The expedition cruise ship Ocean Explorer has run aground in a remote fjord of eastern Greenland and may be stuck in position for several days until help can arrive.
A total of 206 passengers and crew are reported aboard, and authorities are in communication with the ship to offer assistance as quickly as possible.
Ocean Explorer Runs Aground
Ocean Explorer ran aground on Monday, September 11, 2023, while sailing in the Northeast Greenland National Park, famous for icebergs, unique wildlife, and being the world’s largest (375,000 square miles) and most northerly national park. The luxury expedition ship was sailing in the Alpefjord in the park’s southeast corner when it ran aground.
At the time of the incident, Joint Arctic Command – the branch of the Danish military responsible for patrolling Greenland – was notified that the ship was unable to free itself. No injuries were reported, and a flyover of the site on Tuesday, September 12, showed no immediate sign of environmental contamination or visible damage.
“A cruise ship in trouble in the National Park is of course worrying. It is far to the nearest help, our units are far away and the weather can be very unfavorable,”said Commander Brian Jensen, Chief of Operations in Arctic Command.
Ocean Explorer Expedition Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Joint Arctic Command)
“In this specific situation, however, we do not see any acute danger to human life or to the environment, which is reassuring. We are of course following the situation closely and take this incident very seriously.”
Joint Arctic Command’s inspection vessel Knud Rasmussen is en route to Ocean Explorer. At the time the grounding report was made, Knud Rasmussen was 1,200 nautical miles (1,380 miles / 2,222 kilometers) from the stranded ship. Officials estimate that Knud Rasmussen will arrive to assist no earlier than Friday morning, September 15, if the weather remains favorable.
The Government of Greenland, the Danish Maritime Authority and the Accident Investigation Commission, as well as the Icelandic Coast Guard and nearby vessels, have all been informed of the incident in case additional assistance is necessary.
Several Possible Options
While there appears to be no immediate danger aboard Ocean Explorer, the ship is endeavoring to free itself with all means possible. Tuesday’s tidal flow, however, was not sufficient to help refloat the ship so it could get underway again.
“They can either try to get free on their own when it gets high tide, they can get help from a nearby cruise ship, they can get help from Knud Rasmussen, or they can get help from one of our partners,”explained Jensen.“Either way, the most important thing for us is that everyone gets to safety.”
Supplies and fuel may be of concern if the ship remains isolated for a lengthy period, but at the moment there are no reports of any potential shortages aboard. Ocean Explorer currently has 206 guests and crew aboard.
Satellite tracking data does show other cruise ships in the vicinity of Ocean Explorer, the closest of which is Silversea Expeditions’ newest ship, Silver Endeavor. The difficulty may be that Silver Endeavor is significantly larger than Ocean Explorer (540 feet long vs. 341 feet long) and may be unable to maneuver close to the stranded ship.
Several other expedition ships are also in nearby fjords, including vessels from Oceanwide Expeditions, Quark Expeditions, and Poseidon Expeditions, as well as another ship from Ocean Explorer’s line, Aurora Expeditions.
About Ocean Explorer
Ocean Explorer is a ice-strengthened vessel built in 2021, with 10 decks and the capacity to welcome as many as 162 guests if fully booked. The ship’s draft is just 17 feet, allowing it to operate safely in relatively shallow water. Fjord depths can vary greatly with tidal flow and local weather patterns, however. It is not known how deep Alpefjord is at this time.
The ship is owned by SunStone Maritime Group, and is currently operated by Aurora Expeditions, which features remote expedition cruising to the Arctic, Antarctica, Costa Rica, Scotland, Norway, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia, and other amazing destinations.
Following the wildfire devastation on Maui in August, Princess Cruises is continuing to change ports of call for Hawaiian sailings even months away.
A substitute port is being provided for the 16-night “Hawaiian Islands” sailing of Crown Princess from San Francisco, though the cruise does not set sail until January 2024.
