Okay- how rough are "rough seas"?

[tjbaggott]

That video just scared me to the bone! Ok. . . after reading the reports of "rough seas" I have a question. How do kids usually handle the rocking/sea legs/naseau. I will have an 8 year old and a 3 year old. We are just doing the 4 night on the Dream next year but am getting a little nervous after seeing that video.

As mentioned in my previous post, in our family of 6, I was the only one who had a problem, both cruises.
1st cruise, my kids were 2yrs, 8yrs, 13yrs and 14yrs, and all were 3 1/2 years older for our 2nd cruise. They never had an issue either time. Now as a child, I did get motion sick when even travelling in a car, so maybe I'm just more suseptable to it?

Yes that video freaked me out too, but I'm certain it has never been that bad on a Disney ship. No idea what ship that was in that video but I wonder how big it was or little for that matter, did she have stableizers or not, where was she sailing too?

 

[phred84044]

We were on the Carnival Elation in September 1998 cruising the Mexican Riviera and we went through Hurrican Isis. Swells were 25' and we missed stopping at Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan. Half of the dining room was empty on the worst night and people were barfing everywhere. A juggling act was scheduled as that evening's entertainment, but was cancelled due to the weather. It was not a pleasant trip but was our best vacation to date until we started cruising Disney.

 

[Bethd5]

I sailed on the Magic to the Med in 2007- we had some of the roughest seas the cast members had ever seen. For us, the passengers it was mild. A little swaying but nothing bad.

I've also been on the Magic when it was so rough we couldn't dock at Castaway Cay. Again, not bad for guests.

Remember these are BIG ships.

Enjoy the cruise!

 

[mousebrat]

The first cruise that we took on the Magic was only really rough when we were crossing the Gulf Stream, which happens to and from PC. It was quite a way to earn your sea legs. Walking down the halls was difficult as was putting stuff away in the cabin. The worst part was going to the Walt Disney Theater and seeing the curtain sway back and forth - probably 4-5 feet. Everyone reacts differently. I get very car sick (I usually have to be the one driving to avoid getting sick) but was fine even on our first night on the Magic.

 

[tvguy]

The first cruise that we took on the Magic was only really rough when we were crossing the Gulf Stream, which happens to and from PC. It was quite a way to earn your sea legs. Walking down the halls was difficult as was putting stuff away in the cabin. The worst part was going to the Walt Disney Theater and seeing the curtain sway back and forth - probably 4-5 feet. Everyone reacts differently. I get very car sick (I usually have to be the one driving to avoid getting sick) but was fine even on our first night on the Magic.

I have to admit one of the highlights of our cruise was watching Pirates of the Caribbean in the Buena Vista during rough seas. Certainly added some realism to the scenes on the Black Pearl!!!

 

[mrosen]

I sailed on the Magic to the Med in 2007- we had some of the roughest seas the cast members had ever seen. For us, the passengers it was mild. A little swaying but nothing bad.

I've also been on the Magic when it was so rough we couldn't dock at Castaway Cay. Again, not bad for guests.

Remember these are BIG ships.

Enjoy the cruise!

Was it the Med cruise or TA cruise from States to Med? Also, what time of year. Just clarifying your comment on the "roughest seas the cast members had ever seen" on this sailed on Magic to Med in 2007. We are on a Med cruise in late April for 11 nights and I wasn't expecting we would have alot of rough waters.

 

[feiste]

Hi there,

Never cruised at all before. Taking first DCL Feb 27th 7 day on the Magic. When I hear people say the boat is rocking or that the seas are rough what does can anyone tell me what that means on a boat of this size?

How much do you feel it? Are glasses and things moving around or are you sliding around in bed or is it hard to stand or is it just more "noticable"?

I really have no point of reference for anything like a boat of this size so I am just wondering. I've never really been seasick on ferries or even smaller boats but I just find it hard to imagine what 5 foot waves vs 13 foot waves are going to feel like.

Any of you experienced cruisers out there who can provide a frame of reference or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

PeteK

We are on this cruise as well! Have you been on our cruise meet thread?
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2126438&goto=newpost

There is a disboard "meet" at 3:00 on Saturday. See you soon!

 

[eva]

These might give you a bit of the willy's:

Cruise Ship in Rough Seas 1

Cruise Ship in Rough Seas 2

Cruise Ship in Rough Seas 3

This is pretty unlikely in the Caribbean. But it has been known to happen.

