths in heavy weather was always more effective than the friction sheets they use on ships these days. Sadly many of the younger crews don't know these little tricks. Great post.

[Yehootu]

January 2010 Carnival Miracle off the Baja coast. 28ft seas.First pools drained, then all outside areas restricted. Barf bags in all elevators. Trays of PB&J sandwiches all over ( PB&J best thing to eat if seasick, tastes the same coming up as it did going down). I"ve done a lot of fishing in Hawaiian waters and have gotten sick before. The looks on peoples faces as my son and I walked around drinking beer. We had the last side cabin on a top deck. Nothing would stay on the tables and we were getting tossed when lying down. Good fun. Half of serving staff missing at dinner in dining room.

[Yehootu]

January 2010 Carnival Miracle off the Baja coast. 28ft seas.First pools drained, then all outside areas restricted. Barf bags in all elevators. Trays of PB&J sandwiches all over ( PB&J best thing to eat if seasick, tastes the same coming up as it did going down). I"ve done a lot of fishing in Hawaiian waters and have gotten sick before. The looks on peoples faces as my son and I walked around drinking beer. We had the last side cabin on a top deck. Nothing would stay on the tables and we were getting tossed when lying down. Good fun. Half of serving staff missing at dinner in dining room.

[SPacificbound]

Two that a remember, the Tasman Sea after sailing out of Sydney, and Cape Horn out of South America. 

[kochleffel]

The worst I've experienced was between NYC and Halifax. The first morning out, every conversation I overheard included the word Dramamine. Every one. Later that day, there was a loud noise, more a crack than a crash, as the bow pitched down so sharply that water washed over deck 14.

 

I'm not prone to motion sickness, but at times I was afraid of falling. More recently, on one of the Alaska state ferries, the purser announced that everyone should go immediately to wherever they wanted to be on the ship and stay there for the next hour, and take motion-sickness medication if they typically needed it. I was already comfortable in a lounge and stayed where I was seated.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Equinox Nov2012 TA, our first TA

from Toulon to Barcelona went though a Hurricane, 15 m waves , it was rock and rolling 

Than one the way to Madera we were hit by a rogue wind, the ship listed for 15 minutes at a good angle