Itinerary Change for Crown Princess
Princess Cruises has begun reaching out to guests booked on Crown Princess for the ship’s 16-night “Hawaiian Islands” sailing departing on January 7, 2024, to notify them of a port of call change. The ship will still be visiting Hawaii as scheduled, but will not be able to visit Lahaina on the island of Maui.
“Due to the devastating wildfires in Maui the port of Lahaina has suspended cruise operations indefinitely, and Crown Princess will no longer call to Maui (Lahaina),”the notification read.
Instead, Crown Princess will visit Kona on the state’s Big Island at the same day as the visit to Lahaina had been planned – Monday, January 15, 2024. The ship will offer a full day in port from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., giving guests plenty of time to enjoy the tropical destination and discover all that the second-largest settlement on Hawaii (after Hilo) offers.
All pre-booked Princess shore excursions for Lahaina will be cancelled and refunded to guests’ original form of payment, though the exact timing of refunds will vary depending on the policies of each traveler’s financial institution.
Photo Credit: Drew Rawcliffe / Shutterstock
Shore excursions for Kona will be available for guests to book within the next two weeks. Popular options in Kona often include visiting the amazing Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, exploring underwater wildlife via a glass-bottomed boat or snorkeling tour, up close whale watching tours, historical explorations, and much more.
Other ports of call on the roundtrip sailing from San Francisco include Nawiliwili on Kauai; Honolulu on Oahu; Hilo on the Big Island; and after leaving Hawaii, a brief stop in Ensenada, Mexico before returning to California.
The 113,561-gross ton Crown Princess is Grand class vessel (occasionally referred to as modified Grand class or Crown class), able to welcome 4,800 guests aboard with an international crew of 1,200 team members to provide superior service.
At the moment, the ship is finishing her Alaska season with cruises from Vancouver, after which she will offer one Hawaiian sailing (which also will not be calling on Lahaina) before repositioning to homeport from San Francisco.
From the Bay Area, Crown Princess will offer California Coast sailings, shorter west coast getaways, and Mexican Riviera itineraries, as well as additional Hawaii cruises.
Reasoning for the Change
This itinerary adjustment is no surprise, given the massive destruction wrought by wildfires one month ago. In just two days, a brutal wildfire burned much of Lahaina to ashes and destroyed approximately 80% of the town with more than 110 confirmed deaths.
“Our thoughts are with the residents of Maui who have experienced tragic loss,”Princess Cruises’ email to guests read.
Even before the fire was fully extinguished, cruise lines immediately responded by cancelling or rescheduling port of call visits. This included rescheduling calls to other parts of Maui to avoid stressing local resources at such a critical time.
While Lahaina has not yet reopened to cruise travel and there is no timeline announced for when the town may be ready to receive visitors again, other parts of Maui are again welcoming tourists in an effort to recoup the tourist revenue that is so critical for the local economy.
With Princess Cruises making this itinerary change so far in advance – more than four months before setting sail – guests can ensure they are prepared for their scheduled ports of call by adjusting any independent tour options as needed, or otherwise choosing the best shore excursions to make the most of their visit to Kona.
Cruisers eager to experience Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas will be thrilled to hear the cruise line has opened bookings on more sailings aboard its highly anticipated and exciting new cruise ship, now under construction at the Meyer-Turku shipyard in Finland.
Due to launch in January 2024, the ship has received record-breaking interest from cruisers since bookings initially opened in the fall of 2022, prompting Royal Caribbean to now make reservations available on sailings through April 2026.
High Interest Prompts Early Opening of 2025-26 Sailings
Icon of the Seas, which will become the world’s largest cruise ship at 250,800-gross tons, is the only Royal Caribbean ship with bookings already open for 2026 itineraries. The cruise line in October 2022 had revealed the ship’s itineraries through April 2025.
When she debuts in early 2024, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas will homeport at PortMiami and will sail 7-night, alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.