 

[tinkmom2]

Our last cruise on our way out we had really rough seas. The performers were struggling to keep balanced and the Christmas tree that had a wire holding it was rocking back and forth. There were several kids sick in the theater. On the way back in on our first trip not only were the closet doors opening and closing but I rolled out of bed about 3am. Otherwise when we were out at sea we were fine.

 

[Lorraine]

We did the first East bound panama cruise and had a bad storm before entering the canal, everything was shaking and banging but it didnt effect us at all - and on the up side, people were so sick they cancelled Palo and we managed to get an extra booking!

We were also on the first WBTA in September and the sea was like a mill pond, we sat on the verandah and were amazed day after day with not as much as a ripple, it was fantastic - of course the EBTA cant say the same, there were some great pics of Goofys pool looking like a one of those pools where you can go surfing!

Lorraine

 

[KelsiesMommy]

We did the first East bound panama cruise and had a bad storm before entering the canal, everything was shaking and banging but it didnt effect us at all - and on the up side, people were so sick they cancelled Palo and we managed to get an extra booking!

We were also on the first WBTA in September and the sea was like a mill pond, we sat on the verandah and were amazed day after day with not as much as a ripple, it was fantastic - of course the EBTA cant say the same, there were some great pics of Goofys pool looking like a one of those pools where you can go surfing!

Lorraine

The Goofy pool was like that our last night of our 4 Night Wonder trip heaing back towards PC...wish I would have taken some pics, but I was feeling too

 

[ptk55369]

Okay, I started this thread and would love to take it in a bit of a different direction. I have REALLY appreciated the input and it has given me a tremendous perspective on what rough seas are like and how to handle it. I got some bonine just in case and I am ready to go.

I also am not freaking out about rough seas. It seems like it happens and when it does, it can be fun, scary, interesting, etc. It is a part of the adventure and it comes with cruising.

I wonder though if, as is natural on any board, I didn't by accident create the monster of the "tell us your worst rough seas story" syndrome. Reading through this thread makes me think that's the case because so many of the stories come from folks with 10-15 previous cruise dates so if the drinks were sliding off the table on every cruise that would be different.

And that would make sense because that's what I asked for. I'd like to get some feeling as well for how often that happens. Does it happen every cruise, is it a couple of hours over a 7 day, if it's rough for the first couple of days will it likely stay that way?

I know things change and every cruise is different but for those of you who have been on a number cruises (or if you've only been on a couple that's two more than me) if you can shed any light in this area, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks - this is really an awesome community!

 

[eva]

Okay, I started this thread and would love to take it in a bit of a different direction. I have REALLY appreciated the input and it has given me a tremendous perspective on what rough seas are like and how to handle it. I got some bonine just in case and I am ready to go.

I also am not freaking out about rough seas. It seems like it happens and when it does, it can be fun, scary, interesting, etc. It is a part of the adventure and it comes with cruising.

I wonder though if, as is natural on any board, I didn't by accident create the monster of the "tell us your worst rough seas story" syndrome. Reading through this thread makes me think that's the case because so many of the stories come from folks with 10-15 previous cruise dates so if the drinks were sliding off the table on every cruise that would be different.

And that would make sense because that's what I asked for. I'd like to get some feeling as well for how often that happens. Does it happen every cruise, is it a couple of hours over a 7 day, if it's rough for the first couple of days will it likely stay that way?

I know things change and every cruise is different but for those of you who have been on a number cruises (or if you've only been on a couple that's two more than me) if you can shed any light in this area, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks - this is really an awesome community!

Actual experience; 4 DCL cruises, 3 in May and 1 in September. Have done all the standard cruises; 3, 4, and both 7 night cruises. Three of the cruises you could hardly tell the ship was moving. At dinner you could see liquid in glasses shimmering from movement and a bit of sway in the the curtains at the theater a couple nights, but no real movement felt. The most movement was felt the first and last night. I think this has something to do with the currents near the coast. But one of the cruises the waves were bigger and you could feel the ship moving most of the time. Wearing heels and going up and down stairs required a bit of balance from time to time. Kind of looked like people were a little tipsy; a lot of stumbling and swaying. I don't think you can predict what the water is going to be like. The cruise with the rough seas took place the first week of May and was a 7-day Eastern. The weather itself was gorgeous, but the seas were a bit rough.

 

[mrosen]

These might give you a bit of the willy's:

Cruise Ship in Rough Seas 1

Cruise Ship in Rough Seas 2

Cruise Ship in Rough Seas 3

This is pretty unlikely in the Caribbean. But it has been known to happen.

these video clips are a little scary. i might not have booked if i saw these first but sailing in less than 2 months so too late to change my mind now....

