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More Itineraries Changed for Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

Melissa Mayntz
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More Itineraries Changed for Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

Due to ongoing engine issues, Royal Caribbean International has altered the remainder of the Alaska itineraries for Quantum of the Seas this season. Changes include dropping scenic glacier sailing days, replacing ports of call, and altering port times to accommodate the vessel’s slower speeds.

August and September Itineraries Changed

The impacted itineraries for the Quantum-class ship include embarkation dates in late August, 22 and 29, as well as all September departure dates: 5, 12, 19, and 26. Previously, the August 1, 8, and 15 sailings were similarly changed.

Quantum of the Seas is offering 7-night roundtrip Alaska sailings from Seattle, with two different itineraries scheduled.

Depending on the itinerary for each sailing date, scenic cruising for Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier is being removed, and port time in Juneau is being slightly extended. Alternatively, sailings slated to have visited Icy Strait Point will now visit Ketchikan instead.

In emails sent to booked guests to notify them of the itinerary changes, the reasoning is given as “due to speed limitations caused by a technical issue with one of the ship’s engines.”

Quantum, of the Seas Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Venturelli Luca / Shutterstock

These issues have been ongoing with Quantum of the Seas for several weeks. Supply chain issues have delayed the delivery of replacement parts necessary to repair the problem so the ship could resume speeds essential to complete the original itineraries.

“While we’re doing everything we can to expedite this, the global supply chain situation that we’re all experiencing is further impacting the delay,” Royal Caribbean said in an earlier statement when the itinerary changes were first announced.

No safety mechanisms aboard the ship have been compromised, and no hotel operations are impacted. Only the ship’s cruising speed is affected.

Assistant Vice President for Guest Experience, Aurora Yera Rodriguez has also communicated with guests about the decision to remove the glacier viewing.

“We’ve been working tirelessly to find a way to visit Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier for your sailing, but this would result in drastically reduced port times. And given that there’s always a risk of missing the Glacier due to weather, it’s best to go with the surer option of keeping better times in port,” Rodriguez said in an earlier communication.

Any pre-paid Royal Caribbean shore excursions on these altered itineraries are being automatically rebooked or refunded as necessary.

Compensation Offered – Is It Enough?

The cruise line is offering onboard credit to compensate guests for missing what is often a highlight of any Alaskan cruise.

The amount of the credit varies based on stateroom, with $75 USD for interior and oceanview staterooms, $100 for balconies, and $200 for suites. These amounts are per stateroom, not per guest, and are refundable. Any unused amount remaining at the end of the cruise will be returned to guests’ cards on file.

Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Mohd Syis Zulkipli / Shutterstock

Many guests are understandably upset at missing out on impressive at-sea glacier viewing opportunities, but it should be noted that summer weather in Alaska can always be fickle.

Glaciers are often obscured by heavy fog or rain, and poor weather conditions can make it impossible for cruise ships to maneuver safely for the best views.

Cruise lines often have to alter itineraries for a variety of reasons, and while offering compensation is a courtesy to make up for any inconvenience or disappointment, it is not required. Cruise ticket contracts always include language about the possibility of changes, and guests agree to abide by those contracts when they book a cruise vacation.

After finishing the Alaska season with the September 26 sailing, Quantum of the Seas is scheduled for a one-way voyage to Hawaii, and then another one-way sailing from Hawaii to Australia, where she will begin the Down Under summer season from Brisbane.

No announcement has yet been made about any alterations to the ship’s post-Alaska itineraries.

Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Reaches Major Construction Milestone

Robert McGillivray
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Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Reaches Major Construction Milestone

Just a week after her sistership was handed over to Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Viva took to the water for the very first time today, August 2. The cruise ship, under construction at the Marghera shipyard owned by Fincantieri in Italy, is the second of six Prima-class cruise ships on order with Norwegian Cruise Line. 

Several executives of Norwegian Cruise Line and Fincantieri celebrated the major construction milestone at the shipyard.

Norwegian Viva Float Out Ceremony

Although global supply issues have set the construction of Norwegian Viva and her sister Norwegian Prima back somewhat, Norwegian Cruise Line still has enough to celebrate.

After Norwegian Prima was officially handed over by the shipyard to the cruise line last week, there was another occasion to celebrate today, as Norwegian Viva took to the water for the first time.

Norwegian Viva Float Out
Photo Copyright: Camilla Bach / Fincantieri

The float-out is an important milestone in the construction of a cruise ship and was celebrated by Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, and Antonio Quintano, shipyard director of Fincantieri, by welding a commemorative coin into the ship. 