Icon of the Seas Sea Trials (Photo Credit: Jouni Niskakoski / Shutterstock)
While 2026 Western Caribbean itineraries will mirror those of 2025, two new ports will be added to some Eastern Caribbean sailings, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The extended bookings will officially open on September 13, 2023, although Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members can access reservations starting September 12, 2023.
“Since Icon of the Seas was revealed almost a year ago, the response has been unprecedented by every measure,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
“The excitement has only continued to build, making it clear that we’ve designed a revolutionary experience that reflects how consumers want to travel today and for years to come,” added Bayley.
World’s Largest Ship to Homeport in Miami
From her base at PortMiami, Icon of the Seas will operate three Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay itineraries, with calls at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis, plus Puerto Plata and San Juan.
Itineraries include either two or three sea days, based on departure date, and every cruise visits Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Icon of the Seas Sea Trials (Photo Courtesy: Meyer Turku)
On Western Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay itineraries, the ship will call at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Roatan, Honduras, plus CocoCay. The sailings will feature two days at sea.
Icon of the Seas, which will have capacity for 7,600 guests and 2,300 crew, will operate her maiden sailing from PortMiami on January 27, 2024, with calls to St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas, and CocoCay. The cruise will feature three at-sea days.
Pricing on cruises varies by date, with sailings in early 2024 starting at $2,444 per person for interior cabins on Western Caribbean sailings. Published fares are lower for 2025 and 2026 winter sailings, showing on the cruise line website as $2,209 for the same cabin category in 2025 and $1,869 in 2026.
An episode revealed earlier this summer highlights the design of the ship’s Royal Promenade, an expansive, 2-deck central space onboard the ship.
The area will be home to, or connect to, 15 restaurants, bars, and lounges, including favorites such as Sorrento’s, Schooner Bar, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, and others.
Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean Group
As a ship geared to families, Icon of the Seas will feature adventure activities and spaces, such as Thrill Island, where the largest waterpark at sea, called Category 6, will be found.
Several thrill rides and slides will be available here, too, including Frightening Bolt, a 282-foot drop/body slide, and Hurricane Hunter, a 425-foot raft-type slide with space for four riders.
Storm Surge, another raft slide, features a zero-gravity drop, while the 108-feet Pressure Drop will be the first open free-fall slide at sea.
Other attractions include the Adrenaline Peak rock climbing wall, the FlowRider surf simulator, and the Sports Court. Icon of the Seas is the cruise line’s first powered by liquified natural gas (LNG).
Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked on three different vessels and a total of nine sailings with itinerary changes. All of the impacted sailings are more than a year away and most of the changes are minimal, but the notification will give guests time to alter their travel plans if desired.
Itinerary Changes for Three Carnival Cruise Ships
Carnival Cruise Line is notifying guests booked aboard select sailings of Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Magic, and the yet-to-join-the-fleet Carnival Firenze that their cruise itineraries have been adjusted for departure dates in late 2024 and early 2025.
Carnival Sunrise Itinerary Changes
The Sunshine-class Carnival Sunrise has itinerary changes for five sailings while the ship is homeported from Miami. The affected sailings have slightly different changes, depending on the departure date.
Photo Credit: Eric Glenn / Shutterstock
October 24, November 16, November 21 (2024 departures): The ship will be visiting Half Moon Cay rather than Princess Cays, though the date and time of the scheduled visits remain the same.
December 5, 2024: Princess Cays will replace Half Moon Cay with a slightly adjusted port time. The ship’s time in Nassau will also be slightly modified on this 4-night sailing.
January 11, 2025: This 5-night Eastern Caribbean sailing will still visit the same ports, but in reverse order. The calls on Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay also have slightly modified times, but the time planned in Nassau is unchanged.
The 101,509-gross ton Carnival Sunrise (formerly Carnival Triumph) can welcome 2,984 guests per sailing, and features a crew of 1,100 international team members to provide always sunny service and onboard fun.
Carnival Magic Itinerary Changes
Three different sailings of the Dream-class Carnival Magic are having slight itinerary changes, each with different adjustments.
