TransAtlantic Hitting very bad seas!

[Plaid Princess]

Maybe it's because I'm from New England, but to me this is just ship movement that makes it a little challenging to walk in a straight line and can trigger seasickness bouts for those sensitive to it.

Does New England experience more turbulence than other parts of the country?

 

[ImprovGal]

Does New England experience more turbulence than other parts of the country?

My hypothesis was that I may have had more data points of ocean sailing experiences than perhaps a midwesterner.

 

[kaseyC]

I think this years EBTA went up to Canada?? I can't remember. I like the itinerary on the EBTA and I like the price. I don't get to say I like the price too often when talking about a DCL cruise. I like the fact that it takes a more southern route because maybe it will be a little warmer.
I think what happened in 2007 is probably more the exception than the norm. It seems like for the most part the weather on the EBTA has been good with maybe a couple of rough days, but nothing that bad. I'm not sure if I'll do the EB or WB next year...maybe both if the price is right. Like you I would book a WB to San Juan in a heartbeat.
I think anytime you step foot on a cruise ship you roll the dice with the weather. Rough seas can happen anytime. I've never been sea sick, but I not afraid to pop a few dramamine if the boat stars rocking.

I agree. EBTA 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were pretty smooth sailing with a few rough moments. The EBTA 2007 was rough for a good portion of the trip.

With a TA cruise you need to be prepared for anything, you also need to enjoy sea days. My husband can't stand the thought of all of those straight sea days so I have done 4 of my TA cruises with my daughters and 1 with my mother. We love TA crossings, I'm bummed I haven't been able to book the last few DCL cruises but the girls school schedules and extracurricular activities doesn't make it possible to do it.

 

[Flossbolna]

I think this years EBTA went up to Canada?? I can't remember. I like the itinerary on the EBTA and I like the price. I don't get to say I like the price too often when talking about a DCL cruise. I like the fact that it takes a more southern route because maybe it will be a little warmer.
I think what happened in 2007 is probably more the exception than the norm. It seems like for the most part the weather on the EBTA has been good with maybe a couple of rough days, but nothing that bad. I'm not sure if I'll do the EB or WB next year...maybe both if the price is right. Like you I would book a WB to San Juan in a heartbeat.
I think anytime you step foot on a cruise ship you roll the dice with the weather. Rough seas can happen anytime. I've never been sea sick, but I not afraid to pop a few dramamine if the boat stars rocking.

Sorry, I think my post was confusing. I was comparing 2016 WBTA Barcelona to New York and 2017 EBTA Port Canaveral to Copenhagen.

2016 WBTA most northern port is Sydney, Nova Scotia at 46°8' N.
2017 EBTA most northern port is Copenhagen (55° 41' N), but since the cruise has to go around Jutland, the most northern point it will have to travel by is Skagen, Denmark at 57° 43' N. Even Portland (the first stop in Europe) is at 50° 32' N.
2016 EBTA went to Sydney, Nova Scotia and then continued north to Dublin (53° 21' N), Liverpool (53° 25' N) and will end in Dover (51° 8' N), so all those ports are north of Sydney!

Of course, because of the Gulf Stream bringing the warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe, the climate in Europe is far milder than would be expected that far north.

Actually, the intinerary maps that www.disneycruiselineblog.com puts together are really great for figuring this out as they show latitudes:
2016 EBTA: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/itinerary-summary/?itinerary=238
2016 WBTA: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/itinerary-summary/?itinerary=249
2017 EBTA: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/itinerary-summary/?itinerary=291

I totally get your point about the price being right for the TA cruises. That is one thing that really draws me to them as well. And the sea days. I just loved all the sea days on the Panama Canal cruise, especially the four we hand in a row. So, having even more bunched together just seems like heaven to me! If Disney would just get its act together and let us know what they are doing in the fall...

 

[mmouse37]

The 2015 EBTA was supposed to go to Iceland but could not due to what else.....too much ice in the water! LOL. I know the captain said at one point in the journey we were so far north that we were just a few hundred miles from the Arctic Circle. I would do another TA cruise in a heartbeat if I could work out scheduling. I loved all the sea days!!!

MJ

 

[Ofinn]

Sorry, I think my post was confusing. I was comparing 2016 WBTA Barcelona to New York and 2017 EBTA Port Canaveral to Copenhagen.

2016 WBTA most northern port is Sydney, Nova Scotia at 46°8' N.
2017 EBTA most northern port is Copenhagen (55° 41' N), but since the cruise has to go around Jutland, the most northern point it will have to travel by is Skagen, Denmark at 57° 43' N. Even Portland (the first stop in Europe) is at 50° 32' N.
2016 EBTA went to Sydney, Nova Scotia and then continued north to Dublin (53° 21' N), Liverpool (53° 25' N) and will end in Dover (51° 8' N), so all those ports are north of Sydney!

Of course, because of the Gulf Stream bringing the warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe, the climate in Europe is far milder than would be expected that far north.

