Onboard the Sapphire Princess during the hurricanne on Sept 19, 2013

[Fat Bottom Gurl]

We never made the Ketchikan port on Sept 19 due to severe weather (which turned into Category 1 hurricane). The winds was 70 to 75 knots (which is around 110 km/h). The waves were 20 feet and cresting at 26. Our stateroom was in the bow on Deck 5 so the pitching was incredible plus watching those waves up close and personal was nerve wracking. You didn't get the same sense of the height of the waves on the higher decks. At one point the ship listed hard to starboard when the Captain turned the ship so the Canadian pilots could come on board. We were in the Wheelhouse for cocktails and the waiters scrambled to stop the dishes/glasses/booze from falling off the bar. I had visions of the Poseidon Adventure. In the morning the storm was reduced to a gale, but the sea was sure rolling, and it finally calmed down once we were back in the inside passage.

 

4 ships never made it to port - we passed a couple of them.

 

I took some video of the waves, but it just doesn't show the intensity. It was really interesting up in the Skywalker lounge.

 

It took a lot of effort to walk around the ship because you were constantly engaging your core muscles to keep your balance. The promenade deck was closed (way too dangerous). Walking towards the bows was interesting as the ship pitched you'd be walking uphill and then suddenly the floor was gone and it was like being suspended for a second.

 

Anyone else on this board experience the hurricane?

 

FTB

[CruiserBruce]

Bad storm, but don't believe hurricanes strike Alaska. Hurricanes require warm waters to form and survive. No one has ever said Alaska has warm waters! You experienced hurricane force winds, but don't think it was a hurricane.

 

In October 2003, I was at the Cedar Fire in San Diego. That fire experienced winds above 70mph, so hurricane force winds. However, that was obviously not a hurricane.

 

In May 2008 we experienced 70+ mph winds off the on our repositioning cruise to Alaska. Again, hurricane force winds, but not a hurricane.

[Fat Bottom Gurl]

Whatever! The tv said hurricane.

[trophy_23]

There were some people that have posted from some of the HAL ships that were caught in the same storm. Sounded like a rocky day/night, and some itinerary changes but everyone made it safe, so all is well!

[frugaltravel]

Whatever! The tv said hurricane.

 

Like online, don't believe everything you see/hear on the TV :)

[Coral]

We encountered something similar in the Caribbean on a Thanksgiving cruise.

[Poipu04]

I was on a cruise during the October blizzard off of Boston a few years ago. There were 21 foot seas. They taped sea sick bags to the stairwells.

[trophy_23]

I was on a cruise during the October blizzard off of Boston a few years ago. There were 21 foot seas. They taped sea sick bags to the stairwells.

 

We experienced this entering the St Lawrence in 2012, 20+ft seas. Lots of 'green' looking people and no lineups for food in the Lido that day!

[Chenega]

Whatever! The tv said hurricane.

 

TV was wrong and shows how misinformed news reports can be. We do not get "hurricanes" in Alaska since we lack the warm tropical water but the storm did produce hurricane strength winds over 70 miles an hour. This storm, according to the National Weather Service webpage in Alaska, was a strong low pressure system with rain and winds that came in off the Gulf of Alaska. Not uncommon in SE Alaska at this time of year which is one of the risks to taking end of the season cruises (cruise line brochures don't tell you that).

 

Four cruise ships had to cancel their visits to Ketchikan last week due to the storm.

[Luckysll]

Wow, just shows what a difference a week makes! I was on the Golden Princess the week before you and the seas were probably the calmest I've ever encountered on any of my 5 Alaska cruises.

[MommaBear55]

Bad storm, but don't believe hurricanes strike Alaska. Hurricanes require warm waters to form and survive. No one has ever said Alaska has warm waters! You experienced hurricane force winds, but don't think it was a hurricane.

 

.

 

Maine gets hurricanes despite the cold water. They form in warm water but are named hurricanes with hurricane force winds when they hit. Was this a named storm?

 

Sorry you were out in such bad weather. We went out in the aftermath of Sandy with similar conditions. There were lots of passengers sporting new arm casts after falls and many empty spots in the MDR.

[CruiserBruce]

Maine gets hurricanes despite the cold water. They form in warm water but are named hurricanes with hurricane force winds when they hit. Was this a named storm?

 

Sorry you were out in such bad weather. We went out in the aftermath of Sandy with similar conditions. There were lots of passengers sporting new arm casts after falls and many empty spots in the MDR.

 

The Atlantic has far warmer water than the Pacific along the West Coast. Hurricanes can't even make it to San Diego without petering out.

 

There was no named storm in Alaska.

[AKman2495]

THe two main differences between hurricanes and the winds we get in Alaska is that hurricanes are topical storms and they have cyclonic winds. YOu know, the typical swirls of clouds around an eye.

 

We don't have those. However, we have had many,many cases of hurricane force winds in Alaska.

 

There is a typhoon that is hitting Taiwan. There is a good possibility that what's left of it may come up here...Another storm with a lot of wind.

 

Regardless of what you want to call it...it is still a lot of winds. Glad to see you made it out OK.