Norwegian Viva will be Norwegian Cruise Line’s nineteenth cruise ship and the second of six ships in the Prima-class.

Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line: “The float out of Norwegian Viva has been much anticipated and it’s an incredibly proud day for us all. As our nineteenth ship and the second in our innovative Prima Class, Norwegian Viva continues to represent our ongoing commitment to giving guests the best holiday experience imaginable.”

“With Norwegian Viva’s name meaning ‘to be alive’, and her motto being ‘Live it Up’, we simply cannot wait to put this into practice and welcome guests on board soon for the vacation of a lifetime.”

The float-out marks the completion of the external work of the vessel, such as the striking artwork designed by Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita.

Norwegian Viva Float Out
Photo Copyright: Camilla Bach / Fincantieri

Going forward, the focus will be on completing the interior of the 142,500 gross ton cruise ship and the cabins for the 3,215 passengers that will be sailing onboard the ship from mid-2023. 

Norwegian Viva’s design is focused on the features that Norwegian Cruise Line is well known for, freedom to move around, an innovative configuration, and energy efficiency by optimizing fuel consumption at sea and reducing the environmental impact. 

First Cruise On July 3, 2023

With a slight delay of just over two weeks, Norwegian Viva is expected to make her debut on July 3, 2023. She will spend her inaugural season in Europe, sailing in the eastern and western Mediterranean and Western Europe. 

Her maiden voyage will take her from Trieste, Italy, to Athens, Greece. Along the way, the vessel will stop in Ravenna, Italy; Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Mykonos, and Santorini, Greece; and Kusadasi and Istanbul, Turkey, arriving in Athens on July 12.

Norwegian Viva Cruise Ship
Render Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line

The European season will be very port-intensive, with the ship also visiting Spain, France, Portugal, the UK, Belgium, and The Netherlands. 

On November 16, 2023, the ship is scheduled to begin her first transatlantic crossing, sailing from Lisbon, Portugal, on an 11-day cruise heading to New York City, calling in Madeira, the Azores, and Bermuda along the way.

From Mid-December 2023 through April 2024, Norwegian Viva will be based in Puerto Rico, sailing on a series of eastern Caribbean itineraries. 

Through 2027, Norwegian Cruise Line intends to bring out at least four more Prima-Class cruise ships, releasing a new vessel each year. 

Carnival Cruise Line Clarifies Which Sailings Require Testing

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Line Clarifies Which Sailings Require Testing

With more and more cruise lines gradually eliminating pre-cruise COVID-19 testing for shorter voyages, it can be confusing which sailings still do require tests not because of the voyage length, but because of the ports that will be visited.

Carnival Cruise Line has clarified which sailings, even short ones, that still require all guests to have a negative test result before embarkation.

In a post to his Facebook page, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald has clarified that all guests, regardless of vaccination status, must still have a negative pre-cruise COVID-19 test prior to sailing to some destinations, no matter what the length of the cruise.

“I am here to help as many of you as I can and of course the fluid situation we in the cruise industry find ourselves in was made very obvious again last night with the latest news on testing,” Heald said, referencing that different cruise lines do have different requirements.

Heald went on to simplify Carnival Cruise Line’s testing requirements, stating that testing is still required for all passengers on all cruises, regardless of length, that call on any ports in Bermuda, The Bahamas, or Grand Cayman.

Carnival Cruise Ships in Grand Cayman
Photo Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line

To be clear, cruises sailing to Kings Wharf (Bermuda) as well as George Town (Grand Cayman), still require pre-cruise testing.

Similarly, all cruises to any port of call in The Bahamas – Nassau, Freeport, Bimini, and even the cruise line’s private island destinations, Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays – require that all passengers have a negative test result before embarkation.

It does not matter if the cruise has other ports of call on its itinerary; if the sailing visits any of the ports listed above, tests are still required at this time.

This clarification comes just days before Carnival Cruise Line’s new testing protocols go into effect on August 4, which state that testing is no longer required for fully vaccinated guests on cruises of five days or less.

Guests booked on short sailings should not, however, that the updated protocols do clearly state that the requirements apply “except where destination requirements differ” – a distinction that is made several times on the cruise line’s Have Fun. Be Safe. protocols page.

“I know this is disappointing news,” Heald said. “This was of course not what we wanted but proof again that we have to abide by the ever changing rules and requirements of the places we visit.”

On all cruises of six nights or longer, pre-cruise tests are still required for all passengers regardless of ports of call, embarkation port, or vaccination status.