October 27, 2024: The ship will be visiting Half Moon Cay rather than Nassau during this 6-night Eastern Caribbean sailing, with a slightly adjusted port time. The visits to Amber Cove and Grand Turk are unchanged.
November 24, 2024: Instead of Princess Cays, Carnival Magic will visit Nassau. The days of port visits have changed and port times for both Amber Cove and Grand Turk have been modified somewhat.
December 8, 2024: The order of ports of call has been changed and the times for both Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk have been slightly modified for this 6-night Eastern Caribbean cruise.
The 128,048-gross ton Carnival Miracle has 14 decks of fun for passengers to enjoy, and as many as 3,690 guests can be welcomed per sailing at double occupancy, or up to 4,724 travelers when the ship is fully booked with all berths filled.
Carnival Firenze Itinerary Change
Just one cruise for the not-yet-a-Carnival ship Carnival Firenze is being adjusted at this time. April 7, 2025: This 5-night Mexican Riviera cruise has just minimal changes, with the ship reversing the order of port visits and slightly adjusting the time spent in Cabo San Lucas.
Render Courtesy: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Firenze will be converted from Costa Firenze before joining the Fun Ship fleet in early 2024. The ship will retain much of its signature Italian style, similar to the conversion of Carnival Venezia, and will offer a range of itineraries from Long Beach, California.
No Explanation for Itinerary Changes
No details have been offered for why these nine itineraries have been adjusted, but similar to other minor itinerary changes recently announced, the changes are minor and the overall cruise experiences are not impacted.
Any pre-purchased Carnival shore tours that are affected by the changes will be automatically adjusted, or will be refunded back to the original form of payment if the port of call is cancelled. If guests have made independent port arrangements, they will need to reach out to their tour operators for options or refunds as needed.
Cruise lines regularly make these types of minor adjustments as port schedules and fleet deployments are refined, balancing schedules to ensure the best possible experiences for guests.
Fortunately, because the earliest changes are more than a year away, guests still have plenty of time to change their travel plans if necessary.
Guests aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras were treated to a special Junkanoo experience to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence in the Bahamas. The special luncheon, performances, and other activities occurred on September 11, 2023, while the ship was docked in Nassau, the capital of the vibrant island nation.
Carnival Cruise Line commemorated the independence of the Bahamas along with 150 government officials, community leaders, and business professionals with a special event aboard Mardi Gras. The celebration showcased an overview of Junkanoo history with live performances from a local Bahamian troupe and the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band.
“Carnival has partnered with The Bahamas since we first started sailing more than half of a century ago, and we are honored to celebrate the country’s 50 years of independence, resilience, strength and progress,”said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president.
Photo Credit: Live Like A Kidd / Shutterstock
Stunning costumes, lively music, and smiles were the order of the day to celebrate 50 years of Bahamian independence, with great optimism for what the future holds for the island nation.
In late June, Carnival Cruise Line also hosted a Golden Jubilee breakfast aboard Carnival Legend during a visit to Freeport, also including cruise line executives, community members, and leaders of the Bahamas in celebration of the nation’s independence. During the breakfast, awards were presented to Grand Bahama parliamentarians to recognize their service.
Mardi Gras is currently sailing a 6-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that departed Port Canaveral on Sunday, September 10. Nassau was the ship’s first port of call on the voyage, and the ship will also be visiting Amber Cove and Grand Turk before returning to Port Canaveral on Saturday, September 16.
Carnival Committed to the Bahamas
Carnival Cruise Line has been a long-time guest favorite to visit the island nation with different vessels to different ports of call in the Bahamas for the past 50 years, including Nassau, Freeport, Bimini, and two exclusive private destinations – Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays.
The cruise line is also pledged for future growth and investment in the Bahamas with Celebration Key, a new $200 million (USD) private cruise port being developed exclusively for Carnival Cruise Line on Grand Bahama island.
