Sometimes, cruise ships get diverted due to unexpected circumstances, such as transporting heavy engineering equipment. A modern cruise ship is equipped with stabilizing technology for when it encounters rough seas. However, if the storm is more severe, the ship may try to avoid or overcome it. In most storms, the command center will try to move the ship to a better weather location. Bad weather can cause a cruise ship to stray.
The ship stays upright because all heavy equipment is located below deck, providing a low center of gravity. The shape of a cruise ship's hull is rounded and wide. This allows it to move smoothly through ocean waters with minimal drag. Yes, cruise ships are designed to withstand rough seas.
A ship's steering ability keeps it safe in all sailing conditions. Under heavy storms, the ship needs fast maneuverability to ensure that impacts are minimal. In addition, the steering also helps to ensure safe passage through rising waves. Cruise ships are safe in rough waters and routinely cross waves of up to 15 feet without problems.
Cruise ships have stabilizers to minimize the amount of balance you feel onboard the ship. The captain will order passengers to stay at home if they deem it necessary. When examining the buoyancy center, it is observed which parts of the ship are underwater to locate it. Despite the size of the boat and the stabilizers in some places, you'll still feel the movement of the waves if they're big.
As a cruise passenger, you might feel the waves when you try to walk on the ship, and those who suffer from dizziness are sure to feel it, but that's usually the magnitude of the problems. Despite these precautions, cruise ships cope quite well, even when sailing through the world's most rough ocean. It's more dangerous to travel on an empty ship, as the extra weight acts as a counterweight in rough water. In extreme weather, cruise ships like Anthem of the Seas have successfully navigated 30-foot (9-meter) waves without serious problems or injuries to passengers or crew.
There are many cruise ships that sail through the Caribbean during hurricane season, while most Antarctic cruises will have to cross the famous and rugged Drake Passage. Cruises will choose destinations where bad weather can be avoided, such as the Caribbean in winter or the Mediterranean during summer. The greatest advance for the survival of ships sailing on the high seas is the introduction of the ECDIS in the early 2000s. The captain will keep you informed of how long the storm may last and will let you know if it is necessary to weather the storm.
Ships can dock at alternate ports, they can skip ports altogether, or sometimes ships stay at sea for a few hours before arriving at port. When there are storm surges, the captain can order passengers to stay at home, for the safety of all passengers on the ship and, in the case of passengers with mobility problems, it's a good idea to remain seated. There are no large landmasses in the area, so there is a large, unhindered current flow that carries an enormous volume of water through the passage. If you're traveling on a cruise ship that's sailing through very rough waters, the outer decks may be closed for safety reasons and the ship may need to sail to protect itself from the storm.
Meanwhile, the whole ship creaked, the outer decks were closed, and all aerial or acrobatic shows were canceled.