Short Sailings That Do NOT Require Testing

This clarification may be disappointing to a number of guests booked on short 3-4 night sailings, as many of those cruises sail solely to The Bahamas. Because of the destination requirements, those cruises still require a pre-cruise test.

Carnival Cruise Ships
Photo Credit: Russell Otway

There are several Carnival cruise options coming in the next few weeks that will not require testing for vaccinated guests, however, such as:

  • 5-night Western Caribbean sailings from New Orleans aboard Carnival Valor, Mobile on Carnival Ecstasy, or Galveston on Carnival Breeze that call on Cozumel and Progreso or Costa Maya, Mexico
  • 5-night Western Caribbean sailings from Tampa on Carnival Paradise visiting Mahogany Bay, Honduras and Cozumel, Mexico
  • 5-night Western Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral aboard Carnival Freedom visiting Amber Cove and Grand Turk
  • 4-night Baja Mexico itineraries from Long Beach aboard Carnival Radiance visiting Ensenada and Catalina
  • 3-4-night Baja Mexico cruises from San Francisco aboard Carnival Miracle or from Long Beach aboard Carnival Radiance calling only on Ensenada, Mexico
  • 4-night Western Caribbean sailings from New Orleans aboard Carnival Valor or from Tampa aboard Carnival Paradise, only visiting Cozumel, Mexico
  • 4-night Western Caribbean voyages from Miami aboard Carnival Conquest or Carnival Sunrise that visit Key West and Cozumel

These short itineraries still offer guests a variety of cruise vacation options on many different Fun Ships if they prefer not to test before sailing.

Testing Guidelines Changing on Other Cruise Lines

While several other cruise lines have also begun to drop pre-cruise testing requirements for shorter sailings, including MSC Cruises (sailings from August 8) as well as Royal Caribbean International and its sister lines, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea (sailings from August 8), testing remains in place for most longer itineraries.

Guests booked on any upcoming cruises should stay in close contact with their cruise line as their embarkation date approaches, as protocols are likely to continue to evolve and testing requirements may continue to change on short notice at scheduled ports of call.

Construction Underway on Two New Caribbean Cruise Ports

Robert McGillivray
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Construction Underway on Two New Caribbean Cruise Ports

With construction on the new Cabo Rojo cruise port well underway, the Dominican Republic aims to become the Caribbean’s top cruise destination. 

Set to open towards the end of 2023, the new cruise port is a $126 million project that will have space for four cruise ships at any one time and is filled with activities close by, while the area itself is one of the top destinations on the island.

At the same time, the country is investing in the Samana cruise port, which could bring back ships from Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. Executives from both cruise lines recently attended the groundbreaking ceremony. 

Port Cabo Rojo Cruise Ship Terminal

In a bid to become the biggest cruise destination in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is investing heavily in its cruise infrastructure. The country already hosts some of the busiest cruise ports in the area, including Amber Cove, Puerto Plata, Isla Catalina, La Romana, Punta Cana, and the capital of Santo Domingo.

“We have had a great boom in cruise ships and we intend to continue expanding, we are talking about having a projection of going from three to six terminals. Cases like Cabo Rojo in Pedernales, with the new terminal, Barahona; a province where it has always dreamed of receiving cruise ships and we are already working on a plan, as well as in Samaná and Arroyo Barril, which will be carried out through Public Private Partnerships”, said Port Authority executive director Jean Luis Rodríguez.

Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic
Photo Credit: Dominican Republic

With a new 126 million dollar cruise port under construction at Puerto Cabo Rojo, the country is getting ready for significantly more cruise ship passengers over the coming years. Once complete, the Puerto Cabo Rojo cruise port will have a maximum capacity of over a million cruise ship passengers annually.

The area will have four berths, entertainment, shopping, a spa, a beach area, and a water park. Set to be complete by the end of 2023, it will make the port one of the more prominent players in the Caribbean.

Port Cabo Rojo Groundbreaking Ceremony
Port Cabo Rojo Groundbreaking Ceremony

The plans for building the port at Cabo Rojo are not surprising. The area is one of the most beautiful in the Dominican Republic and is famous for its stretched-out white sand beaches and wildlife; its turquoise waters are also home to some of the Caribbean Sea’s best-preserved coral reefs. 

While construction here began last month, the Dominican Republic is also expanding its cruise ship operations in the Samaná Bayport. 

Ground Breaking Ceremony For Expansion of Samaná Bayport

Last week saw the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of another popular cruise port in the Dominican Republic. The Samaná Bayport will be one of the biggest tourist destinations in the Dominican Republic, capable of handling 10,000 passengers per day, bringing it in line with Puerto Plata.

