Where does the boat go on a day at sea?

[over50visits]

Just back from the 4-day wonder cruise. I took my GPS along to track our course; on Wednesday (day at sea) it showed we were just south of Freeport City in Grand Bahama. I looked to the horizon and sure enough, there was the city and land less than 20 miles off portside. Later, though, it was off starboard! Looks like the Captain was steaming "in circles."

I asked an officer about our route. He said that, because of the NW winds, the captain chose a route that would let the island block some of the wind effect, thus reducing any ship movement (rocking). We were also crusing along at a roaring 7 knots; he said the slower speed in our seas (swells to 3') allowed the stablizers to do their job. It was well done, we had a smooth day. The wisdom of that route made sense, because as soon as we left the protection of the island and headed north last night back to Canaveral, the seas became rough from the full effect of the winds.

Looks like there is no set course, the captain will find the calmest waters and to there, and sometimes (as we did) literally steam around in a circle!

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I just always assumed that they headed to their next port of call and just travelled real slow. At least that seemed to be the case back when they would make the day at sea on a 4-day be the first rather than last day.

 

[jrabbit]

The other place they go on the 4 night sea day is to where ever the sun is. They want the day to be as plesant as possible. In the summer with the thunder storms and the rain, the captain plots the course to where the sun breaks are.

 

[kcashner]

The captain has total flexibility in where the ship goes. Of course, barring some emergency (usually weather related), it will go to the scheduled ports of call. How it gets there and at what speec is completely at the discretion of the captain and senior officers.

Of course, DCL wants to provide us with the most pleasant cruise possible. To that end, the ship will go where there is sun, avoid storms, etc. On one cruise, the captain told us that he was going to go very quickly back toward Port Canaveral and get as close to the port as NASA would allow in order for us to view the shuttle launch from the sea. We would then "overnight" very close to the port (just sort of floating there) since we couldn't pull into port till the next morning. Not a typical cruise, but one with great guest relations!

 

[flexsmom]

Last October on the 4-day Wonder I think we were the only ship in the area that had a sunny sea day! The Captain sailed us out of a nasty storm when we left Nassau and we had a beautiful day at sea. At the airport on our way out a lady next to me was complaining about how horrible the weather had been on her Norwegian cruise - they had been docked next to us in Nassau and evidently their Captain went the wrong way!