Norwegian Spirit Rough Seas

[Leafpeeper]

Where was the ship when this happened?

 

It was in the British Virgin Islands area, as reported on the Weather Channel at half past the hour. Check it next hour because they repeat everything.

 

We live near the ocean in Plymouth, MA and noticed how calm the water has been. I think this extremely warm weather stirred up something more like Spring tornado season.

 

We cruised last year from NY to the southern caribbean and had wonderfully calm seas except in the St. Thomas area--perhaps where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean. I have heard this can be a rough area. Even when we cruised from Boston to the caribbean last October, I noticed rough seas east of Florida.

 

My DD said the roughest seas she ever experienced were off Cozumel at the end of April a couple years ago. I've heard Alaska has the roughest seas anytime of year.

 

We will be sailing NCL Dawn Jan 18, 2007 and can't wait. I am not worried on one of these new ships. Fortunately, I don't get seasick.

 

Don't forget June 1-Nov 30 is hurricane season. Even that doesn't bother me because I know enough to avoid the southern caribbean where most hurricanes develop. We live at the beach, so we do most of our cruises from Oct-Feb. Haven't ever had a problem after 20 years of cruising. Can't say that about my airplane flights. Don't like flying.

[greenie]

SRUTKO1226 ~ Well said...

 

We witnessed MANY falling trees up here in the mountains yesterday...wishing we were instead sailing the Dawn, Jewel, Spirit;)

 

 

Cosmo, long time, no hear! I guess you aren't joining us on the Spirit 2/9?? :(

 

*wahh*

[Leafpeeper]

What happened to the Spirit is hardly typical of normal winter crusing in the Atlantic. The same storm wreaked havoc throughout the northeast, causing extended power failures to hundreds of thousands of people as well as extensive damage to property. Hurricane force winds on land and at sea in January is hardly a normal winter occurance. The passengers on the Spirit were a lot safer than hundreds of people under all those falling trees.

 

An elderly woman on Cape Cod was killed when a tree fell on her car. I also heard that a woman in a car on a bridge in NY survived the back of a trailer tractor falling on her car. I'd rather die on vacation--but hopefully at the end of my vacation and not the beginning.

[Mjasp]

Where was the picture taken of the Triumph? Obviously close to shore for someone to be able to take it.

[MrPete]

Oh it was bad here in NY on Wednesday. Mom lost all the shingles on her roof!

[MrPete]

Where was the picture taken of the Triumph? Obviously close to shore for someone to be able to take it.

 

No where. It's a fake.

[Leafpeeper]

I am sailing Triumph in February. Thanks for posting that photo. Hope the only waves we hit are under 10 feet. We did encounter some large waves sailing from Hawaii to Ensenada last year. Loved rocking to sleep each night. We had an inside cabin, so no free cruise if a window broke on us. Next cruise is a balcony.

 

We also encountered rough seas returning from the Caribbean to Boston in early October. DH slept right through the night. I couldn't sleep at all from the noise. Next time I will bring earplugs.

 

I'd rather be cruising any day of winter than be here during those gloomy dreary winter days. Of course, nobody could ask for a better day in the northeast than today (60 degrees and sunny). Won't see that again until we get to Florida next month.

 

As Jimmy Buffet says, "I gotta go where there ain't any snow and there ain't any cold--I gotta go where it's warm!!!"

[chrisv348]

Just returned from the 1/8 Spirit sailing and I can certainly attest to the very rough seas. I, myself, was seasick many of the days at sea but I'd have to say that this was one of my favorite cruises overall. Many of us made the best of the rough weather by joking with our fellow passengers about the situation. I do offer sympathy to those passengers who were more severely affected by the rough seas however.

 

I can say that the crew did everything possible to keep the situation under control during the storm and to keep passengers calm. All onboard activities continued as scheduled and the passenger talent show was only enhanced by the inability of the entertainers to position themselves on the stage. We laughed as the lighting crew tried to focus on the entertainers as they moved back and forth across the stage. The crew, many of whom were seasick as well, continued to work relentlessly to keep the passengers happy. I cannot praise the crew and staff enough on this trip for their efforts during a very unpleasant situation.

[CruisinMatt]

No where. It's a fake.

 

Oh yeah??? Google it!!! You know everything that you can find using google is true!!! ;)

[Seago2]

Just returned from the 1/8 Spirit sailing and I can certainly attest to the very rough seas. I, myself, was seasick many of the days at sea but I'd have to say that this was one of my favorite cruises overall. Many of us made the best of the rough weather by joking with our fellow passengers about the situation. I do offer sympathy to those passengers who were more severely affected by the rough seas however.

 

I can say that the crew did everything possible to keep the situation under control during the storm and to keep passengers calm. All onboard activities continued as scheduled and the passenger talent show was only enhanced by the inability of the entertainers to position themselves on the stage. We laughed as the lighting crew tried to focus on the entertainers as they moved back and forth across the stage. The crew, many of whom were seasick as well, continued to work relentlessly to keep the passengers happy. I cannot praise the crew and staff enough on this trip for their efforts during a very unpleasant situation.

 

Sounds like you made the best of it- and I can believe what you say about the crew.

 

Have you ever been seasick before? I'm just wondering if people who have never been seasick, even a tiny bit, become sick during seas like that....

[chrisv348]

Sounds like you made the best of it- and I can believe what you say about the crew.

 

Have you ever been seasick before? I'm just wondering if people who have never been seasick, even a tiny bit, become sick during seas like that....

 

I have been mildly seasick on a couple of sailings but this was by far the worst I have experienced. Once I started using the "patch", I felt much better. The patch did cause side effects (blurred vision and extreme dry mouth) but it did help significantly. During the big storm it was necessary for me to use the patch plus the bonine tablets to tolerate the motion.