Already a popular stopover port for Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, the groundbreaking ceremony for a new terminal building, restaurants, retail shops, piers for water transport and excursions, marina, information center, and recreation areas were attended to by officials from Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean.

Samaná Bayport Groundbreaking Ceremony
Samaná Bayport Groundbreaking Ceremony

It makes clear the intense interest of the cruise industry to expand to new and newly developed destinations. The port, which will be completed in late 2023 or early 2024, will have space for one vessel at a new floating pier and several anchorage positions. 

Situated at the island’s Northern coastline, Samana is ideally located for cruises that visit the eastern Caribbean but also sailing from New York, Boston, and other homeports on the easter seaboard. 

The area is particularly popular because it is one of the best places in the world to watch Humpback whales which use the site each year for mating and giving birth. 

Between the two ports, the Dominican Republic expects to welcome more than 20,000 passengers per day more than what it is capable of handling currently.

MSC Cruises Drops Pre-Cruise Testing from U.S. Ports

Robert McGillivray
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MSC Cruises Drops Pre-Cruise Testing from U.S. Ports

MSC Cruises has updated its health and safety protocols for sailing from the United States. In response to the CDC lifting the voluntary program for cruise ships, the cruise line is removing the need for providing a negative test result on sailings of five nights and below. 

The cruise company also introduced less strict measures for unvaccinated guests and removed the need for PCR testing; instead, stating a negative antigen or NAAT test will suffice. For cruises of six nights and longer, guests will still need to provide a negative test result. 

MSC Cruises Drops Testing On Shorter Sailings

Following in the footsteps of other major cruise companies, MSC Cruises has made several changes to its health and safety protocols for cruises sailing from the United States. The changes follow the lifting of the voluntary Program for Cruise Ships from the CDC several weeks ago.

The new protocols will be in effect from August 8, 2022, onwards. They include that all fully vaccinated guests sailing on a cruise of five nights or shorter will no longer be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result before sailing. Instead, the cruise line only recommends getting tested before sailing.

MSC Testing
Photo Credit: MSC Cruises

For all unvaccinated guests aged two years and up, a lab-administered negative viral test (NAAT or antigen) taken within three days of embarkation is needed for all cruises from U.S. ports. The same policy counts for all cruises onboard MSC cruise ships sailing itineraries six days and longer from U.S. ports. 

No Changes To Vaccination Policies

For all cruises sailing from the United States, there will be no changes to the vaccination policies that are in place currently. This means that all guests ages 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

MSC Cruises recommends that fully vaccinated guests receive booster doses when eligible, per CDC recommendations. 

MSC Meraviglia in Miami, Florida
Photo Courtesy: MSC Cruises

If and when the vaccination policies will change depending on the pandemic conditions and port requirements outside of the U.S., MSC Cruises says the goal is to relax testing and vaccination protocols to open cruising to all guests when possible. A statement that is quite significant given the cryptic messages from Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line last week.

Whether that statement holds any salt right now remains to be seen, with cruise executives seemingly hesitant to push for too many changes too soon.

Major Changes In Cruise Industry

In the last few weeks, we have seen some significant changes to protocols in the cruise industry. Some cruise lines have removed testing entirely or created protocols that only require guests to test on shorter cruises, such as MSC, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Cruise Line. 

The changes have been a long time coming. In August 2020, MSC Cruises was one of the first cruise lines to resume operations in what was essentially the middle of the pandemic.

MSC Grandiosa Health Measures

Since then, we’ve seen the introduction of vaccine mandates, testing before sailing, and multiple other initiatives that have paved the way and made it possible for cruise companies to introduce the current procedures. 

However, the step to letting go of all those requirements seems to be one that none of the cruise lines is willing to take just yet.

While some cannot wait for the cruise companies to drop the protocols, the fact is that COVID-19 is still here, and the public perception of an outbreak onboard is still something that weighs heavy on the minds of executives. 

For now, the changes we have seen in the last weeks are already a huge step forward and one not many people predicted just a month ago. With that in mind, we could see more changes sooner than we think. 

How Do Cruise Ships Float?

Haiyan Ma
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How Do Cruise Ships Float?

Many people marvel at the sheer size of cruise ships. They secretly wonder how something so large and heavy could move so easily in water or how something that massive could even float in the first place! In this post, we’ll explain how cruise ships float.

The answer to this question boils down to materials, design, water displacement, and buoyancy. So, in short, a combination of design and physical elements.

In This Article…

How Do Cruise Ships Float?

