Rough seas question

[ecmommy]

Hello all!

I have a few questions about rough seas.

When the seas are rough enough to cause very noticeable motion, does the ship always rock side to side? Does it ever rock up and down? On our first Disney cruise we were shocked at the severity of the rocking on our first and last nights. Our cabin creaked all night! The side to side motion did not bother me, but my poor DH did not do very well. I really believe that if it had been going up and down, I would have been toast.

Has anyone ever experienced a rough "at sea" day? I'm hoping that the captain would be able to sail to calmer waters, if necessary.

Any input or experiences?

 

[Chattyaholic]

DH and I had a rough "day at sea" on our last cruise, and couldn't dock at Castaway Cay. We spent most of the day relaxing and reading. The motion really didn't bother us. But when we went to sleep that night something kept banging and it took me awhile to figure out where the noise was coming from. It was the door to our safe, as we didn't have anything in it so it just kept banging with the motion of the ship. I finally had to lock it so it would stay quiet!! We heard some creaking but not enough to keep us awake.

 

[Laura24]

Originally posted by ecmommy
Hello all!

I have a few questions about rough seas.


Has anyone ever experienced a rough "at sea" day? I'm hoping that the captain would be able to sail to calmer waters, if necessary.

Any input or experiences?

Hi,
You didn't say where your room was located- forward, mid or aft. For some cruisers this makes a big difference in how much motion is felt. I have stayed mid-ship and felt nothing and have stayed aft, and did feel the motion. There are firm believers that feel (I for one) staying midship and closer to the water reduces the rough seas affect. Our Capts. do a wonderful task of keeping us safe, but trying to avoid rough seas would have us zig-zagging the oceans. You can't out run the wind and wind plays hovac with the seas.

 

[mmouse37]

On the 1/4/03 Magic cruise we had rough seas that kept us from anchoring in the harbor at Grand Cayman. The GC Port Authority would not let any ship in the harbor due to the waves....tendering would have been unsafe.

The Captain instead headed straight for Cozumel and we spent a full 24s hour docked in Cozumel approx. 11 pm to 11pm.

Our GC day tuned into a day at sea on our way to Cozumel and it was not bad at all. A bit of rocking but nothing to make anyone ill.

Here is a pic of the waves out our Cat 9 Deck 2 mid-ship room during that day.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/61027011/61041715kyudwV

http://community.webshots.com/photo/61027011/61041717HyLEAf


MJ

 

[Flyrfan]

Any ship asea will not only rock side to side but up and down as far as fore and aft are concerned. As is with most modern cruise ships, motion is minimal except in rough seas.

 

[zacsmom]

I think I know what you are talking about with the waves on the first and last night. You go through a strait of something or other as it was explained to me by the crew. We have cruised 9 times and the only time I have ever felt that is on Disney, but it goes away by morning the next day. I felt it more higher up than down below. We took the 2/1 western cruise this year and the at sea days are VERY calm. You don't have anything to worry about.

 

[disneyfreak1]

On the first and last night, you go through the Gulfstream and that tends to make the ship rock.

 

[rcostello1]

I love the rocking When we crossed the gulf stream coming back last Saturday night was about the only time the ship had any noticeable motion. I love to swim when the ship is rocking...it's much more fun!

 

[DDreamer]

I also read somewhere that speed is partly to blame. On the first and last night you are "booking it" to get to port in time. Does anyone know it that is true? We recently sailed on RCI Sovereign of the Seas and our last night was also a little rough. Not bad enough to make anyone sick though.

 

[Laura24]

Originally posted by mmouse37
.

Here is a pic of the waves out our Cat 9 Deck 2 mid-ship room during that day.


MJ

MJ....Oh my gosh......I don't know if I could handle seeing waves like that from my window! What room were you in? I have the same category reserved for next March. Now you've got me wondering. I've been on deck 6 last two cruises..I just may be jumping up a few decks after seeing your photos. Hubby has been curious to find out just how far above the water we will be. I don't dare show him the pics.

