Mercury: Unnessary Roughness??....Please help me decide

[florisdekort]

A cruise ship is a SHIP and a sea day is a SEA day and if you can't handle ships, ocean and rocking, don't book a cruise but stay in a nice five star hotel or something.

 

Floris

[oceanv]

Sorry the cruise was a bit rocky I'm on this cruise on the 29th so we'll see what mother nature has in store for us by that time.

 

But... I have to say that boating (even on VERY LARGE ships) is still boating, you're at the mercy of wind/weather/equipment malfunctions/decisions of those at the helm etc.....

 

Joanne

[joeinsb]

When it comes to cruising, it seems everyone's a captain. It's like the fans at an NFL football game who are always chastising the coach for busted plays--because they know better. This brings to mind something retired Buffalo Bills coach Marv Levy once said: "Any coach who listens to the fans will end up sitting with them." This could be applied to captains as well.

[MortgageChick]

On Summit in 2005, we moved out into open water for about 3 hours one night

and then back into the inside passage. This was part of our routing and although weather was not really bad, it was the second roughest ride I have had in 19 cruises. I fortunately do not get seasick, but it seemed l like everyone else did and it was right after main dinner seating. Since this is apparently normal in this area, I think a warning would have been in order, and would have likely saved a lot of clean up for the crew. The public washrooms were indescribable-shudder.

[anniecat]

rough seas are scary but I 'd rather be at sea with no shorelines/rocks/other vessels around to run into in violent seas than in a channel with the above. I'd trust the captain. That said, the gale force winds and wild seas in south america kept me awake and scared all night..not sick thanks to my friend Bonine:rolleyes:

[elwood_98034]

I was on the 15th cruise also, and a couple of points come to mind.

 

The wind gusts at Ocean Shores (a way south of where we were) reached 60-65 knots, not the 45 knots stated in the 12.04 PA announcement.

 

The first heavy waves (and rolling) began crashing into the ships hull at about 2.00am, and we continued 60 nautical miles further out to sea for another 10 HOURS (!) into a storm that had been forecast three days previously.

 

If there had been an emergency on board, the Coast Guard would have been of limited assistance due to the weather itself, the size of the vessel, and the resources in the area - which are quite limited. The seas were rough enough that the life boats would have had difficulty launching at all, and the seas were high enough that they would have been scattered and/or swamped quite quickly.

 

Please don't say that cruise ships are beyond getting into difficulty at sea, as we all know that is totally untrue.

 

To have gone 60 nautical miles out to sea in those conditions in a passenger ship was negligent on behalf of the captain. We are lucky there have been no injuries, or other health problems (ie heart attacks) reported.

[usha]

Kruzer Cruising, I just wanted to say that I've been on cruises that had some VERY ROUGH days, too, and I think you were a good sport to put "TAKE A MIDOL" for one of your poll answer choices. :D

[cyberhankster]

I was on this cruise and understand the difference between right and wrong. The first three days of this cruise were "as advertised"...or better than advertised. The fourth day of this cruise was not "as advertised"...i.e. "a sea day." Granted a day at sea means something more than poking about from one port to the next. But, in my humble opinion this so-called "day at sea" was an unmitigated disaster bordering on the ludicrous.

 

Beware to all future passengers taking this four day jaunt. The fourth day can become an evil sea tempest with the Captain sailing right into the thick of it. Let's see, can you think of some logical reason why a Captain desire to do such a thing? Perhaps, they though the shops and casino would be jammed with passengers without any other respite. The truth became only many passengers getting green to theirn gills.....and no body had any ability to shop or play at the casino.

 

I saw the Deck 12 swimming pool shooting water 15 feet into the air. I saw deck chairs being thrown all about the deck. Amidship you could amble about in rocking and swaying and come upon passengers trying fight the effects slumped about in the various lounges.

 

So, Captain....dear Captain.....you took us out to sea and ended up accomplishing what? What could have been an "excellant" overall cruise got downgraded to just a "good" cruise.

 

Let's compare this to all of us being in a jet at 30,000 feet and the pilot spots a huge storm ahead. Do you think the jet Captain is remotely concerned with passenger "comfort" and safety? Does the jet Captain fly directly into this huge ass storm or does he/she figure a way to route around.

