When I think of cruise ship vacations, I have a particular picture in my mind. It involves a huge, luxurious cruise ship, gliding through calm, crystal clear blue water. Above, the sun shines warmly on the deck, and a few seagulls circle overhead. I think of lavish meals and fancy drinks with little multicolored umbrellas sticking out. I dream of wearing cute bikinis and sarongs as I meander through the different decks of the ship, making new friends.
I fantasize of docking in a port to see new and beautiful exotic places I’ve never been to before, somewhere tropical that has touristy restaurants and even fun, exciting excursions. Nighttime involves delicious food and maybe dancing, games, or just strolling on the deck under the clear night sky.
Though this is my idea of a perfect cruise vacation, it’s not necessarily always the case. Sure, most cruise vacations may somewhat resemble my dream cruise experience, but there are times when life (and cruises) just can’t and won’t go according to plan!
Usually, cruise ships pay close attention to weather patterns and do their best to avoid any significant storms.
Harry Bolton, captain of the training ship “Golden Bear” at the California Maritime Academy, told CNN that waves like the ones in the video below are incredibly rare and almost never happen. Well, thank goodness!
“I guarantee you’re never going to be in those kinds of waves anyway. [Cruise ships] avoid bad weather like the plague. They don’t want the passengers in peril; they don’t want to risk any injury or accidents.”
However, the ship Anthem of the Seas found itself in the midst of a huge storm that produced monster waves and winds of 120 mph. While there was little danger of the boat capsizing, it did waver from side to side. There was a danger of people losing their footing or being injured by unsecured items or equipment. Let this be a reminder that even though this is a huge ship, Mother Nature is one powerful force. Thank heavens everyone was safe and made it out ok, minus a few scrapes.
One passenger, a musical performer on the ship, recorded the terrifying experience from his room and you can watch the harrowing video below.
