Key Aspects:
- Ambience is adjusting three port visits on her current Norway sailing to minimize the impact of Storm Floris.
- No alternative ports are available to compensate for the cancellation, so the ship will spend extra time at sea.
- Storm Floris is impacting the northern UK on Monday and will have its greatest impact on Norway on Tuesday.
Ambassador Cruise Line’s flagship Ambience has needed to shift her itinerary due to the influence of Storm Floris on the northern UK. This means one cancelled port, one shifted port day, and one extended port on the current 7-night sailing.
The 70,285-gross ton ship sailed from Tilbury on Sunday, August 3, on what was to have been a Norwegian fjord adventure. While Ambience will still be visiting Norway, her itinerary has now changed.
“Due to Storm Floris affecting the west coast of Norway, Ambience will now visit Bergen instead of Sandnes on 5 August, and will be extending her time in Alesund on 7 August,” the cruise line notified guests.
“Additionally, as no berths are available in Haugesund or Stavanger on 8 August, Ambience will sail home directly from Alesund to Tilbury.”
This means the ship’s itinerary has changed as follows:
- Sunday, August 3 – Depart Tilbury
- Monday, August 4 – Day at Sea
- Tuesday, August 5 – Bergen (formerly Sandnes)
- Wednesday, August 6 – Geiranger
- Thursday, August 7 – Alesund (time extended)
- Friday, August 8 – Day at Sea (formerly Bergen)
- Saturday, August 9 – Day at Sea
- Sunday, August 10 – Arrive Tilbury
While it may be disappointing to guests to have the itinerary so rearranged, safety is the most important concern. By sailing to Bergen earlier in the cruise, Ambience can better avoid the strongest winds and roughest waves generated by Storm Floris.
Ambience is not the only ship to be shifting course away from the severe storm and its very strong winds.
Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess is sailing a 12-night voyage around the UK and has had to cancel two port visits in Scotland in order to sail into more sheltered waters ahead of the storm. Regal Princess also moved another port call and was able to add an alternative port later in her cruise.
Undoubtedly, other ships on northern UK or Scandinavian itineraries will be keeping a close eye on Storm Floris and will make whatever itinerary adjustments are necessary to enjoy the smoothest sailings.
Storm Floris Moving East
The UK Met Office has continued issuing updates on Storm Floris as the rough weather impacts much of the UK on Monday and Tuesday.
On Monday, August 4, wind gusts of 50-70 miles per hour are expected across the region, with some gusts in coastal areas possibly reaching as high as 80-80 miles per hour.
On Tuesday, August 5, a yellow wind advisory is in effect for the Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands, just 210 miles west of Bergen, Norway.
Similarly, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute has issued both orange and yellow wind warnings for the southern part of the country. Bergen is under a yellow warning, while Stavanger is under an orange warning.
“Early Tuesday strong wind gusts are expected from a southwesterly, later westerly direction, up to 30-35 m/s [67-78 mph]. The strongest wind is expected early Tuesday morning,” the warning notes.
Ambience was to have been visiting Sandnes, just eight miles south of Stavanger in the path of the strongest winds, on Tuesday. Now, the ship will be in Bergen in a more sheltered region with a lower wind advisory.
Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season – What You Must Know!
Whether it is hurricane season in the Caribbean, summer storms across the North Sea, or monsoons near Australia, poor weather can easily impact any cruise in any region.
Cruise lines keep close watch on all weather alerts that may impact their fleet and adjust itineraries as needed to ensure smooth, safe sailing.