 

Perhaps, the Captain of the Mercury needs to consider the "comfort" of the passengers and work that into whatever operational requirements they are required to perform. Frankly, I think they used this episode as an excuse to "take a dump" and give the back up crew some practice for when Mercury goes off to Hawaii and then Australia. Good luck to all the poor souls on these cruises who are hopeful the Mercury's Captain will steer them into calmer waters.l

[fhmoore]

I don't know whether if fits this scenario but I'm from Norfolk VA...home of the largest Navy base in the world.....and when a hurricane is heading our way, the Navy moves their ship out to sea. Ships handle storms better at sea than near ports.

[anyname]

We live in the San Juan Islands and it was a horrible storm - the water would have been rough anywhere in that area. That being said we have sailed through the area multiple of times and always hit rough waters. And every 4 night sailing reviewed in here mentioned this so it could not have been a total shock.

 

As far a the itinerary being changed - it stated sea day and that is what you got. On our Alaska cruise they dropped Sitka - no warning. BUT if you read your Docs, it says that the itinerary is subject to change. So even if you write they may just highlight that for you and ask why you didn't bother to read them on your own.

 

I'm sorry if I sound harsh but you had a nice time and one bumpy night - could have been worse you could have stayed home. I jsut never understand when people come back and dwell on something that went wrong or they didn't like - move on, life is short! Try focusing on the good and count your blessings not your complaints!

[elwood_98034]

No, we didn't have a bumpy night, we had 15 deliberate hours of severely rough weather that the captain took us into.

 

Once we re-entered the Strait of Juan De Fuca we were in the wind shadow of the Olympic Peninsula, and in totally calm waters.

 

We could have easily sheltered there, and I saw no other shipping in the area all day, except for a few fishing boats sheltering off Neah Bay on the way back in, where the fetch was only a few hundred yards. To say we would have been in severe conditions if we had loitered there is not true. We also weren't a commercial or Navy vessel. We were a PASSENGER liner, with elderly people and children on board. The ship has bow and stern thrusters, and we could have 'hovered' in place indefinately in calm waters.

 

I vomited so hard I couldn't talk normally for four days, and that was after taking a full dose of Dramamine. We were sailing with two little kids, and all the crew disappeared, and the phones didn't answer, so we had two little kids that were fending for themselves for four hours as my wife and I were incapacitated. Eventually my wife ventured out with a supply of the vomit bags that appeared at each elevator and stair well and went and found some milk for our baby.

 

Luckily we had bought our own Dramamine, as calls for assistance went unanswered, and our cabin staff were nowhere to be seen for most of the day.

 

The duty free store was awash in broken liquor bottles, and it was nearly impossible to stand upright in our cabin on deck 10 forward. We even saw crew members puking in the corridors earlier in the day.

 

We live in the area, but when we saw 'at sea' advertised, we thought the morons driving the boat might have been able to read a weather report.

 

A few years ago there was a cruise ship that ran aground off New Zealand, and the first thing the passengers knew was the greek crew loading themselves into the life boats and pulling away from the sinking ship. Actually the same thing happened off South Africa too.

 

Not funny.

[c-legs]

I don't know whether if fits this scenario but I'm from Norfolk VA...home of the largest Navy base in the world.....and when a hurricane is heading our way, the Navy moves their ship out to sea. Ships handle storms better at sea than near ports.

 

Good evening,

This is a very interesting item thrown into this '' debate''.

Thank you very much.

Excellent point.

Cheers

:)

[herewego]

I honestly doubt the Captain went into an area of rough seas for the fun of it! We don't know his reasons but we do know they have been rough and are are more rough in that area. On an NCL ship and HAL I have been knocked around as well And also in airplanes and never had I came home and thought about writing - things happen.

I am sorry nobody answered your calls, others on the same sailing had people answer and bring them meds. I would have went out and searched my room steward. Hopefully you could have found him!

We are sailing the same itinerary and I'll bring along some ginger.

 

I know it was an awful experience but why dwell on it? You can't change anything and you'll only taint all of your memories. Focus on the good and remember that :-)

[wa.mama]

No, we didn't have a bumpy night, we had 15 deliberate hours of severely rough weather that the captain took us into.

 

Once we re-entered the Strait of Juan De Fuca we were in the wind shadow of the Olympic Peninsula, and in totally calm waters.

