Live...mostly...from Anthem

[jpcello]

CBS This Morning also covered it. Terrifying.

[Big_G]

Havent read anything since my last post but they've just opened up the wifi for free so a lot more posts may be showing up.

 

Nice job keeping updated Karina.

[cot427]

Folks that are actually on this nightmare of a cruise are reporting what they are going through, the "cruise experts" on this board are contradicting them in every way shape and form... not listing as reported, not an emergency, etc... Its laughable!

 

Hoping for safety for all and I'm not looking forward to boarding this ship, especially if the same captain will be on board!

 

I would feel grateful if that captain was onboard my sailing. He got them through it, didn't he?

 

While yes, they may have known the storm was approaching, they may have not known the intensity. We all know weather projections and meteorology is so reliable... (just my opinion.)

 

Just like what happened here in PA with the turnpike catastrophe. Drivers knew a storm was coming but went on and drove it anyway. There was a lot of back and forth on who to blame and as a society I think we are too focused on that. Why does someone need to be blamed? What difference does it make in the end?

[denatravels]

Another post made me think about my experience a few weeks ago. Went to sleep on a Friday night expecting around 6 inches of snow-- turns out it was the officially the second largest snowstorm in NYC history. Things change.

From all the reports, it seems that the passengers and the crew handled this like champs!

On another note, anyone know if you will be back on Saturday yet? I'm supposed to board and wondering if it's going to be pushed.

[Pipo]

Despite the Captain has the last word on everything related to his ship, he takes the decision based on the information available at the time. If before entering the storm the conditions appeared reasonable for a normal operation, it's quite difficult to predict the evolution of a storm especially during winter months were this kind of phenomena is uncommon in this area, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't go through the storm path during summer, because it's highly likely it will quickly turn into a hurricane-like storm.

The bridge and the meteorologists team (on board and land) analyze the satellite images, and radar returns to suggest proper actions. If the meteorologists and images couldn't give enough information to the Captain on the probabilities of the severe conditions, there's little justification for the captain to deviate the cruise.

Just look at the satellite images, the red zone had the size of South Carolina, the only options were to hold position or turn back northbound, but it wasn't that dangerous by the time of entering that "ugly weather". They were trapped, simple as that, even an aircraft carrier captain with decades at sea can face the same situation.

Edited February 8, 2016 by Pipo

[KarinaGW]

For those who have asked go ahead and share my pix.

 

I havent seen her this morning but one of the cameras before they shut all but one down showed GiGi looking fine. One of the guys from the pool deck came off his stand though.

[kmw350]

I find it refreshing that so many onboard are posting positive comments and clarifying the situation rather than all the negative.

 

Yes, it seems like most people who will be making a complaint or a claim are others who are not actually on board lololol.

[tbill]

Instead she trolls Anthem threads. You have to wonder if she even has a booking. :rolleyes:

 

If she is me, you are wrong... and for the record I gave up cruising years ago because of how much the industry has changed for the worse. If you look at any of my cruise reviews from the early years they are over the top positive. This cruise was a gift and booked without my knowledge. Most of what I read on this very board about this ship has been negative. This board is where I got the bad taste for this ship. I was hoping for a positive experience. Our upgrade has helped my outlook lots. This current event not so much!

[CruiseQueenB]

Thank you OP for keeping us posted! I've been on some cruises with some rough seas, but nothing like this! Hopefully everyone is ok and the rest of the cruise is smooth sailing. I know I would be going to the casino and grabbing a drink after that night. :p

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Deck 7 aft balcony starboard. Just above the lifeboats. Water was smacking at our doors so that was a bit unsettling...

 

Crazy night and so happy we had the Super Bowl on in our room to distract us.

 

We did list significantly - don't care about the degree, it was enough that i had to hang on to not fall out of bed :)

 

It was an uphill battle to get to the bathroom. I sat in the bathroom for a bit as I kept thinking we might overturn and felt panicky about water crashing through the balcony doors. I almost was going to sit in the corridor so if we did tip over at least

 

That being said, I am not typically a worry wart so this storm emotionally feels like it took five years off my life!