Cruise ships were designed to be massive yet displace the same amount of water that is equivalent to their mass. The ocean’s pressure, at the same time, pushes against the hull of the ship, countering the downward force of the mass of the cruise ship. This downward force in conjunction with the ocean’s upward force work in tandem to make the cruise ship buoyant.

The Science Behind It

This concept is known as Archimedes’ Principle. Archimedes’ Principle teaches that when an item floats, the weight of the displaced water equals the weight of the object. Surrounding fluid will push back with a force that is equal to the displaced amount. When the two forces are equal, the object will float.

In other words, while a cruise ship rests in water, it provides room for its mass by displacing water outward and downward. The opposing forces’ balance is what causes it to float.

Additional Features Supporting Buoyancy

Displacement and buoyancy aren’t the only factors keeping cruise ships floating. There are additional factors in play as well.

Design and Material

To achieve any type of buoyancy, cruise ships must be made of sturdy, lightweight materials that are denser than water, for example, extra-strength steel. Plus, these materials must be used with a design allowing them to displace the weight in water prior to it being submerged.

Most of the design tends to be incorporated into the hull. The hull is the shell or body of the vessel that rests below the main deck. It pushes the water out of the way when the cruise ship is in motion and permits it to float.

Odyssey of the Seas at Shipyard
Photo Via: Meyer Werft

Through years of experimentation, engineers discovered that if they created a wide, rounded, and deep hull, it better disperses the cruise ship’s weight across the body. A large cruise ship will have a hull shaped like a “U.” It permits water to flow away from the cruise ship, creating a smooth ride, dissipating drag, and keeping the cruise ship on schedule.

Other Safety Features and Double Hulls

Cruising smoothly and remaining afloat is not enough for a vessel. The hull design needs to protect guests against reefs, icebergs, and sandbars. These underwater hazards are capable of easily ripping apart a ship’s outer layers, causing damage or sinking it.

Worth Reading: How Much Does a Cruise Ship Weigh?

To protect against this, builders use extra-strength steel. This is used to build vessels containing double hulls (one hull is located inside the other) to provide additional protection. Vessels also have bulkheads helping them float in case the cruise ship receives major damage.

Cruise Ship Hull
Cruise Ship Hull (Photo Credit: Andrew Pridmore / Shutterstock)

The watertight divider is installed through the ship’s interior. It can be closed to prevent water from rushing in if the hull is damaged. Limiting the inflow of water prevents cruise ships from sinking and flooding.

How Does a Ship Stay Standing Up?

With cruise ships testing the limits of height and weight, one must wonder what prevents them from capsizing. The answer to this question rests in the design of the hull. However, to appreciate this, you must first comprehend the differences in a ship’s center of buoyancy and center of gravity.

More Science … Shifting Center of Buoyancy

The center of gravity of a ship (central focus points for gravity’s push downward) can’t be changed. Therefore, a cruise ship’s U-shaped hull is created so the center of buoyancy shifts naturally as the vessel tilts sides. This change in center of buoyancy helps to push the ship back to its upright position, no matter how large it is.

Cruise Ship Buoyancy
Cruise Ship Buoyancy (Image Credit: Fouad A. Saad / Shutterstock)

Center of Gravity

If everything contained on a ship weighed the same, the center of gravity should be in the middle. However, engines, machinery, and fuel weigh much more than things like passenger spaces, cabins, or theaters.

This creates an effect where the center of gravity is placed downward. The center of gravity for a cruise ship is toward the bottom half of the vessel.

Maintaining Centerline

When ships are upright, the force pushing it can swing past the centerline, causing it to tilt to the opposing side. This is known as rolling, which can cause passengers to experience seasickness. To address this issue, cruise lines contain several features limiting the roll of the ship.

Ship Rocking
Photo Credit: J. Helgason / Shutterstock

This includes stabilizing fins located below water and an active ballast tanks/anti-heeling system. An anti-heeling system rapidly pumps the sea water located below the waterline into holding tanks found on one side to the other. This will correct sideways leans.

Conclusion

The stabilizing features of cruise ships are very effective. In fact, these vessels are so well made that it is rare for guests to experience or feel side-to-side motion. Even more so, cruise ships never turn over despite being so huge and heavy.

Read Also: Six Types of Ship Rocking You Should Know

Witnessing a large cruise ship slice gracefully through a calm, blue ocean can be quite fascinating. What is more remarkable is learning how these modern marvels are equipped to float on water. When examining how cruise ships float, the answer truly lies in a mixture of scientific principles and design.