 

We could have easily sheltered there, and I saw no other shipping in the area all day, except for a few fishing boats sheltering off Neah Bay on the way back in, where the fetch was only a few hundred yards. To say we would have been in severe conditions if we had loitered there is not true. We also weren't a commercial or Navy vessel. We were a PASSENGER liner, with elderly people and children on board. The ship has bow and stern thrusters, and we could have 'hovered' in place indefinately in calm waters.

 

 

Hello,

 

I'm sorry it was horrible for you. However, there was NO CALM WATER anywhere in the Sound from about 3 pm to 10 pm that night. We live at the end of the Sound and we saw boats attached to their mooring buoys traveling across the bay, propelled by the huge waves and wind gusts. There's no wind shade here at all, don't know what you might be referring to. I doubt Neah Bay would have been calm at that time, though it may have been later when you passed through. The storm was very short-lived, for which we were thankful. It was actually the tail end of a tropical cyclone per the weather reports. Unless I am more qualified to captain that ship I would not second guess the captain's decision. What did he have to gain to deliberately take his ship into high seas? It is definitely not more cost effective, more fun, or better public relations.

[Cruise Gypsy]

I don't know whether if fits this scenario but I'm from Norfolk VA...home of the largest Navy base in the world.....and when a hurricane is heading our way, the Navy moves their ship out to sea. Ships handle storms better at sea than near ports.

 

I agree and would trust the Captain. I don't think anyone would want to be weaving around the San Juan Islands during the storm we experienced on the 15th. Also,the Puget Sound is a busy shipping lane with many regulations on the route of travel for all ships.

[Lois R]

Kruzer Cruising, I just wanted to say that I've been on cruises that had some VERY ROUGH days, too, and I think you were a good sport to put "TAKE A MIDOL" for one of your poll answer choices. :D

 

Hi Usha, your post made me smile again:D

 

I honestly wasn't aware that so many people were totally

p****d off about that day:eek:

I know the day was rough as I was on board too but

I guess I just figured it was what it was..then the announcement

came about noon. And I just looked forward to later in the afternoon.

About 4:00 I stood up and realized it was smooth again:)

[L&S80]

You must also remember that the Puget Sound can be very narrow at places.......rocks & such.......you must stay in the lanes.......I'm sure the Captain knew about this & stayed where it was safe.........

 

We're looking forward to the Mercury & if it get's rough.......we'll just have to go with it.........

 

 

 

Sharon

[Lois R]

Sharon:) ...I see you booked Solstice for 1/11.....I put a deposit

down for that one too!

Please come say hello.....there is a Roll Call started for it!!!

[lisiamc]

No, we didn't have a bumpy night, we had 15 deliberate hours of severely rough weather that the captain took us into.

 

Once we re-entered the Strait of Juan De Fuca we were in the wind shadow of the Olympic Peninsula, and in totally calm waters.

 

We could have easily sheltered there, and I saw no other shipping in the area all day, except for a few fishing boats sheltering off Neah Bay on the way back in, where the fetch was only a few hundred yards. To say we would have been in severe conditions if we had loitered there is not true. We also weren't a commercial or Navy vessel. We were a PASSENGER liner, with elderly people and children on board. The ship has bow and stern thrusters, and we could have 'hovered' in place indefinately in calm waters.

 

I vomited so hard I couldn't talk normally for four days, and that was after taking a full dose of Dramamine. We were sailing with two little kids, and all the crew disappeared, and the phones didn't answer, so we had two little kids that were fending for themselves for four hours as my wife and I were incapacitated. Eventually my wife ventured out with a supply of the vomit bags that appeared at each elevator and stair well and went and found some milk for our baby.

 

Luckily we had bought our own Dramamine, as calls for assistance went unanswered, and our cabin staff were nowhere to be seen for most of the day.

 

The duty free store was awash in broken liquor bottles, and it was nearly impossible to stand upright in our cabin on deck 10 forward. We even saw crew members puking in the corridors earlier in the day.

 

We live in the area, but when we saw 'at sea' advertised, we thought the morons driving the boat might have been able to read a weather report.

 

A few years ago there was a cruise ship that ran aground off New Zealand, and the first thing the passengers knew was the greek crew loading themselves into the life boats and pulling away from the sinking ship. Actually the same thing happened off South Africa too.