 

Excellent how the staff is up and about this morning - no one had any sleep and they served a nice, limited breakfast in American Icon. Well done Anthem crew - so proud of you and your outstanding service in duress!

 

They are having trivia each hour in Schooner bar and casino and some bars are open. No news yet on our fate - we are headed to Port Canaveral but we don't know if we are continuing on etc...

 

I have been reading the foolish posts of people blaming the Captain. Guys - this came out of no where. He did not purposely sail through it. Yes, we knew there would be bad weather but stop pointing fingers. He was grace under pressure. He tried to keep us up to date and when it got really bad and he couldn't speak because he was navigating the ship out of trouble, the cruise director kept us up to date (let me tell you he spoke with a lot of angst and panic in his voice unlike the captain!!)

 

Chalking this up to another experience at sea! Yup it really, really sucked and was scary but we made it through!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! (For sharing, and your positive outlook!)

[John&LaLa]

You're killing me John.:D

 

We all have a dark passenger, you just control yours better than I. Back on topic. My neighbor in Cocoa Beach is retired Coast Guard and a big ham radio operator. Hopefully I'll get his take on last night. My other neighbor is a retired air force meteorologist. Maybe I can quiz him.

[sharonlacey]

Thanks Katrina very good updates;), glad everything is going well now

[wolfganghowell]

Karina, thank you for your posts. So very glad to hear that everyone is safe and hope that any medical emergencies are under control.

 

I've certainly used the little triangle on a certain poster recently. While we are entitled to disagree, the personal attacks have been ridiculous. One of the worst abusers I've ever seen on this board.

 

I'm sure there will be some fallout from a situation like this. Definitely some will be not be pleased no matter what. It's completely understandable that some would be more traumatized by this event than others. Let's try to be compassionate to all who were onboard even if their reports are quite different.

[cruiselife4me]

To put it mildly. I know, at this point, i sound kind of lackadaisical...the ship is definitely heaving about and listing a good couple degrees alternating sides....and the wind is howling and every now again we go weightless. But, after 4 hours, it starts to feel almost not normal, but you get kinda used to it.

 

Karina, I love your attitude. I'm not one to get freaked out about storms on the ship but this was huge. I may have enjoyed it!

[pspercy]

You're wasting your breath. tbill has been complaining about her upcoming Anthem cruise and Royal on every thread possible. One day it was a rant that included her intent to share a drink package to coming back the next day with a claim that they've been upgraded to a suite.

Some people should just stay home!

 

Sent from my Lenovo TAB 2 A8-50F using Tapatalk

[intothevoid0214]

I'm really glad to hear that the ship has arrived, I wish the best for passengers and crew. Reading the negative posts just leaves you scratching your head.

 

Edit

I thought I've read that the ship is docked? Has it?

Edited February 8, 2016 by intothevoid0214

[KarinaGW]

Yes. Speed has degraded since they opened up wi-fi but it was really zingy before.

 

No definitive arrival time for Canaveral yet. But not noon.

 

Non-FB required link for pix:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.785573522938.1073741885.73700961&type=1&l=64cc004acc

[ZandZ]

I was thinking the same thing.:D

it is going to take me some time to get over this one..and i hardly ever post, but just couldn't hold back here :)

[Firefighterhoop]

It's amazing how the people actually on the ship have been among the most positive people posting on the thread.

 

I want to thank each of you for your posts throughout the evening/night last night to give those of us at home a real time picture of what was going on. I do have friends on the ship this week, so the updates were nice.

 

I can not believe how many posters were so quick to throw blame on to the Captain. I'm quite sure most of the people commenting on here's only Nautical experience is a passenger on a cruise vessel, and their only meteorology experience is watching the weather channel. I'm quite sure a lot of people who jumped to these immediate conclusions based on their years of "experience" would have also been the first ones to condemn the Captain and the Cruise Line for staying in New Jersey if the storm didn't happen and ports were missed (As all the complaints when the itineraries were changed for Winter Storm Jonas).