Cruise ships were created with not only physics in mind, but also with how to make the ship more durable. While we learned many years ago that no ship is indestructible (Titanic, anyone?), engineers have learned how best to protect passengers on board. This enables the cruise ship to be safe while gracefully gliding through even the most turbulent waters without capsizing.

While the movement looks effortless, there is a great deal of engineering beneath the surface keeping it afloat.

Cruise Ship vs Giant Wave – How Do the Ships Survive?

Haiyan Ma
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0
Cruise Ship vs Giant Wave – How Do the Ships Survive?

Just looking at a cruise ship makes people wonder how it doesn’t capsize during harsh weather conditions. It looks incredibly top-heavy. So, what happens when a cruise ship hits a giant wave? Who will be the victor in this scenario?

In This Article…

How Cruise Lines Prevent Ships From Tipping Over

Well, before we get into that, there are measures that are put into place to prevent the worst-case scenario from occurring. Cruise lines put a lot of money and effort into ensuring that guests and crew are always kept safe.

Preventative Measures: Monitoring Weather

Modern cruise ships contain the best weather forecasting equipment available. This is far better than what can be searched on your smartphone.

The command center (bridge) has a plethora of satellite images with storms, weather maps, computer models from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and third-party meteorologists. Plus, the officers and crew constantly monitor the forecasting equipment.

Cruise Ship Bridge
Photo Credit: Philip Schubert / Shutterstock

Safety is always a priority for cruise lines. Many use additional layers of precautionary measures in case they encounter a rogue wave. For example, Royal Caribbean hired James Van Fleet in 2017 as the first industry-dedicated meteorologist. James previously worked for 20 years as a television meteorologist.

During seasons of high typhoons and hurricanes (June to November), James is in Royal Caribbean’s Miami headquarters monitoring a wall of weather screens.

He shares this information with 26 different ships plus an executive team. James reports that he can see storms from 7-10 days out. He can advise other ships on ways to avoid it.

Prevention: The Overall Design

Modern ships are designed to withstand heavy weather and remain on schedule. Hurricanes are the largest and most dangerous type of storm any crew may face. No one wants to be caught in the middle of one.

Weight

Cruise ships are made of heavy steel, making them quite weighty. Add passengers and crew, and the ship is even heavier. With all this weight, the vessel can easily roll through rough waters or a rogue wave. It’s more dangerous to be on an empty ship as the additional weight acts as a balancer in rough seas.

Spectrum of the Seas at Meyer Werft Shipyard
Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean

In the roughest waters, the worst that can happen is a ship may tilt to one side. However, this is unlikely. Shipbuilders will test the center of gravity and buoyancy while the ship is being constructed. This involves placing scale models of the ship through different types of storm simulations. They ensure that all cruise ships are designed to handle storms even when it is hurricane season.

Center of Gravity

If the entire weight of the ship was evenly distributed, the center of gravity would be in the middle. However, machinery, engines, fuel stores, and other items weigh more than passenger areas, cabins, restaurants, theaters, etc.

This drags the center of gravity downward. Therefore, a cruise ship’s center of gravity is at the bottom half of the vessel.

Center of Buoyancy

When examining the center of buoyancy, one looks at what parts of the ship are underwater to locate it. All that is needed is finding the center of its water plane area. This involves finding the center of the part of the ship located underwater.

Cruise Ship Bow
Cruise Ship Bow

The buoyancy of anything on the water depends on density. If the object is denser than the surrounding water, the item sinks. If it is less dense, the object floats.

Read Also: Port and Starboard – Which Side Is Which?

What prevents cruise ships from sinking is the opposing upward force and water pressure. The upward force weighs about the same as the displaced water, preventing the cruise ship from sinking.

What Happens During a Storm?

Bad weather can push a cruise ship to one side. The ship remains upright because all the 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 enables it to move smoothly through ocean waters with minimal drag.

A rounded edge increases the stability of a ship, preventing it from rocking and swaying. It also reduces motion sickness.

Cruise Ship Waves
Photo Credit: Steve Heap / Shutterstock

When it comes to balance, cruise ships contain ballast tanks. They have water that can be pumped to either side of the ship. In emergencies, they help keep ships balanced, reduce rocking effects, and counter large waves. Larger vessels will contain several ballast tanks.

What prevents a ship from capsizing is a combined effort of having a low center of gravity, a cruise ship’s buoyancy, and ballasts.

When Will a Ship Be Rerouted?

Unfortunately, captains can’t always avoid every storm. There are many factors at play, like being on a tight schedule, running low on fuel, and trying to minimize costs associated with fuel.