 

Not funny.

 

OK, what are you trying to say here? Are you suggesting that the crew are somehow stupid/incompetent/criminally negligent because they're Greek? If so, that's a really unpleasant thing to say.

[Ma Bell]

The straights are the last place a cruise ship should be in a bad storm. I'm sure the Captain took the ship out to sea because it's safer and returned to the straights when the storm passed.

[Desertbelle]

It amazes me that people think that the captain, who is a direct employee of the cruise line, would take a vessel worth 100's of million dollars filled with thousands of people who are priceless into a situation that is dangerous.

 

These ships are made for ocean travel. They are, without a doubt, safe in the most awful of storms at sea. Just because a few items fall and break or people are uncomfortable doesn't in any way mean the ship or anyone on it was in danger.

 

We have had a few rough days at sea, and I understand that it can be scary, though my husband wishes we had at least one very rough sea day every cruise, he loves them.

 

If a storm at sea is going to ruin your cruise you should perhaps reconsider cruising as a vacation option.

[Dale Jr]

If a storm at sea is going to ruin your cruise you should perhaps reconsider cruising as a vacation option.

 

The issue here is not the storm at sea but rather what other options may have been available for this sea day other than leaving the calmer water and heading out to sea. There are some reports that the ship goes out to sea simply to dump waste. It may very well be that there were no other options during this storm that were safe and if so then there's really not anything to discuss.

 

It seems as though most of these four day cruises have experienced some pretty heavy seas on each of the sea days so perhaps Celebrity should rethink their itinerary not so much for the safety of their passengers but for their comfort as what is the point of an extra day if most of us are going to be miserable being tossed around like a cork.

 

So my point would be if this is happening every cruise, as it appears to be from complaints I have read from the previous four day cruises, then Celebrity should make some sort of effort to fix the situation. If the only reason they went out there was to dump waste then I would be extremely upset as well and would think as goodwill to their passengers Celebrity should share some of their savings of not having to dispose of waste while back in port.

[lwyatt]

FYI, we went to the Q&A on the sea day and the first question was about the weather. The crew said they had to go out to sea to dump and for "operational procedures" but they were trying to get back into the strait as quickly as possible because the waters were calmer there.

 

We would have liked more communication from the crew on what was going on and when it was expected to calm down. (Heard more from the doctor when I went to get meds for my daughter than from anyone on the bridge crew.) Other than that, I never felt we were unsafe or nervous about the competency of the crew.

 

No offense to dessertbelle, it was a bit more than "a few things falling" - the arcade games upstairs in the teen room were all tipped over and broken. We saw plates of food in the buffet area that flew off the counter when the ship listed. Bottles of liquor in the bar were coming off the shelf. Anything on shelves in our cabin fell on the floor and rolled around. In some ways, it was fun to be in, but that was after the drugs kicked in! :)

 

Laura

[Lois R]

I keep thinking I must be a very lucky person:)

No drugs needed:D

[Karynanne]

The issue here is not the storm at sea but rather what other options may have been available for this sea day other than leaving the calmer water and heading out to sea. There are some reports that the ship goes out to sea simply to dump waste. It may very well be that there were no other options during this storm that were safe and if so then there's really not anything to discuss.

 

It seems as though most of these four day cruises have experienced some pretty heavy seas on each of the sea days so perhaps Celebrity should rethink their itinerary not so much for the safety of their passengers but for their comfort as what is the point of an extra day if most of us are going to be miserable being tossed around like a cork.

 

So my point would be if this is happening every cruise, as it appears to be from complaints I have read from the previous four day cruises, then Celebrity should make some sort of effort to fix the situation. If the only reason they went out there was to dump waste then I would be extremely upset as well and would think as goodwill to their passengers Celebrity should share some of their savings of not having to dispose of waste while back in port.

 

 

I'm not completely understanding your statement, "Celebrity should rethink their itinerary not so much for the safety of their passengers, but for their comfort...".

 

Safety should be the #1 concern. These 4 day itineraries have been very popular for passengers that live the Northwest and Western Canada, just as the 3-4 day internaries in the Caribbean have been also. When you book a cruise, you should be aware that since you're on the sea...and climate and sea conditions can change daily. If this doesn't work with one's mindset...then a land vacation should be the next option.