With a mile of white sand beach and features that showcase Bahamian history, art, culture, and nature, the new destination will offer all guests unique and colorful insights into the Bahamas.
Photo Credit: Eric Glenn / Shutterstock
“As we commemorate the anniversary, we look forward to our future together, bringing millions more visitors to experience all the beauty and culture the country offers,”said Duffy.
“We are a paradise nation that is known for our pristine natural resources, culture, diversity and world-class hospitality,”said Parliamentary Secretary John H. W. Pinder II.“Partners like Carnival have helped showcase all we have to offer the world and contributed to our country’s flourishing economy over the last five decades. I thank them for their longstanding commitment now and in the future.”
Carnival Cruise Line plans to announce further details about Celebration Key later in September, including opening sales for the first itineraries that will visit the new destination. At least 10 ships from multiple US homeports will offer voyages that include Celebration Key.
Carnival Cruise Line announced a significant upgrade of its website designed to enhance its online services. Scheduled for this coming weekend, the update will have extensive implications for both front-end and back-end systems, particularly those that handle bookings and payments.
As more people turn to Carnival’s website to book their cruises and given the significant amount of sensitive data processed daily, regular maintenance is essential for a smooth booking experience for guests. Guests and travel agents should expect the booking pages to be down for most of September 16 and 17.
Carnival Cruise Line Website Downtime Details
Maintenance on the Carnival Cruise Line website, as well as GoCCL Navigator, and My Cruise Manager, is slated to begin on Saturday, September 16, at 12:00 AM ET and will conclude on the evening of Sunday, September 17. Certain key functionalities will be unavailable for guests and travel agents during this period.
This includes new bookings, service management, payments, and access to GoCCL Navigator—Carnival’s portal for travel advisors.
Carnival Cruise Line Website
An official email sent out to travel agents by Carnival Cruise Line provides further specifics, mentioning that other pre-cruise functionalities in My Cruise Manager, such as online check-in and booking shore excursions or spa and dining reservations, will also be affected.
Therefore, the work being done on the various websites could bring some inconveniences for guests planning to set sail on Carnival cruises next week.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that Carnival’s Contact Center teams will not have access either to the systems, and won’t be able to provide assistance during this period.
Those who plan to access the site for these functions should complete their business before the start time of the downtime or risk being shut out for the weekend.
It’s common for industries that rely heavily on online systems, such as cruise lines, to schedule maintenance downtime. While website maintenance will usually be limited to a few hours, the fact that Carnival expects the website to be down for nearly two days, with significant impacts to guests, it is likely a considerable upgrade that will bring several improvements.
Why Maintenance is Necessary
Carnival Cruise Line’s website draws in millions of visitors each month. In fact, in July of 2023, the website saw visitor numbers increase by nearly 9% over the same month the previous year, with traffic at 13 million visits.
With this much traffic and the vast amount of personal data that the cruise line handles each day, safety is paramount. Downtime, such as announced for this weekend, often includes implementing new security measures or updating existing ones. In some cases, new laws or industry regulations may force changes in how customer data is stored or processed.
Another reason could be to implement system upgrades. These could include improvements to user interfaces or introducing new features to make the booking process smoother and more efficient.
Like any complex system, Carnival’s booking and payment portals may experience slow load times, glitches, or even outages as they age.
Over the last couple of years, Carnival Cruise Line has seen some glitches, with the most recent beverage package glitch being the most recent. This glitch, which slashed prices for drinks packages in August, 2023, forced Carnival Cruise Line to give guests a discount on beverage packages.
While relatively minor, and Carnival did offer some form of refund to guests, many were still left disappointed that Carnival did not honor discounts of nearly 90% on a seven-day package. Something that Royal Caribbean International did honor in a similar incident in 2019.
Although the downtime is less than ideal, guests and travel agents can minimize disruptions by conducting their transactions before or after the scheduled weekend maintenance. This should help avoid any complications on September 16 and 17.
