Really want to book a 5th cruise but...

[blurbs]

On our last sailing I remembered that every time we sail I always declare on the last night (only slightly over-dramatically) that we will never cruise again!

On our first sailing in 2012 I remember the Captain making an announcement that played in our room on the last night saying we may be in for some rough seas that night, but not to worry. Sure enough we laid in bed rocking to and fro and I remember being frightened by the motion. It seemed like the boat shouldn't be moving that much.

Fast forward to every cruise since and the last night is always rough (Port Canaveral 4-night Bahamas.)

On the last sailing in September on the last full day morning my spa person told me it was going to be a really rough night??!! DH remarked that it was weird that we spent the whole last day cruising up and down the Florida coast on smooth seas and then right after dinner - the boat was swaying so hard back and forth we could barely walk. The Beauty and the Beast show failed and stopped twice and things in our stateroom were rolling all over the place. Drawers sliding open and slamming shut! Ah! It went on most of the night - I was so scared!

What the heck is it with the seas on that last night?

 

[Dug720]

You have to cross the Gulf Stream. It really is nothing to worry about.

 

[starvenger]

Probably doesn’t feel like nothing at the time though.

OP, I think you might want to try a different cruise like the Mediterranean?

 

[bumbershoot]

Fast forward to every cruise since and the last night is always rough (Port Canaveral 4-night Bahamas.)

Same as the first night. It's been described to me as the Florida Straits. It just makes it bumpy.

 

[mmmears]

It's a ship. It rocks. I don't enjoy the motion, but it's pretty typical when you are out in the ocean. From PC I have had issues that first evening but it wasn't scary.

 

[Dug720]

Probably doesn’t feel like nothing at the time though.

OP, I think you might want to try a different cruise like the Mediterranean?

The Med can get pop-up storms out of nowhere though that make the Gulf Stream seem like nothing. 2 years ago when I was on RCCL's Brilliance of the Seas and we were crossing from the Italian coast across to Barcelona, smooth sailing was 100% predicted. Well, about 2am we got caught in a pop-up storm that was only one tick below Hurricane on the Beaufort Scale in terms of winds. Waves splashing up over the bow (I know - my cabin overlooked it). So just because you're in the Med does not mean no rocking.

If ship movement bothers you, a cruise probably isn't the right vacation for you. That's just honesty.

 

[mevelandry]

Same as the first night. It's been described to me as the Florida Straits. It just makes it bumpy.

Yep. That area can be quite rough. That's why we always bring meds.

 

[firstwdw]

This happened both the first and last nights on our cruise on the Dream. I was not expecting that much motion. I think it has something to do with Port Canaveral. Try Miami next time? It was our first and only cruise but I didn't enjoy all that rocking!

 

[cheermom2four]

We only had issues on our first night leaving PC but cant really remember the last night going back to PC because we slept too hard to wake up LOL I only remember the first night because half the dining room was empty and I had to hold onto the table to keep my body from swaying. Hubby got a kick out of watching me

 

[mmouse37]

The motion does not bother me at all. I really think any cruise can put you in rough seas from time to time. Wind, weather, currents all play a part. In all honestly I can say even the thought of really rough seas would never deter me from cruising. Back in 2005 we were skirting hurricane Hilary on the PC cruise....talk about rough seas!!! I loved it.

MJ

 

[Cruising Engineer]

On our last sailing I remembered that every time we sail I always declare on the last night (only slightly over-dramatically) that we will never cruise again!

On our first sailing in 2012 I remember the Captain making an announcement that played in our room on the last night saying we may be in for some rough seas that night, but not to worry. Sure enough we laid in bed rocking to and fro and I remember being frightened by the motion. It seemed like the boat shouldn't be moving that much.

Were you on the Fantasy October 2012 when we hit Hurricane Sandy? We were on that cruise. Actually the only time we've experienced anything like that night.

 

[GPaLarry]

Out of eight DCL cruises we had only one day on our WBTA that was rough enough to have to grab a railing while walking around. The pools were closed (cool effect to see the water slosh back and forth) and rain caused mini waterfalls from one deck to another. It was a good day to stay inside. Would have been perfect if "Pirates of the Caribbean" had been showing in the theater. Rough waters are random on your cruise, much like bumpy flights to get there. If motion sickness is a problem, take medication with you or check out the clinic on board for help. I have seen YouTube videos of really wild experiences folks have had on other cruise lines where furniture and cruisers go sliding back and forth across the dining room. That is dangerous and I have to believe that every ship's captain wants to avoid this on levels. One other time our captain announced that we were going to vary our route back to CC because of a hurricane. A bit choppy, but he did his best. Cruise on...

 

[smiths02]

We barely detected the motion (4 night Bahamas). I do remember the last night noticing that the ship was moving with a little more speed, but no huge rocking motion. No one in my party needed medicine or to forego activities, etc. (and 3 of us are prone to car sickness)

Could it be the time of year that you choose to go as well? We went in mid-June with lovely weather the entire time. I know it is expensive at that time of year, but people are mentioning Sept, Oct, hurricanes, etc.

 

[CamColt]

I think this is one of those things that can go either way. I have had 1 cruise where guests were getting sick left and right, some where we have had minimal to moderate motion and some, most recently last August B2B's on the Dream, where I never knew I was on a cruise. I actually get a little disappointed when I don't feel anything.

 

[MomOTwins]

We stayed far forward the first cruise out of Port Canaveral and it was super rocky. Midship the second time and felt nothing. I highly recommend midship.