While safety always comes first, captains must assess the situation and do what is best. This involves examining all variables and minimizing potential damage.

Cruise ships will stick to destinations where bad weather can be avoided, like the Caribbean in the winter or the Mediterranean during summertime. However, going to Caribbean destinations is popular with families when children are on summer vacation even though they may face unpredictable weather during hurricane season.

Princess Cruise Ships
Photo Credit: STUDIO MELANGE / Shutterstock

However, if the seas become rough, ships have the technology onboard to stabilize themselves. If there is a serious storm ahead, a cruise ship will try to avoid or outrun it. Ships can be steered away from fog, hurricanes, typhoons, and huge storms.

Even when they encounter the weather, cruise ships will attempt to find the calmest patch of sea. If the storm is unavoidable, the itinerary may be changed, which could involve heading into a different port or lengthening or shortening a cruise by a few days.

All decisions are made in collaboration with the captains, with the safety and comfort of passengers the top priority. Ships can dock in alternate ports, ports can be skipped altogether, or sometimes ships remain at sea for a few hours prior to reaching port.

There are various ways that the captain and crew can handle the situation.

Hurricanes: The Worst-Case Scenario

Storms are a part of life at sea. For the most part, the ship’s captain and crew pay close attention to weather reports. They make informed decisions on their navigation and may need to make some adjustments along the way due to inclement weather. The captain may decide to slow down to miss a storm or change course.

Hurricane in the Caribbean
Photo Credit: Mike Mareen / Shutterstock

But there may be times when a course correction cannot be completed in time and the cruise ship is destined to hit a storm.

The worst storm to encounter is a hurricane. While it is rare to experience this on a cruise ship, we did include it for those who are curious about what would happen in the worst-case scenario. Entering a hurricane would be one of them.

So, who would be the victor between a cruise ship vs giant wave? Cruise ships are designed with proactive measures in place, enabling ships to avoid the effects of going through a storm.

Cruise ships are designed with measures put into place to ensure they’re kept afloat. For the most part, a cruise ship should be able to handle turbulent environments.

Protests In Norway Over Environmental Damage Caused By Cruise Ships

Robert McGillivray
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Protests In Norway Over Environmental Damage Caused By Cruise Ships

As the cruise industry ramps up to 100% operational status, protests over the arrival of cruise ships in environmentally important areas are on the increase as well. 

Although the industry has been adamant that the environmental damage is decreasing due to the introduction of LNG-powered vessels and the promise to be carbon neutral in 2050, protesters in five Norwegian Ports met cruise ship passengers stating their presence is not wanted. 

Protestors campaign against cruise ships in Norway

A campaign group has been meeting arriving cruise ships in five different Norwegian ports to protest against the environmental and social damage the vessels are causing, according to CruiseNOTWelcome. 

The group put up thousands of posters in ports popular along the Norwegian Fjords route, such as Flåm, Trondheim, Stavanger, Bergen, and Oslo.

CruiseNOTWelcome hopes to draw attention to what it calls the detrimental impact the cruise industry has on the environment through carbon emissions, but also dumping of grey water, and unverified accounts of throwing rubbish overboard. 

The posters had writing on them that stated: “Please go back to your boat and tell all on board that you are parasites. You are NOT welcome in Norway!”  others read, “CRUISE? Just don’t!”

Worth Reading: Cruise Passengers to Face New Tourist Tax in Norway

It’s not just the environmental aspect the protestors are campaigning against. The posters state cruise ships are primarily registered in ports of convenience, don’t pay taxes, and the many tourists coming from the ships cause towns to overflow in Norway.

Stavanger, Norway
Stavanger, Norway (Photo Credit: Richard Walker Media / Shutterstock)

The founder of the campaign group, Bengt Erik Waldow, says the following on his website: “We are tired of the cruise shipowners profiting from spying on our common infrastructure while registering their ships with flags of convenience to avoid taxes on labor on turnover on board while giving workers on board miserable working conditions.”

“We are tired of having to queue in our own cities. We are tired of shipowners’ floating hotels being driven by cheap asphalt-like oil that pollutes the air we breathe and contributes to enormous CO2 emissions.”

Cruise Industry In Norway Booming

While there might be protests, the cruise industry continues to receive a warm welcome from most of the residents of the Nordic country. The sector plays a significant role in the development of the tourism industry in the Norwegian Fjords area in particular. So much so that for this year alone, there are more than 2,950 port calls scheduled in the country. 

Norway expects to welcome more than four million cruise passengers this year and onboard more cruise ships than have ever visited the country before.

