Hurricane Joaquin bearing down on the Bahamas, what does DCL do?

[lillygator]

not much would survive cat 4 winds on CC. those are some strong winds

 

[MUN]

Thanks for updates! Guess I have memories of the Disney Fantasy sailing through hurricane Sandy & that wasn't safe. Sorry they are missing CC but glad they are staying safe.

I'm sure it was unpleasant to sale through; however, at no time was the ship in danger.

MUN

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

SANDY was really 2 storms that expectantly merged. Add to that 1 weather satellite was down. The Master decisions were right on for the condition and forecast. The vessel did a good deal of rolling and pitching but was never in any danger. The storm was finally ahead of him and then slowed down and the Fantasy caught up to it.

There was no Pirate sailing vessel. That was the *Bounty*, the movie ship built in the 60's by MGM and used in the Marlin Brando and Anthony Perkins *Bounties* and other films. The present owner and Master decided to leave port and hoped to slip to the east of he storm but ended in the storm. The vessel was in poor shape and the pumps were not operating correctly. The Captain and 1 gal crew member downed and the rest were rescued by the USCG marine rescue group. All Heroes in my book.

AKK

 

[JimmyV]

An update:
http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...itinerary-altered-to-avoid-hurricane-joaquin/

 

[gumbypee]

hmm, if it is only a 3 night cruise and already canceling Nassau, and CC pending.... could it end up being a cruise to nowhere? Are those allowed anymore (granted, for safety/weather issues I'm sure exceptions can be made if it is not "allowed" anymore)?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

hmm, if it is only a 3 night cruise and already canceling Nassau, and CC pending.... could it end up being a cruise to nowhere? Are those allowed anymore (granted, for safety/weather issues I'm sure exceptions can be made if it is not "allowed" anymore)?

Yes, cruises to nowhere can still be done. I believe the new restrictions are effective next year.

 

[bbn1122]

We were on a 3 night that left PC as them Hurricane Irene made its way up the coast of a Florida in 2011. It was a very rocky first night. Day one we pulled into Nassau but could not get off the ship because the island was cleaning up from the Hurricane. We could not go to ️CC the next day, it was very disappointing so instead they went back to Nassau. You could get off the ship this time but we did not.

The hurricane definitely put a damper in our cruise. But in 2014 we did the same cruise at basically the same time in August as 2011 and the weather was perfect.

All the best to to everyone on the 3 nighter.

 

[tee11]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Dustin2008/status/649686465224540160/photo/3

Not sure, if you guys can see the link but someone on fantasy tweeted 65 mph winds are hitting the ship and its a bit scary. They are hugging the coastline (Hispaniola---Cuba). 170 miles from Joaquin .

 

[pinkprincessdad]

Staying at Disney's Vero Beach resort and just saw the Dream pass by.

 

[endotoothdoc]

I am checking in from the Fantasy right now where we are hugging the coastline of Cuba to avoid the outer bands of Joaquin. It is much more calm now (45 MPH) winds compared to the 65-70 MPH winds that we were experiencing just a couple of hours ago. Our family is staying in the Roy Disney Suite so we are REALLY feeling the motion of the rocking ship. Our children are enjoying hanging out in the kids club where the motion is a lot less noticeable as the clubs are midship.

 

[gEar up]

Can someone elaborate on maritime law, in particular what regulations are changing next year, that would require a ship to make port during a hurricane. I'm up to speed on the flag of convenience model, and all that is required when embarking from a U.S. Port. But there was a point made that this year, DCL could have a cruise to nowhere on the 3 night Dream, if CC is also under unsafe conditions to dock, as it has already cx'd the Nassau stop. Next year even with a rule change, I'm sure the regulating authority can grant some sort of variance for that specific cruise, allowing the same thing to take place, rather than strand 2,500 people out an extra day, or force a ship to be put in peril, just to tick off a regulatory box.
Of course, maybe by then Havana will be available to DCL.

 

[timrousbeastie]

I am checking in from the Fantasy right now where we are hugging the coastline of Cuba to avoid the outer bands of Joaquin. It is much more calm now (45 MPH) winds compared to the 65-70 MPH winds that we were experiencing just a couple of hours ago. Our family is staying in the Roy Disney Suite so we are REALLY feeling the motion of the rocking ship. Our children are enjoying hanging out in the kids club where the motion is a lot less noticeable as the clubs are midship.

So sorry that you encountered this during what otherwise sounds like a dream vacation. I hope you are not sick and that you are able to get something positive out of the experience. At least you'll have a memory for a lifetime! We had one Disney vacation interrupted by a hurricane and it actually ended up being one of our best since everyone was upbeat and determined to make the best of a bad situation. And, if you get bored, there's always that jenga game in the closet (sorry, I couldn't resist that last part).

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Can someone elaborate on maritime law, in particular what regulations are changing next year, that would require a ship to make port during a hurricane. I'm up to speed on the flag of convenience model, and all that is required when embarking from a U.S. Port. But there was a point made that this year, DCL could have a cruise to nowhere on the 3 night Dream, if CC is also under unsafe conditions to dock, as it has already cx'd the Nassau stop. Next year even with a rule change, I'm sure the regulating authority can grant some sort of variance for that specific cruise, allowing the same thing to take place, rather than strand 2,500 people out an extra day, or force a ship to be put in peril, just to tick off a regulatory box.
Of course, maybe by then Havana will be available to DCL.