Actually, the intinerary maps that www.disneycruiselineblog.com puts together are really great for figuring this out as they show latitudes:
2016 EBTA: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/itinerary-summary/?itinerary=238
2016 WBTA: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/itinerary-summary/?itinerary=249
2017 EBTA: http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/itineraries/itinerary-summary/?itinerary=291

I totally get your point about the price being right for the TA cruises. That is one thing that really draws me to them as well. And the sea days. I just loved all the sea days on the Panama Canal cruise, especially the four we hand in a row. So, having even more bunched together just seems like heaven to me! If Disney would just get its act together and let us know what they are doing in the fall...

It looks like Fall cruises are going to be released tomorrow. It looks like the TA is going to New York again. I would love to spend a week in Barcelona and a few days in New York. I will probably switch to the WB. I have a feeling I'll be able to get a Verandah for less than the cat 9b I have booked on the EB if pricing is similar to this year.

 

[Flossbolna]

It looks like Fall cruises are going to be released tomorrow. It looks like the TA is going to New York again. I would love to spend a week in Barcelona and a few days in New York. I will probably switch to the WB. I have a feeling I'll be able to get a Verandah for less than the cat 9b I have booked on the EB if pricing is similar to this year.

Yes, I just saw. I don't think we want to go to New York on a WBTA... Yes, I would love a few days in New York, but as cities go New York is kind of the DCL of city breaks... I also don't like that it seems to be only 11 days. But it should be a good price, so far Disney has not gotten too crazy with the TA prices.

 

[Ofinn]

Yes, I just saw. I don't think we want to go to New York on a WBTA... Yes, I would love a few days in New York, but as cities go New York is kind of the DCL of city breaks... I also don't like that it seems to be only 11 days. But it should be a good price, so far Disney has not gotten too crazy with the TA prices.

There a few cruises I like next Fall...Panama, Mexican Riviera that's going to tough call. I've been to Baja a zillion times, but my kids haven't. I have a feeling the Mexican Riviera cruises will be priced high. Last year the October Panama cruise had a lot of discounts so that is something I may want to hold out for. I'm not sure what I'll do. If I win the lottery between now and September I can do the WBTA this year and get it out of the way.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

2015 was notable for a very unusual drift of ice south. Kinda like the Titanic days. Today's cruise ship are not at all built to play around with ice.

AKK

 

[arlopop]

When we sailed the Wonder Mexico trip (02/26/12) we had great weather throughout. But on the second to last day we left Cabo and rounded the point. As soon as we hit the west side the ship was just buffeted by serious winds. The creaking in our cabin was so loud it kept me awake that night and one of the chairs at the dining table in our cabin tipped over in the night (we were in the 2br suite). It continued through most of the next day. There was very little rain (mostly spitting), but the swells were huge (roughly 25 ft), and according to the weather screen on the television in our cabin the winds were sustained 70 knots (roughly 80 miles an hour) with gusts to 90 for most of that day. The ship was really rocking - there was a lot of roll. The adult pool was sending 2-3 foot waves of water across the deck. They closed the Promenade on deck 4. There were a lot of reports of seasickness and there seemed to be very few people out and about.

We were fortunately not bothered by it (the kids loved it), but I was impressed by how well the ship handled it. The Wonder just plowed through it. To be honest, I actually enjoyed it as well: it was a reminder that the Wonder wasn't a floating hotel, but a ship at sea.

 

[GrumpyGoat]

When I took my first Disney cruise, a SB repo out of Vancouver on the Wonder, it was a little rough when we turned the corner coming out of The Straits of Juan de Fuca. There were people getting sick from the movement of the ship, but I loved it. Of course, going to sea on ships like THIS and THIS may have had something to do with it... The first is an ocean-going minesweeper, which is a shallow draft ship. In a rough sea, it's movement is completely unpredictable. It's kinda like going to sea on a wine bottle cork. And Navy ships don't have niceties like the stabilizers that are fitted to all cruise ships...

 

[RedSox68]

I agree. EBTA 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were pretty smooth sailing with a few rough moments. The EBTA 2007 was rough for a good portion of the trip.

With a TA cruise you need to be prepared for anything, you also need to enjoy sea days. My husband can't stand the thought of all of those straight sea days so I have done 4 of my TA cruises with my daughters and 1 with my mother. We love TA crossings, I'm bummed I haven't been able to book the last few DCL cruises but the girls school schedules and extracurricular activities doesn't make it possible to do it.

I notice that on next year's itineraries, they broke up the sea days with ports. (Maybe they did that this year, but I didn't look.) In 2007 we sailed 6 straight sea days (but I LOVE that). We also returned to PC and got to go to CC. However, I'd give that up to land in NYC and not have to fly (we are close enough to drive home).

 

[kaseyC]

I notice that on next year's itineraries, they broke up the sea days with ports. (Maybe they did that this year, but I didn't look.) In 2007 we sailed 6 straight sea days (but I LOVE that). We also returned to PC and got to go to CC. However, I'd give that up to land in NYC and not have to fly (we are close enough to drive home).