 

I think folks on here should be more willing to wait for facts on what happened. I am quite sure there will be information forthcoming to the passengers that are currently on board and they have been doing an awesome job sharing that information back with us immediately.

 

For those of you on board, again thank you and I hope the rest of your vacation is perfect!!!!

[CHolliwood]

When I sailed both the Quantum and the Anthem, I noticed how much each ship rocked in (relatively calm seas) comparison to the Explorer and was fairly sure that the Anthem would have problems dealing with the seas and winds that Nor'easters. The Quantum class ships are long and narrow -- and the stabilizers they are equipped with didn't seem to be smoothing out the ride. I don't think this is the last time we will see this kind of news item about the Anthem.

 

 

Agree 100%, it was very surprising how much the boat rocked on calm days. After viewing the damage the boat, I thought some of those large planters would have been bolted to the ground. They could kill someone if they started rolling around.

[butterfly2]

What time is the Anthem due in to Port Canaveral today?

[ZandZ]

Nah. That one is not on our cruise. (S)he's still bitter about the Snowstorm Jonas cruise.

 

Yep, I realized that, and that's what shocked me. In the same breath talking about RCI cutting corners and sending you guys into an active storm on purpose to save money AND making a complaint about a previous cruise itinerary change - also to cut corners. Also wrong bread was served at a specialty restaurant. i can't, just can't.

 

 

Thank you for level headed unbiased updates during this.... Having lived through Sandy on land, I can imagine what you went through.... I know the feeling of not being able to go to sleep in the middle of the night. The good news is everyone seems to be ok, you are still on vacation AND you don't have to do the clean up. Trust me that one sucks :)

[VikingCrown555]

Years ago at a Captains party he was taking questions, someone asked about the stabilizers, he said they rarely are used unless it's really rough because it increases the fuel consumption dramatically. I wonder if they were ever deployed on your cruises.

Edited February 8, 2016 by VikingCrown555

[Hearthstone]

Incredible spirit on board this morning. In 25 years of cruising I've never seen anything like it.

 

Having a late breakfast after being up till about 5, and all of us who were strangers yesterday seem to be best friends today. Perhaps because we were all in the same boat last night. (Guessing that's where the saying came from. ). Last night all of us were equals, and the 5000 of us not on the bridge were praying hard for the few dozen who were on that bridge.

 

Everyone is sharing their stories today, and staff and crew are being totally transparent about the fact that we all had a rough night. Captain said that last night was the worst night of his career and you could tell there was no pretense.

 

RCCL has made pretty much everything free and are doing all the right things you'd hope for in a situation like this. Free internet, free mini bar, free stateroom movies, and transparent announcements.

 

Having cruised many times on RCCL, I've seen them change itineraries for lesser situations than we had last night, so I'd have to reject the notion that they were grossly negligent. I'm sure there will be plenty of analysis and industry education that will come out of this.

 

We did choose to sail out of port liberty in February so we knew there was an increased risk. But watching as the storm developed and wrapped around us so quickly and how the crew maneuvered the ship to try to find pockets of relative calm, attempt to hold the ship facing into the wind, then look for the best opportunity to pivot and hightail it out, they have my respect and gratitude.

 

Walking around the ship this morning, it's amazing how well the ship fared. I'm sure many people worked all night to make this happen. Thanks all.

 

Beautiful day at sea off coast of Georgia but still windy. They reported another storm system developing off Jacksonville and we are barely creeping along so I assume they are deciding how to proceed.

 

Newsflash. Actually as I'm typing we are turning hard to the east and down to a crawl so looks like the plans are changing.

 

This is how memories are made....

 

 

 

 

 

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[kwahl1]

God forbid, I hope you don't miss a meal. Are they feeding yet? Some people say that is the highlight of a cruise. Not the rockin.;)

Satire

 

Be safe