How does the Noodam do in severe weather

[jandiart]

I will be on the 12/1 cruise from New York. Many people are telling me that the waters in the Northeast at that time is very rough. Is that true? How are the stabilizers on this ship? Is there a lot of vibration felt in the rear or front of the ship?

[Charliesmom]

We haven't been on the Noordam, but have been on the Westerdam at the rear of the ship - first on the Rotterdam deck and then on the Verandah Deck.

 

If you are concerned about motion, choose lower down and in the center of the ship.

 

We hit some rough weather on the first cruise and there was quite a bit of motion when we were on the Rotterdam deck. The second cruise had great weather and very little motion (we were also lower down).

 

That class of ship handles rough weather pretty well. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Roberta

[sab490]

Jandiart -

 

You should join our roll call! So far there are six of us who were on Noordam 12/6/2006 and are going again 12/1. The link is in my signature below.

 

We were very lucky with the weather last year. When we left the temp was in the 40's and the seas were not bad at all.

[mamaofami]

We were on the Noordam last February. First day out was rough, but the rest of the trip was fine. Some of the January trips did have very rough seas, but everyone said the ship handled it well. :) Loved it so much, we're going again this February.

[Gsel]

We had very rough seas with gale force winds the first night out of Seattle last week. Noordam handled it very well. Of course she did roll with the sea, and it was worse at the bow and stern, but I have seen much worse. All in all, I would say she does very well.

[jhannah]

She's a big ship, and will handle rough waters very well. But you are floating in a dynamic sea. You will sense motion from time to time, and if seas become rough the ship will react accordingly. Just go along for the ride and you'll be fine.

[tomc]

I was on a NYC-South cruise in April and we hit some seas coming back. The Noordam just went through them without blinking an eye. Ok, there was some motion, but not like some destroyer escort in the Pacific during WW2.

 

The next cruise, I think, someone had the same seas (27') we did, but out of a different direction and reported it as being very rough. You have to factor into this what someone else thinks is "rough"; maybe the ship really was bouncing around and maybe they were like the little old lady at our table on one trip who, at 10' seas, wanted the captain to announce the ship would not break in two.

 

All in all, the Noordam sails quite well.

[GrammaZ]

We were on the 27th of January sailing out of NYC and hit gale force winds of 110 mph for a couple of days. The ship was definitely swaying back and forth and side to side but handled it very well. We were told by staff that that had been the strongest winds up until that point for the Noordam. Walking was difficult at many times but you didn't know if it was the ship or the double scotch you had at lunch.

[RuthC]

I've sailed the Noordam out of NYC twice. On at least one day there were waves that others might term "rough"; I couldn't feel a thing.

The Noordam rides very well, IMHO.

[Sunshine91]

We were on the 27th of January sailing out of NYC and hit gale force winds of 110 mph for a couple of days.

 

OK Gramma, you got us beat.

 

On the return trip on the inaugural (Feb 2006) we had 40-45ft swells & 65kt winds. "Our" verandah on deck 4 was covered in sea salt - from the spray. The last night was quite bumpy (I loved it). John got tossed out of bed but I didn't even notice :eek: .

 

This past January, a couple of weeks before Gramma, we again had some high winds, but because they were the same direction we were sailing, not so bumpy (John slept great :) ). We sailed out of NYC harbor in 72F short-sleeved weather. We returned 11 days later to 6F bone-chilling frigid tundra. :rolleyes:

 

If you're worried about some seasickness, choose a mid-ship cabin on a lower deck & pick-up some bonine. You just have to take it before you need it. If you wait until you feel sick, don't bother. :o

 

Ever watch "Deadliest Catch"? Those are about 15-20ft waves. But those are also only 120ft boats, compared to Noordam's 1,000ft. You're gonna LOVE your cruise. :)

[hammybee]

I've sailed the Noordam out of NYC twice. On at least one day there were waves that others might term "rough"; I couldn't feel a thing.

The Noordam rides very well, IMHO.

 

This is from a poster that knows, really knows, "rough".

 

BTW, stabilizers reduce the roll of a ship (side to side) and have no effect on the pitch ( forward-back) motion.

[barbels]

I was on the same cruise last year as Sunshine91 and RuthC. I did have problems with the motion- for the first time I had to take 2 bonine at the same time. They were handing them out like candy in the ship's doctors office. The ship handled the waves just fine; I didn't. But the bonine did the trick and by the way it does work after you are already seasick as long as you are not throwing it up.

 

Anyway we booked the exact same cruise for next January so I guess it couldn't have been that bad.

[RedmondCruiser]

We were on the Westerdam (same hull ) on a PC cruise. We were going south along the Mexican coastline. We were headed into 55 miles per hour wind at a speed of 20+ knots. The captain explained that the combination of the two meant that we were going into a hurricane force wind. The ship road fine and we had no problems. The larger ships provide a very stable ride.

[jrzebird]

I was on the same cruise last year as Sunshine91 and RuthC. I did have problems with the motion- for the first time I had to take 2 bonine at the same time. They were handing them out like candy in the ship's doctors office. The ship handled the waves just fine; I didn't. But the bonine did the trick and by the way it does work after you are already seasick as long as you are not throwing it up.

 

Anyway we booked the exact same cruise for next January so I guess it couldn't have been that bad.

 

We were on this cruise, too. I took Bonine the first day, before we sailed, in anticipation and didn't need it. But, since it made me sleepy, I decided not to use it again. I used wrist bands the couple nights it was a bit rocky and I was fine.

 

The ship is wonderful, and we are hoping to celebrate my leap year birthday on her this coming February! Decision/booking to be made next week! :D

[bob brown]

I've sailed the Noordam out of NYC twice. On at least one day there were waves that others might term "rough"; I couldn't feel a thing.

The Noordam rides very well, IMHO.

I have to agree with RuthC. I was on the Noordam back in October and enjoyed the ride very much. Of course, I was in a nice inside center lower deck cabin, and even in rough water, the motion is minimal.

[tomc]

It's not rough until the engine bolts tear loose.

[bob brown]

It's not rough until the engine bolts tear loose.

Nah........'tis not rough 'til ya hears the call to go to muster stations!:D

[RuthC]

Nah........'tis not rough 'til ya hears the call to go to muster stations!:D

By that definition I've been there when it was almost "rough". People were wondering if we'd have to go to muster stations. I had decided I wasn't leaving the Mother Ship for a toy boat in that sea. ;)

[speakertosuits]

We took the Noordam on its first Caribbean trip last October. Most of the time the seas were moderate. Returning to NYC, we had rough seas (12-18 ft on the sea scan. The last day our we had high seas (18 to 27 ft). That day the ship vibrated and heeled over about 5 degrees due to a starboard wind at gale force. Up at the Crows Nest Lounge, you had to walk carefully due to the pitching. Other than that (which I enjoyed, YMMV), the ship rode well. Under most conditions, you should feel no discomfort.