[Seago2]

I guess I should pack some. I have never felt seasick but this is the first cruise with DH and one or the other of us might. It sounds like pure hell to be nauseous hour after hour while the ship is rolling. Both of us have spent a lot of time on the water and so far, so good. It's stories like yours that make me wonder if it will eventually happen... I wonder how the crew ever get seasick??? Aren't they accustomed to the motion? It's all inner ear-related, right?

 

After my Spirit cruise last spring I was dizzy, to put it mildly, for two weeks. The first week I would wake up at night thinking I was falling out of bed. I could not look at a computer screen for longer than a few seconds without feeling like I was going to pass out and fall off the chair. I had the same thing, but to a much lesser extent, after my cruise last summer. Nothing on board, though. On the Spirit last year people were slamming into walls and dropping drinks. Everywhere you went you could hear people going "whoaaaa!!!"... My cabin was in the bow and I would lie in bed and feel the quiet of being airborne and then the crack and shudder of hitting the waves, over and over again. MY KIND OF FUN.

 

Cheers-

[GoHuskies!]

Thanks Husky

 

So I take it even a bad captain can't make the ship capsize

 

Cool

Well, now, I wouldn't say that!

 

A drunken captain with a death wish certainly could--but any skipper in his right mind would turn either bow or stern into really high waves, depending on severity. Have faith in your crew, take anti-seasick medication, and enjoy the cruise no matter what you get.

[wrp96]

After my Spirit cruise last spring I was dizzy, to put it mildly, for two weeks. The first week I would wake up at night thinking I was falling out of bed. I could not look at a computer screen for longer than a few seconds without feeling like I was going to pass out and fall off the chair. I had the same thing, but to a much lesser extent, after my cruise last summer. Nothing on board, though.

 

This is actually a common disorder - it lasted over a month after my 2nd cruise. The way to prevent is to take seasick meds before you get on board and then each day while you are on board and for a couple of days afterward. I take a half dose of meclizine each morning starting the day before I board and it really helps. I too don't have any problems on board the ship.

[fin]

I have not made a web search for this story, but it was on several television news shows in NY last night. However, it got nowhere near the amount of coverage which the Dawn received.

[e.durban]

Last September, somebody threw up in the lobby of the Crown while we were docked in St. George! We crossed the wakes of 3 huge storm systems on the way back and I never smelled anything like the mess on that first port day...

[shoreguy]

I have not made a web search for this story, but it was on several television news shows in NY last night. However, it got nowhere near the amount of coverage which the Dawn received.

 

A couple of reasons - the ship was still on time and no Donald to spin the media.

[EileenN]

Shoreguy, all these months and that is the first time I realized how the media was so wound up!!! Free advertising..publicity. He IS good at what he does.

I can not imagine what it was like to be on the Spirit after being on the Dawn last April. Once was enough for me..for storms that is, We are sailing again and can't wait.

[shoreguy]

Shoreguy, all these months and that is the first time I realized how the media was so wound up!!! Free advertising..publicity. He IS good at what he does.

I can not imagine what it was like to be on the Spirit after being on the Dawn last April. Once was enough for me..for storms that is, We are sailing again and can't wait.

 

Have a great cruise - just make sure there is no spin doctor associated with the cruise. :D

[fuzzyeti]

Hi all...my husband and I were on Spirit when the incidents occured. The ride was pretty rough but neither of us thought anything of it. In fact, we only heard about all the damage when we asked about the smell of welding smoke...when the staff was fixing the windows in 1/2 of the Garden Room. We were seated on the other side and the waiter told us about the damaged windows. The worst rolling seemed to happen when we were seated and dining--I'd say around 6:30 pm. We seemed to tip quite a bit--my husbands bread fell off his bread plate--and then the sound of many crashing dishes. Apparently, all restaurants lost some dishes. This happened twice and unnerved us a bit...so we left and spent the rest of the evening in the casino. I won 507.00 on a nickel slot machine.

We didn't see anyone panicking--just a bit of nervous joking and laughter. The staff we asked said that this was the worst rolling they'd experienced on the Spirit.

All in all, we expected possible rough sailing to and from New York so we were not freaked out. We'd cruise again from New York in a heartbeat. It really wasn't that bad folks, and I'm a big ol scaredy cat!

[kathas2boys]

just remember: That which does not kill you, Only makes you stronger:)

[MrPete]

You know everything that you can find using google is true!!!

 

Matt...

 

See what your one statement did to the stock market yeterday!!!??? :eek:

[sclauss]

For those that get dizzy AFTER the trip... Google mdds. It's a syndrome that affects mostly women in their 40's. The patch is the only thing that will prevent it from recurring on future cruises. I hate taking the patch since it makes me very tired but I'd rather be tired on a cruise than dizzy for 4 months after. The name of the syndrome is Mal De Debarkment Syndrome.

[SailAways]

I've heard Alaska has the roughest seas anytime of ]

 

This was not our experience on the Spirit to Alaska - and from what I have heard from repeat cruisers, it is actually one of the smoothest cruises - on the Inside Passage that is.:)

[Seago2]

For those that get dizzy AFTER the trip... Google mdds. It's a syndrome that affects mostly women in their 40's. The patch is the only thing that will prevent it from recurring on future cruises. I hate taking the patch since it makes me very tired but I'd rather be tired on a cruise than dizzy for 4 months after. The name of the syndrome is Mal De Debarkment Syndrome.

 

Thank you so much! I never noticed it before I turned 40. God- I would hate to wear a patch for no reason... Isn't it wierd that I never feel it during a shore excursion? Must take 24 hours or so to kick in.

 

Okay, I am going to read more. Thanks again.