Cruise.....

Wow. It always amazes me that those big cruise ships are not prepared for heavy seas. We've all seen the videos of tables, chairs and pianos sliding across the dining room, and heard stories of things flying around and smashing.

Then to take that ungainly monstrosity INTO heavy seas knowing this. And with paying passengers aboard. Just wow.

Proves once again though that the boat/ship can usually take more than the passengers. Definitely a pucker moment!

Revenue. That's all it's about. They had to have that boat in NY.

Whatever the cruise lines use for weather safety margin needs more margin.

They have a safety margin?? When did that happen?!?!

I wonder how many passengers have knee, neck, or back pain.

"I wonder how many passengers have knee, neck, or back pain."

The Liars for Hire will be lining up to assure every sole on board was traumatized.

FF said:

"I wonder how many passengers have knee, neck, or back pain."

The Liars for Hire will be lining up to assure every sole on board was traumatized.

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I'm not a lawyer/legal action type and believe that in many if not most cases you-know-what happens, deal with it. I gotta say though that after watching the video I can't blame anyone on that ship who takes some sort of action. Gross negligence comes to mind and I would think that no matter how used to the sea you are that trip could easily change you. People go on a cruise for fun not to be traumatized.

My bride loves "cruise boats" - the redeeming feature is she loves our boat more. I could never see paying through the nose for sea duty - unless it's on my terms. The windage on those things defies my imagination.

Why do people think cruises are so much cheaper during November to March ??

If the passengers estimated 30 foot seas....they were probably 20 feet. A brand new, 145,000 ton, 1063 foot long ship was not in danger.

If you go on a ski trip, you deal with cold weather.
If you go to Florida in the summer, you deal with rain.
If you go on a cruise ( especially in the winter ) you deal with the ocean.

Anyone on a cruise who doesn't realize that those conditions are possible has their head in the sand.

For every passenger that complained about the conditions, there would have been 5 who complained if they altered course and got back a day later.

I don't see how cold weather on a ski trip or afternoon Florida rain compare to this cruise.

"......encountered stronger than forecasted weather conditions....."

That's a load of BS. "The Bomb" had been predicted for DAYS earlier (I was sick of hearing about it).

I’m guessing same old story. Capt says is doable but would not recommend. (Best case scenario)

Norwegian says get it back so we can make the next scheduled departure.
The forecast was pretty well known and accurate. Just a calculated risk to chase the almighty $$$$

Benthic2 said:

Why do people think cruises are so much cheaper during November to March ??

If the passengers estimated 30 foot seas....they were probably 20 feet. A brand new, 145,000 ton, 1063 foot long ship was not in danger.

If you go on a ski trip, you deal with cold weather.
If you go to Florida in the summer, you deal with rain.
If you go on a cruise ( especially in the winter ) you deal with the ocean.

Anyone on a cruise who doesn't realize that those conditions are possible has their head in the sand.

For every passenger that complained about the conditions, there would have been 5 who complained if they altered course and got back a day later.

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I understand your point, but it all goes out the window when everything is coming off the shelves and water is coming in the ship. A flooding ship far surpasses "unrealistic passenger expectations".

Ted

Agreed, I would think that any reasonable expectation did not include this happening!

More often than not, the water in the stairwells is swimming pool over flow because someone didn't drain the pool(s)

Edit:
I just looked at pictures of the ship.....it has 2 water parks on the upper deck and 5 different water slides.....there's the water source.

Sounds like you think that it wasn't that bad and that everyone should have gone gambling or to a show and forgotten about that nasty pool water. I do see that the double doors in one pic are sand bagged. Seems like the pool water would have sloshed itself out, made its way down and then been done. Not to change the subject but...just where do sand bags come from on a friggin' cruise?!?!

Been through/near two hurricanes on Norwegian Cruise Line mid-sized ships (80,000 to 90,000+ tons). First time we were heading directly into the waves in the dark. Spray came up to over the 14th deck. Second time (ship's maiden cruise), 50-foot waves came from the sstarboard stern quarter, creating a rolling movement. While eating breakfast, my cereal bowl spilled in my lap and my chair fell backward. Later wrenched my knee when slipping on a wooden floor. Never felt unsafe, however.

We don't know how long there was water running on the stairs.....it may have only been for a few minutes...

Where else would the water come from ? The open decks are 15 stories above the water line.....you think waves are going that high ??