There is no present or proposed regulations or laws that would require any ship to be in port due to heavy weather like a hurricane. In fact many ships would go out into a storm in open water so they can ride out the storm better and safer. Often a vessel is safer riding out a storm in open water then trying to keep moored to a berth, where if she breaks away from the berth, she ill likely end up aground and damaged.

If the Vessel was already in port and the Pilots judge it is to dangerous to try and sail a for open water then, the vessel is likely going to stay in port. Few Masters would take the chances of maneuvering their vessels out of port without a pilot in severely bad weather.

I have done both, depending on weather conditions, the berth and other conditions, stayed at the berth (usually taking on all the ballast I could and set her on the bottom, or left in time to get to open water and ride out the storm.

No Regulatory group would ever take on the responsibility and liability of requiring a vessel to stay in port.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Here is the latest weather chart 2400 hours. Joaquin seems to be shaping up to move northeast and away from the US east coast. The storm has sat over the Bahamas', and near to CC for 2 days, I am worried just how bad the damage to the island and other islands maybe.

AKK

 

[Rudisdey]

We were on a 3 night that left PC as them Hurricane Irene made its way up the coast of a Florida in 2011. It was a very rocky first night. Day one we pulled into Nassau but could not get off the ship because the island was cleaning up from the Hurricane. We could not go to ️CC the next day, it was very disappointing so instead they went back to Nassau. You could get off the ship this time but we did not.

The hurricane definitely put a damper in our cruise. But in 2014 we did the same cruise at basically the same time in August as 2011 and the weather was perfect.

All the best to to everyone on the 3 nighter.

We were on the same cruise. All tours booked in Nassau were cancelled and it was really bad news that we heard that we could not go to CC the next day. After this cruise we did two Mediteranean cruises with the Magic and in December we will return for our 5th Disney cruise with the Dream to Nassau (again..) and CC.
No chance of a hurricane in December but hope the weather is good and that we can enjoy CC for the first time in 7 years.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm sure it was unpleasant to sale through; however, at no time was the ship in danger.

MUN

No MUN. I'm sure not. I never said that either. As far as "unpleasant", there was a report of people crying and a child thinking he was going to die. I was just hoping my friends weren't going through anything like that at the time of my original post. I have since read some updated reports.
But a few people were very mildly injured/scaed on that Sandy cruise (falling out of bed, objects flying across room etc). I had read a report of a glass hitting someone in their stateroom. Nothing serious, but certainly nothing I'd want my friends experiencing. I never said the ship was in danger. Just wanted to put that out there. Thanks!

 

[endotoothdoc]

Thank you for the kind words. The Jenga game was moved to the Lounge. . Our 19 month old finds ways to use those pieces for alternative motives on his older sisters.

The Fantasy crew has been very professional throughout the whole thing. Yes, I have overheard people complaining and whining about not being able to go to CC. However, it is is everyone's best interest to stay safe rather than risk on an ocean vessel.
One of the ships crew told me that last night they had an overwhelming number of requests for medication and room service due to the ships rocking.

 

[MUN]

No MUN. I'm sure not. I never said that either.

Sure you did. You said the ship wasn't safe. No big deal. You were wrong and I corrected you. I make mistakes sometimes as well.

MUN

 

[over50visits]

I'm sure it was unpleasant to sale through; however, at no time was the ship in danger.

MUN

Seems like a low standard…whether the ship is in danger. Sandy showed that Disney made a mistake, with all other cruise ships afaik staying back. People genuinely afraid, significant damage to restaurants and shops (search online for photographs and descriptions), nighttime rolling all contribute to the wrong decision. Just because the ship is not in danger is not a sufficient goal. We used to be happy to sail in hurricane season because we believed the captain would steer around bad weather, as they usually do. But not always, at least with Disney. Simple, we don't book DCL during hurricane season. We book it at other seasons of the year and have a fabulous time!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Disney did not make a mistake, not all ships stayed in port(for any number of different reasons) and vessels were in various places at various times. Each vessel was presented with different weather conditions, seas, and currents, etc. The photos shown were nothing more then chairs and odds and ends sliding around and a shop crew that did not secure their stock. Now that part was a lack of good planning. There was also damage to the heavy wooden doors and glass. Seems the problem was the hydraulic openers and closers were not strong enough to hold the doors and broke away. The next cruise they repaired the doors and replaced all the closers/openers over the next month on both the Fantasy and Dream.

Sandy changed direction and speed and was highly unpredictable and 1 weather satellite was down. The Master was coming up the coast behind Sandy and she just slowed and the Fantasy caught up with the storm. With all the land masses, currents, shallow areas the vessel can just go to so many places, directions and speed. The goal would of course to have a smooth sea and star filled sky. However anytime you go to there can be problems and no Master can steer around everything.

I agree with 50 visits, if your that worried the best solution it to sail only when your comfortable with possible weather issues. Since Sandy, around the world heir has been major weather systems and storms and other vessels have been damaged and on cruise ships passengers have been uncomfortable and it will happen again.


AKK