 

[Dream426]

My first time on the Disney cruise in 1999 was great. Our last night on it we hit rough seas though and I didn't mind it though. You could def. feel it and lost your balance a few times. The doors if not closed would slam shut and the sliding doors dividing the rooms room slide back and forth. We had the 2 bedroom suite. I didn't find it scary though.

 

[DBBN]

This is totally unscientific but after 7 DCL cruises I would say the sea conditions I've experienced are (as a percentage of the time I've spent on the ships):

Smooth - 10%
Slight - 55%
Moderate - 20%
Rough - 10%
Very Rough - 5%

These are my descriptors and aren't intended to represent official or published nautical terms.

Only rough and very rough conditions have had a negative effect on our enjoyment of the ship and activities. For example, on our last Eastern we experienced some rough and very rough conditions and we couldn't enjoy the Rainforest room like we had in the past during moderate and smoother sea conditions. Also they chose to close the swimming pools for a period of time but luckily all the shows did go on as scheduled.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I've only done two so far- a 4 night and a 7 night Eastern. Both in November. The 4 night was very smooth, the only motion I ever felt was dinner the first night. The 7 night was another story, it was rough the first 2-3 days (pools closed at times, show canceled). It was 8-13 foot swells mostly, occasionally it showed 13-20 feet. Didn't bother us in the least, but some people it did. Then 3 more days of smooth, then the last night was the roughest of all. Don't know how high the seas were, but both my kids ended up getting sick (I had forgotten to give them Bonine before bed! ). A CM told me that for the first time ever she had things fall off her bookshelf! It was very windy conditions, we had trouble docking at CC earlier that day, and Serenity Bay was not very enjoyable due to the cold, blustery wind.

Honestly I think I would be bothered more by rain and cold than by the seas!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

We had it roughish one night(difficult for me cause Im used to north sea) but it was so cool sitting in the bar at night watching the waves crash up past the window, its all good

 

[tecdavidt]

We have been on 11 DCL cruises if my count is correct. Our cruises during August were always the smoothest and nicest for warm water at CC. Now had there been a hurricane close by it would have been rough but we never had that issue. This was also when the Magic did 7 day cruises in the summer. Loved my 7 day summer eastern cruises. *cruised Aug due to son playing AAU baseball.

Now after Baseball days were over we took Spring Break trips in mid March. Our DCL cruises have been in Mid March since 2003. Rough waters show up every March cruise but not for the entire trip. Once we had rough waters for 2 days straight and that was not fun. It was towards the end of the cruise. Two years ago we had a day and a half during the first two days at sea. A lot of people were sea sick. Now by rough, I am talking 30' waves at the worst. We are usually located midship, cat. 3 by the lifts. Cruise 2 years ago the water would hit the bow, splash down to just a few verandas before missing ours. Again, it was not the entire cruise. The sea sick pills will help for those who need them.

The captain will do his best to take the ship far away from the rough water if possible. The stateroom TVs have a station that will inform you on the sea conditions. For us, we just seem to always get rough seas if cruising in the winter or early spring but thankfully, it doesn't last long. Yes, the pool water does splash all over! We even had the closet doors slamming some but not bad. I will take the rough waters some to leave the nasty ice cold midwest behind. Looking forward to our upcoming March 13, '10 cruise Kathy

 

[ptk55369]

Thanks to all who provided their perspective. Just got back and am happy to report that we had a blast on our trip. We had a couple of days of what were reported as rough seas. I found that while you could definitely feel it (particularly in odd situations like taking a shower or walking) it wasn't the kind of pitching shown in any of the videos.

I recently had knee surgery and was a bit concerned about being able to balance in rough seas but had no problems whatsoever. We saw lots of folks with their little patches behind their ears but we all were fine without anything. After a while we just kind of would notice that "the ship is rocking" quite a bit but it was always more a comment made out of observation more than alarm. Any kind of rocking at night was great for sleeping and we just really enjoyed ourselves.

While we aren't nervous travelers by any stretch, I was a bit concerned more from a "how my knee would hold up" to motion side of things. What I came to realize was that there are people of all ages and abilities on these ships by the dozens. If you are unsteady the kind of motion I experienced didn't knock you around much - it isn't like turbulence on an airplane but more gradual in that it can cause what I would call more of a mis-step but that's about it. In any case, just wanted to allay any concerns like minded folks might have.

We enjoyed ourselves so much we booked another cruise on board. Yipee!