The fact that there are sandbags handy shows that this isn't that rare an occurance.

I'm not saying that this wasn't a bad day for these passengers.....but I'm saying the interviews shown are probably over stating the incident and while there may have been some discomfort, there was no danger. That potential discomfort is why prices are so low this time of year.

When you pay $20 for Laker's tickets, you don't expect to be courtside. When you get half price ski lift tickets in April ( in New England anyway...) you don't expect 60 inches of groomed packed powder on 100% of the trails. When you buy day old bread at the bakery.....well....you get my point.

I feel strongly that any problems experienced by the passengers were based in their expectations. I didn't see anything in the video that was the slightest bit alarming, but I understand why some passengers would be upset. Hell, I don't sweat heavy weather while flying but I've certainly seen people crying and praying in flight. I've worked aboard passenger ships and have certainly experienced some significant weather. What determined the outcome of the cruise was the expectations of the passengers. The ship in question sustained no damage and no one was hurt.

firstbase said:

I'm not a lawyer/legal action type and believe that in many if not most cases you-know-what happens, deal with it. I gotta say though that after watching the video I can't blame anyone on that ship who takes some sort of action. Gross negligence comes to mind and I would think that no matter how used to the sea you are that trip could easily change you. People go on a cruise for fun not to be traumatized.

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Really?
You think that just because the ship encountered weather the line owes something to the passengers? Negligence on the part of the line? . They didn't die, or suffered life threatening injury. Who in their right mind goes to sea in a ship and doesn't think that there could be adverse weather?. Yes it wasn't fun but Marge and Bob from Nebraska got a story they can share for the next few months. I would be surprised if when you step aboard a ship that you absolve the Line from weather related legalities.
The sheep on the ship likely felt threatened out of lack of knowledge of the sea and the capabilities of the ship.
HOLLYWOOD

Just another example of the wussification of the world. Well, western culture, at least.

Quite possibly the only time I would consider paying to go on a cruise ship, would be if they guaranteed adverse weather.

Oh no!. Things fell off the shelves on a boat. Sue someone.
What a world we live in!

OK, went back and looked at some more videos from the cruise...maybe I'm being a little off the wall and you guys are correct for the most part. They weren't in real danger of sinking or anything but it seems that they were told little to nothing. For anyone who is not used to the water and weather it had to be frightening. I think the inexperienced go on a ship thinking it is nothing but a floating hotel... which it is in most conditions...thats pretty much the selling point of a cruise. No one talks about the sea to them and they just don't know. Still think it was a simple P&L driven decision though and the "Gee, we didn't know it would be that bad" excuse was bogus.

Northern Spy said:

Just another example of the wussification of the world. Well, western culture, at least.

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More like the greedification of the legal industry.

Anyway, I can guarantee there is a weather clause in the contract/agreement they signed when they bought the ticket.

Benthic2 said:

We don't know how long there was water running on the stairs.....it may have only been for a few minutes...

Where else would the water come from ? The open decks are 15 stories above the water line.....you think waves are going that high ??

The fact that there are sandbags handy shows that this isn't that rare an occurance.

I'm not saying that this wasn't a bad day for these passengers.....but I'm saying the interviews ....

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I'm a New Yorker. I LOVE New Yorkers. But most NYers who watch that know what the deal is. Be on tv, the check will be in the mail. They want a free trip out of it.

Sure the wx was rough and I'm sure pitching and rolling for those who expect a cruise ship to be a floating hotel/casino.
That's how it's sold and that's what they get 98% of the time.

I'd love to know the real roll was. You'd think someone would have downloaded the Clinometer app.

As for the 30' waves. What can i say.

I think the only thing you can count on out of that report is that it presented maximum possible drama. As for actual information - fugettaboutit.

Tom.B said:

More like the greedification of the legal industry.

Anyway, I can guarantee there is a weather clause in the contract/agreement they signed when they bought the ticket.

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They go hand in hand. [emoji3]

Just because someone is unfamiliar with ships and weather at sea and is frightened by it, doesn’t make them wusses or emblematic of a failed society. People have different tolerances and something that terrifies you might be a speed bump to me . . . and vice versa. If there’s anyone to fault in this it appears to be the line’s lousy customer service. Why would anyone operating a ship go dark on communications in extreme circumstances? Recognizing that your customers are distressed — likely having heard about the “bomb cyclone” they’re headed for — and reassuring them that things are OK is customer service 101.