I was on the 2007 WBTA too. That was my first TA cruise and I absolutely loved those 6 straight sea days. I've sailed a TA cruise from Southampton to NYC, it was 7 straight sea days and no ports at all. It was fantastic.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're committed to next year's EBTA! Maybe I should stop reading this.

We were on EBTA in 2013 and it was wonderful! A bit rough as we approached Gibraltar if I remember.

 

[Ofinn]

I notice that on next year's itineraries, they broke up the sea days with ports. (Maybe they did that this year, but I didn't look.) In 2007 we sailed 6 straight sea days (but I LOVE that). We also returned to PC and got to go to CC. However, I'd give that up to land in NYC and not have to fly (we are close enough to drive home).

Ive been wanting to take my kids to NYC so this cruise would be a good excuse or opportunity. I guess Im different then most people, but I wouldnt want to fly all the way from the west coast to Europe to see cc and ocean. I really like this itinerary. I like an even mix of ports and sea days when I cruise.

 

[Ofinn]

When we sailed the Wonder Mexico trip (02/26/12) we had great weather throughout. But on the second to last day we left Cabo and rounded the point. As soon as we hit the west side the ship was just buffeted by serious winds. The creaking in our cabin was so loud it kept me awake that night and one of the chairs at the dining table in our cabin tipped over in the night (we were in the 2br suite). It continued through most of the next day. There was very little rain (mostly spitting), but the swells were huge (roughly 25 ft), and according to the weather screen on the television in our cabin the winds were sustained 70 knots (roughly 80 miles an hour) with gusts to 90 for most of that day. The ship was really rocking - there was a lot of roll. The adult pool was sending 2-3 foot waves of water across the deck. They closed the Promenade on deck 4. There were a lot of reports of seasickness and there seemed to be very few people out and about.

We were fortunately not bothered by it (the kids loved it), but I was impressed by how well the ship handled it. The Wonder just plowed through it. To be honest, I actually enjoyed it as well: it was a reminder that the Wonder wasn't a floating hotel, but a ship at sea.

I cant believe they did mexican Riviera in Feb. I cant think of a worse time of year to be out on the pacific.

 

[kerry1379]

2015 was notable for a very unusual drift of ice south. Kinda like the Titanic days. Today's cruise ship are not at all built to play around with ice.

AKK

Perhaps this is a kind of a dumb question but why then do they do cruises to places like Alaska? I know they only go in the summer when I presume the ice is less, but there is still ice. I am asking because on one hand I would LOVE to do an Alaskan cruise someday but on the other hand, Titanic would be on my mind a whole lot more than I would like. Thanks in advance for any insight!
Kerry

 

[arlopop]

I cant believe they did mexican Riviera in Feb. I cant think of a worse time of year to be out on the pacific.

It was really fine weather up until those last two days. As I understand it was less a problem of a Pacific winter storm than the convergence of high and low pressure fronts creating serious winds (those isobars were really tight).

 

[SillyInventor]

When we sailed the Wonder Mexico trip (02/26/12) we had great weather throughout. But on the second to last day we left Cabo and rounded the point. As soon as we hit the west side the ship was just buffeted by serious winds. The creaking in our cabin was so loud it kept me awake that night and one of the chairs at the dining table in our cabin tipped over in the night (we were in the 2br suite). It continued through most of the next day. There was very little rain (mostly spitting), but the swells were huge (roughly 25 ft), and according to the weather screen on the television in our cabin the winds were sustained 70 knots (roughly 80 miles an hour) with gusts to 90 for most of that day. The ship was really rocking - there was a lot of roll. The adult pool was sending 2-3 foot waves of water across the deck. They closed the Promenade on deck 4. There were a lot of reports of seasickness and there seemed to be very few people out and about.

We were fortunately not bothered by it (the kids loved it), but I was impressed by how well the ship handled it. The Wonder just plowed through it. To be honest, I actually enjoyed it as well: it was a reminder that the Wonder wasn't a floating hotel, but a ship at sea.

A bit of the same thing on our recent WBPC. Sunny, hot and great, until we came arounde the point after leaving Cabo. Temperature dropped, winds came in. We kept the winds on the next repo up to Vancouver. I enjoyed it as you wrote: now we know we're on a ship, but I read of people leaving the ship in San Francisco because of sickness.

 

[dcassetta]

Perhaps this is a kind of a dumb question but why then do they do cruises to places like Alaska? I know they only go in the summer when I presume the ice is less, but there is still ice. I am asking because on one hand I would LOVE to do an Alaskan cruise someday but on the other hand, Titanic would be on my mind a whole lot more than I would like. Thanks in advance for any insight!
Kerry

Cruise Lines, including Disney, sail to Alaska in the summertime, generally May to September. In general the areas for the ship sails are ice free, particularly the inside passage going from Vancouver up to Juneau. When sailing through some of the fjords and into glacier Bay, there is some ice present, but most of it's very small. There are no titanic size icebergs to be concerned about. And if there were the ships would not sail it. Also, when traveling in the fjords and bays where ice is present, the ships move very slowly.