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But when the weather turned, the ship decided to return to the UK earlier than expected amid a coming storm. As it was making its return voyage, the vessel ran into a storm in the Bay of Biscay, an area off the coast of Spain and France known for its rough seas. By doing so, the cruise industry can foster a culture of safety that prioritizes the well-being of passengers and crew, transforming every voyage into an adventure marked by both enjoyment and unwavering safety. One of the crucial aspects that emerged from the incident was the need for enhanced weather monitoring and forecasting systems.
What it's like if your cruise is extended because of a hurricane?
Displays tipped over in retail stores, and in the ship’s casino, slot machines tipped and fell. Jerry Pike, a photographer and Florida local, told Insider he watched the storm hit the Independence of the Seas while sitting in a car in Jetty Park facing the port. He added there were "high winds on the deck… platters of food crashing to the floor in the buffet, liquor and other glass breaking, water coming in through the balconies and flooding." Royal Caribbean Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet gives the captain of each ship the best outlook on what the weather is doing now and what it is likely to do in the near future. "You can predict days in advance. So it's very rare that nowadays we get caught by surprise storms."
How Cruises Navigate the Rough Seas of Hurricane Season
Without sounding pretentious, I feel bad for people on other cruise lines who don't have access to this kind of information because it must be mentally anguishing to not have the sort of information Mr. Van Fleet provides. Cruise ships can sail faster than hurricanes can move, which gives them the ability to out run the changing path of any storm. As you might imagine, having a cruise extended means logistical changes to get home.
What to expect if your ship hits bad weather
“We’ve steered our ships around typhoons, hurricanes, fog, massive storms with rapid intensification—which gets the term ‘bomb cyclones,’” Van Fleet says. I can get you to better weather,” he adds, noting that land-based hotels and resorts don’t have that option. Pike estimated winds reached between 40 and 50 miles per hour at the height of the storm, which he added was "terrifying" to watch. A meteorologist for Fox 35 reported winds reached from 55 to 60 miles an hour at their peak strength. The ship departed for the Bahamas despite the storm and arrived at CocoCay on time, according to a Royal Caribbean statement to Insider. The company called the storm "brief" and said there were no serious injuries to crewmembers or passengers.
Breathtaking video shows pregnant Disney cruise passenger dangling over the ocean in Coast Guard rescue
Norwegian cruise ship loses navigation ability in North Sea during storm - Reuters.com
Norwegian cruise ship loses navigation ability in North Sea during storm.
Posted: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
To ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers, a cruise ship can alter its course and circumvent the rough weather system. In stormy conditions, the crew can deploy the stabilizers, which will prevent the ship from rolling and bucking. Carnival Venezia is another Carnival cruise ship that has been forced to make an itinerary change due to the bad weather. The scheduled port of call to the cruise line’s private island of Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas on December 15 was cancelled. Passengers currently onboard also report that the ship had a brief power failure shortly after departing Nassau on December 14. The investigation led to recommendations for industry-wide changes, including stricter guidelines for ship stability in adverse weather conditions and enhanced training for crew members on emergency response procedures.
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The crew’s training and preparedness were put to the test as they worked diligently to keep everyone safe. Sparrow also posted harrowing footage on Twitter of chairs and umbrellas flying on the ship as screaming passengers seek cover from the storm — and several people are seen sliding across a windswept walkway. Several passengers, including Brenda Goodwin Sherbert, posted on social media about broken glass on the ship. Other passengers on the ship shared details of their ordeal on social media, with some complaining about a lack of communication from the ship's crew. At that point, the captain "turned the ship from sailing northwest toward Charleston to head north/northeast heading directly into the eye of the storm system," Taylor said.
But note that having your cruise impacted by a hurricane is rare, even at the height of the season. Carnival similarly monitors weather conditions from its fleet operations center, which opened in 2018 at the company’s Miami headquarters and runs 24/7. The Balmoral was making her way back to the United Kingdom from Norway when the vessel experienced force 11 winds and a sea state of 8, which means waves between 9 to 14 meters (30 to 46 ft).
Cruise Ship 'Destroyed' After Being Hit by Hurricane-Force Winds
"The crew from Deck 0-4 evacuated to the theater, and anywhere they could rest... the crew bar destroyed." Videos and photos shared to different social media sites also show flooding in both public areas and guest staterooms, as well as passengers milling about in general confusion as the situation evolved. Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager of the Seas recently encountered a severe squall in the Gulf of Mexico while finishing her most recent sailing. The footage emerged after another Royal Caribbean ship, Serenade of the Seas, reportedly flooded last month. The vessel was on its way back to Galveston, Texas, as part of a five-night trip to Cozumel, Mexico, according to USA Today. The footage also shows sunbeds piled up on the deck after being tossed around in the powerful storm.
The question about needing to outrun a storm is very unlikely to be a scenario your cruise ship will encounter. The top speed of any cruise ship varies greatly depending on the ship’s size and engine power. Before we talk about the chances of running into a storm, let's look at a cruise ship's top speed. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more.
Depending on the ship’s original itinerary, some changes have been minor, while others are more extensive. In most cases, the ships may instead spend a day at sea, where they can safely ride out poor weather while keeping guests as comfortable as possible. Multiple cruise ships have itinerary changes and delays due to a bad weather system over the Bahamas and Florida. By implementing these lessons learned, the cruise industry can significantly enhance the safety and preparedness of its ships, ultimately ensuring a more secure and enjoyable experience for passengers. These first-hand accounts serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the sea and the importance of preparedness in the cruise industry.
"Very active" Hurricane season predicted for 2024: What that means for cruise ships - Royal Caribbean Blog
"Very active" Hurricane season predicted for 2024: What that means for cruise ships.
Posted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Meteorological data and expert analysis can provide valuable insights into the strength of the storm, including wind speeds, wave heights, and rainfall amounts. By studying these factors, cruise lines can better determine whether it is safe to set sail or make necessary adjustments to their routes to avoid potentially dangerous weather conditions. The Carnival Sunshine’s crew swiftly activated emergency protocols to ensure the safety of passengers. They communicated with onshore rescue teams, providing updates on the ship’s location and conditions. On May 27, 2023, the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship encountered a violent storm off the coast of North Carolina, sending shockwaves through the cruise industry and raising concerns about passenger safety. Those decisions are made collaboratively with captains, with guest comfort in mind, Van Fleet says.
During the hurricane and typhoon season, which is June to November, he’s in the Miami headquarters monitoring a 25-foot wall of weather screens and sharing information with the company’s 26 ships and the executive team. Captain Sindre Borsheim answered how fast do cruise ships go when he was captain of the ship earlier this year. Captain Sindre has more than 20 years of experience with Royal Caribbean, so he's no stranger to ships and conditions at sea. 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?".
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