The government expects a rise in cruise ship calls of around 700 calls over 2019. Much of this has to do with several cruise lines canceling their Baltic cruises due to not being able to visit St. Petersburg.

Cruise Ships in Bergen
Cruise Ships in Bergen (Photo Credit: Knut Steen Rakner / Shutterstock)

In 2017, Norway was the busiest cruise country after traditional cruise countries Spain, Italy, the UK, Germany, and France. The total direct cruise expenditure reached 712 million euros in that year alone. A number that will be nearly doubled according to estimates in 2022. According to CLIA, this growth is achieved together with local governments and communities:

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA): “CLIA and our member lines work closely with communities and local governments in ports and destinations around the world to deliver sustainable tourism.” 

“Our ships are greener and more efficient than ever before, as the industry leads the way in the development of new environmental technologies. Cruise lines have committed to a vision of net-zero carbon cruising by 2050.”

With the increase in cruise ship traffic, it comes as no surprise that some would rather see cruise ships disappear entirely, as we saw in Venice last year. However, the cruise industry does create income for residents, suppliers, agents, and the local tourism industry. 

Banning ships is not the answer to the problems that CruiseNOTWelcome points out. Regulating traffic while decreasing the environmental impact is. Something the cruise industry has been more than willing to work towards in recent years. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Giving Joy to 100 Teachers

Melissa Mayntz
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Norwegian Cruise Line Giving Joy to 100 Teachers

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the finalists of its 2022 “Giving Joy” cruise vacation giveaway, a promotion that draws connections between education and travel and rewards 100 teachers with dream vacations.

Grand Prize Winners, which have not yet been announced, will also receive significant funds for their schools.

Giving Joy Teachers Announced

Now in its third year, the Giving Joy program accepts nominations of teachers, then permits open voting to select which teachers show the greatest dedication and best inspire their students. The top 200 semi-finalists have their credentials and experience verified, before the 100 finalists are announced.

Those 100 deserving teachers have now been revealed, and include educators from all grade levels and subject areas. The 100 finalists come from 27 different U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and two Canadian provinces. Entries were open to all eligible educators in the United States and Canada.

The contest period ran from Teacher Appreciation Week in early May through early June.

Finalists include educators from public and private schools and universities, involved in all types of programs and activities at their respective schools.

“Each of these educators dedicate themselves to their students and their communities. Their role is to broaden their students’ horizons with new experiences, and now we are honored to have the opportunity to do the same for them,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Each of the 100 finalists has won a free cruise for two on an exclusive, 5-night sailing of Norwegian Cruise Line’s upcoming flagship, Norwegian Prima, from October 27-31, 2022. During that sailing from Galveston, Texas, the Grand Prize Winners will be announced, and all finalists and their guests will be treated to a concert by Grammy award-winning pop artist and television star Kelly Clarkson.

“We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate and reward these classroom warriors with an incredible vacation on board our newest, beautiful ship, Norwegian Prima,” said Sommer.

The prize for all finalists also includes airfare, a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, transfers to and from the ship, and other onboard amenities.

Grand Prize Winners Yet to Be Announced

Onboard the celebratory cruise, the three Grand Prize Winners – selected from the pool of 100 finalists – will also be announced at a special award ceremony. The first, second, and third grand prize winners will each receive $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000, respectively for their schools.

A special judging panel will select and verify the grand prize winners.

By the end of 2022, the Giving Joy program will have rewarded 230 teachers across the U.S. and Canada with free cruises and donated over $235,000 to schools since it began in 2019.

Celebrating With Norwegian Prima

It will be a celebration indeed for the finalists, their guests, and everyone aboard Norwegian Prima, as Norwegian Cruise Line welcomes the new ship to the fleet. The first of the new Prima-class of vessels, Norwegian Prima will weigh in at 142,500 gross tons with a capacity of 3,215 guests.

Norwegian Prima Render
Render Courtesy: Norwegian Cruise Line

Onboard, the ship will feature outstanding amenities and venues, including the Prima Speedway, the first three-level go-kart racetrack at sea, the spacious Ocean Boulevard promenade, The Rush, a dueling slide over the ship’s starboard side, The Drop, the first freefall dry slide in the world, a relaxing charcoal sauna, and more than 30 restaurants, bars, and lounges.

The ship has suffered delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, which forced the cancelation of its previously planned inaugural voyage from Amsterdam in mid-August, but no further delays have been announced and the ship is well on its way to welcoming guests as scheduled from Galveston in October, after leaving Europe in early September.

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