Caught in nasty NZ Storm

[commodoredave]

We are on the Regent Seven Seas Voyager currently caught in a nasty storm in 100-knot winds off the Southwest corner of New Zealand's South Island. Our ship tried to turn the corner around Cape Providence at around 6:00 pm local time and could not make the turn due to the wind on our beam. As a result, we have turned back north and are running directly into the wind to wait out the storm. There are no harbours in Fjordland that we can go into for protection, so we have little choice. The divider between our two balconies has just blown off one side of its hinges and is banging back and forth --it may not stay with the ship much longer. The balcony chairs look like they are about to go over the edge. We have been warned not to go on open decks or to open our balcony doors. We are making 6-7 knots speed right into the wind. A little scary!!

[Travelcat2]

How frightening. Thank you for posting and please let us know when things have calmed down. Are you able to get around the ship or are you staying in your cabin?

[captjohn]

Aloha
Wow, keep us informed. We are due to board the Voyager in Auckland on the 7th.
Hope the seas calm down once you go north of the cape.
Who is the Capt. and CD ?
John & Christina

[commodoredave]

Captain is Gianmario Sanguineti and the CD is Paul Reynolds. The Cpt. is doing a great job of minimizing the affect of the wind on the ship, so while we are pitching and heaving, most people are still going out for dinner. The seas are still pretty rough, and just about everything that could fall down has been secured. A bunch of glass shelves smashed to the floor in the gift shop, but we have not noticed any other damage to public areas. The wind has dropped to 60 knots and we are hoping it will blow itself out sometime tonight. Our balcony door divider has been reattached, and the balcony chairs secured, so there is no longer any risk of them flying off. Still heading north at about 5.5 knots into the wind, which is the opposite direction from where we should be heading, but we are not making enough headway for it to make a big difference.

[Hambagahle]

My goodness! What an experience. It serves to remind us all that cruise ships go to sea and are not, as some call them, "floating gin palaces"!!

Hopefully by the time you read this things will be settling down - please keep us up to date!

[RachelG]

Wow, sounds exciting and a bit scary. My husband would love it!

[Port 11]

Know how you feel, We were on the Voyager in October in the Med and hit 70kts winds port side on, same as you, we were pitching and rolling, the balcony furniture JUST stayed on. MDH caught the bottle of Gin flying off the shelf - good save! It was really scary. Could not stand-up and hardly anyone went to dinner. We had to miss 3 ports due to winds/rough seas. THEN Athens went on strike, However Cpt McNeill was very informative throughout and kept his sense of humour.

Hope your weather improves very soon.

[les221b]

The captain made a few announcements, keeping us posted, this evening.
Things quieted down around 10 PM, and we were able to get a normal
night's sleep.
Until around 4 AM, when we were awakened with a "Code Bravo" alert.
I had no idea what "code bravo" was, but about 15 minutes later the cruise
director came on with a second announcement that there had been a minor
fire on the 12th deck, and no cause to worry. At 4:30, the cruise director
again announced that the fire had been contained and that the crew who
had responded to the alert could now return to their stations.
I've always maintained that sea days were boring, but the past day was
quite lively.

Les

[MotuIslander]

WOW!

We appreciate you all holding the Voyager together for us (we need her in a little over 4 months)!

Hang in there and a more BON Voyage!

[MPCakes]

Please make sure it holds together until Tuesday.

BTW, how full is your cruise?

[Travelcat2]

We are all anxious for an update. Please let us know how everyone is when you can.

[commodoredave]

We are all fine after a harrowing day and night in 36-ft seas and wind gusts up to 100-knots per hour (185 kph). The barrometer dipped from 1,115 to 990 in just 6 hours during the day, and the wind got so strong that our ship could not maintian a turn to port at Cape Provedence. In fact, the wind literally pushed the stern of our ship around and forced us back into the wind. Fortunately, the wind abated early in the morning.

However, as another poster reported, we then had a fire on Deck 12, stern quarter at 4:00 am (Wednesday NZ Time) and the Captain alerted the ship via the PA system to the problem. It was contained and extinguished within 8 minutes. The fire was started when patio furniture tied up on the deck broke loose, crashed into some lighting fixtures, and caused an electrical fire that ignited the patio furniture. We were all told it was out and that is was safe to go back to sleep.

The bad weather was not forecast on the NZ marine weather forecast and as of this morning was still not logged on the site. Therefore, it came somewhat as a surprise, but the Captain did a superb job and handled it with finese. We are grateful to have such an experienced, calm and talented Captain.

Just as quickly as the bad weather arrived, it has left and we are now enjoying calm seas and gentle winds. Even enjoyed TexMex theme buffet on the open deck today. Looks like the weather will be even better tomorrow.

Thanks to all for your concern.

[captjohn]

Aloha
Thanks, you guys for the reports. Keep them coming. Will you be missing any ports?
Can't think of any way around it, so hope you will enjoy the rest of your cruise.
See you in Auckland. J&C

[commodoredave]

Aloha
Thanks, you guys for the reports. Keep them coming. Will you be missing any ports?
Can't think of any way around it, so hope you will enjoy the rest of your cruise.
See you in Auckland. J&C

We only missed Doubtful Sound as a cruise through. Otherwise, on track for everything.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Docked safely in the Port of Timaru, South Island , New Zealand.

from the Timaru port cam;
http://www.timaru.govt.nz/webcam.html


http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll281/kiwikruzer/album%206/2timaru2.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll281/kiwikruzer/album%206/2timaru1.jpg

[JulieBen]

so are we! Keep us posted.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

They are in Akaroa today..

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll281/kiwikruzer/album%206/3regent.jpg

[erewhon]

Hope you are enjoying your visits to South Island ports.
Did you do an excursion at Timaru?

[IBsaved]

We have family members on this cruise...hope they are doing OK. Have any of you on the ship met a couple from Scottsdale, AZ - Bill and Donna?

[commodoredave]

Everything has been great since the big storm and while the NZ weather has been anything but summer like, we are still enjoying the fantastic scenery.
However, P&O's Pacific Jewel had mechanical problems taking its last tender on board yesterday, and this delayed our ship's departure by several hours from Akaroa as they were blocking the main channel. So to all the folks on the Jewel, you owe us a drink in Auckland!!

[commodoredave]

Wellington is alive with crazy and fun locals this weekend as they celebrate the International Rugby Sevens Tournament. What a great day to be in the port!!!

[Kiwi Kruzer]

From the Wellington port webcam;
Voyager arriving in Wellington..

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll281/kiwikruzer/album%206/4voyager1.jpg

[Granny DI]

We encountered the same storm last week on the Diamond Pricess. We missed fjord land and were late arriving in Hobart. We encountered 3 different storms and the last was the worst. We had 3 days of 30 ft waves. Capt said it was a 10 out of 10!

[NCCruzQueen]

We encountered the same storm last week on the Diamond Pricess. We missed fjord land and were late arriving in Hobart. We encountered 3 different storms and the last was the worst. We had 3 days of 30 ft waves. Capt said it was a 10 out of 10!

Glad you made it out ok, Granny DI. Must have been scary for everyone.