 

[Flyrfan]

Laura24, keep in mind that the higher up you go, the more you will feel the motion of the ocean. The closer to the waterline at midship, the less you will feel.

 

[ecmommy]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for all the replies...FYI...we were in 7003 (cat 10) on the Wonder, which is high up and about as far forward as you can get! I guess that did make it a little more intense. I liked the rocking too...especially for sleeping, but my DH was totally sick.

This time we are in a Cat. 9, so I guess we'll be on deck 1 or 2. Hopefully that will be better. That was an AWESOME picture of the waves outside your porthole, MMouse 37! Thanks for posting those!

That helps...I guess I'll tell my DH to go ahead and take Bonine on sea days too.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Chattyaholic
But when we went to sleep that night something kept banging and it took me awhile to figure out where the noise was coming from. It was the door to our safe, as we didn't have anything in it so it just kept banging with the motion of the ship. I finally had to lock it so it would stay quiet!! We heard some creaking but not enough to keep us awake.

The SAME THING happened to us this past January! The banging was so distracting. Then after we figured that out, it was the creaking that kept us awake! Luckily, the Dramamine I took knocked me out after a while. That was the first rough seas we had on our two trips. I hope we have calm waters next time.

 

[tezb]

I'm not convinced that it really matters where you are on the ship..as far as feeling the motion goes. Twice we stayed on Deck 8, once midship and once AFT. Felt motion in both places and we felt it even more down below in the restaurants while dining. It's hard to tell I think.

 

[mmouse37]

The waves were not constantly up that high...I just hung out by the window until I saw a big coming. It really was cool to watch and I did not feel unsafe at any time. We like being down close to the water.

We have also stayed in Cat 4's on Deck 8 and although I do love a veranda, I also like being lower to the water. Deck 2 was also quieter than Deck 8.

We had cabins 2552 and 2550 on the 1/4/03 Magic. MY DD and her friends had a cabin all the way forward and they said the waves were even higher up at that end!!! They also thought it was cool to see!!!

MJ

 

[Cindyluwho]

Our first Disney Cruise was in November of 2001 and the last day and night were amazing. After we were unable to dock at Castaway Cay the captain said that we were going to hit a storm and that we have to get underway and sail through the center to be safe. Well, my oh my, it was an adventure. The ship was deserted, even at dinner, everyone who was the least bit seasick was in their cabins. We did have a group of people that were enjoying it though. We stayed up until after midnight, it's not like you could sleep. We organziced a game for the kids, see if you can run down the hallway without touching either side - and you know how wide those halls are! Finally we went to bed, couldn't sleep, and about 2am a large rack of dishes or something fell in the resteraunt above us. It was wild and we enjoyed every minute of it!

 

[rae519]

Great pictures, mmouse37! My first night on the ship I heard the creaking and felt more of the movement - now I look forward to it and actually miss it! As soon as I walk inside the ship, I feel I am at home!!!!

I heard about the time the ship was trying to get docked at CC and there was a tilting effect due to a mechanical problem and there were dishes EVERYWHERE in the galley!!!! I even think I heard that the pools were starting to empty out and flow over the sides. Someone may have the full story - it was an exciting story but it's been a while since I heard it told.

Rae

 

[MaryKatesMom]

On another thread someone mentioned meclizine available outside the health center. Is that true? It would be one less thing to pack.

 

[Laura24]

Originally posted by Flyrfan
Laura24, keep in mind that the higher up you go, the more you will feel the motion of the ocean. The closer to the waterline at midship, the less you will feel.

I really believe no matter where you are, the sea conditions/wind determine what you feel. Our first cruise (3/2001) had beautiful conditons...4-6 foot swells and bright, sunny weather. We were midship, deck 6.Our second cruise this past Feb. was just a bit bumpier in a Cat. 7/deck 6 aft. The waves were 8-12 feet, and overcast leaving PC. Nothing in comparison to the other stories here, but we felt it. It is the funniest thing to try to navigate those hallways when the ship is rocking.....with or without cocktails!

 

[mamagoggle]

Yes, little packets of meclizine are available outside of the health center. Very convenient.