During the Destination D23 expo at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida, Disney Cruise Line revealed the name of its upcoming vessel – Disney Adventure.
A lot of mystery surrounds what will be the seventh or eighth ship in the Disney fleet when it debuts, but there is a great deal that we do know about the massive cruise ship.
Disney Cruise Line Names New Ship
The revelation of the new ship’s name as Disney Adventure sets the tone for the vessel, mimicking the “adventurous spirit” recently revealed for the upcoming Disney Treasure. Undoubtedly, Disney Adventure will likewise offer amazing adventures and an explorer spirit onboard when the ship debuts in 2025.
The ship remains under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Wismar, Germany. At the time Genting Hong Kong – the parent company of Genting Cruise Lines – declared bankruptcy in January 2022, the new ship was approximately 70% completed. For months, the hull remained in limbo while rumors swirled about cruise purchases or potential scrapping.
While Disney Cruise Line has named the new vessel, precise details about its overall theme and signature finishes – including the stern characters, Grand Hall statuary, or symbolic captain – have not yet been announced.
While there have been no itineraries yet announced for the vessel, visits to destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia are likely, as well as options slightly further afield in India, Australia, and New Zealand.
Impressive Stats for an Impressive Ship
While the incomplete Global Dream was rumored to have a capacity of more than 9,000 passengers, Disney Adventure is expected to have a capacity closer to 6,000 guests.
This will still make the ship the largest by passenger capacity in the Disney fleet, surpassing the 5,000-guest capacity of Disney Wish and the upcoming Disney Treasure, as well as the as yet unnamed third vessel in the cruise line’s Wish class.
Disney Adventure will also outstrip the other Disney cruise ships in other ways. The ship’s gross tonnage is estimated to be approximately 208,000 gross tons, whereas Disney Wish is 144,000 gross tons.
Render Courtesy: Disney Cruise Line
Furthermore, Disney Adventure should measure 1,122 feet long – three feet longer than Disney Wish. A small amount, to be sure, but still longer than her fleetmate.
Disney Adventure should also have a deeper draft of roughly 31 feet, whereas Wish-class ships have a 27-foot draft.
Crew complement will also be bigger on the larger Disney Adventure, with an estimated 2,300 crew members as befits the Global-class design. Wish-class ships, however, are home to 1,555 international crew members.
Because Disney Adventure will have a smaller guest capacity than the ship’s original design, however, it is possible the crew will also be slightly reduced from the original projections.
More details will undoubtedly be revealed about Disney Adventure in the coming months, though the cruise line’s focus will likely first be on Disney Treasure, as that ship is scheduled to debut in December 2024 from Port Canaveral.
The third Wish-class ship, sister to Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, is also scheduled to debut in 2025, but it is unknown which ship – the Wish-class or Disney Adventure – will set sail first in that year.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for all your Disney Adventure updates, and discuss all your Disney cruise fantasies on the Cruise Hive boards!
Hurricane Lee has necessitated multiple itinerary changes for four different Royal Caribbean International ships, each sailing from a different US homeport.
Impacted are this weekend’s departures of Adventure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.
Hurricane Lee Causing Itinerary Changes
Hurricane Lee, currently a major Category 3 storm located approximately 575 miles east-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, is causing concern among all major cruise lines as it threatens potentially significant impact in the Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda.
Though the storm is still well away from travel routes at this time, its projected path and intensity have cruise lines already making itinerary changes to ensure safe, comfortable cruising. Royal Caribbean International has now reached out to guests aboard four different ships with notices of itinerary alterations to steer clear of the storm.
Adventure of the Seas Itinerary Change
The 138,200-gross ton, Voyager class Adventure of the Seas is departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, September 9. The ship will not be sailing the originally planned Eastern Caribbean itinerary to the Virgin Islands and CocoCay, however.
Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com
Instead, Adventure of the Seas will now visit Western Caribbean ports of call on its 7-night itinerary, including both Roatan, Honduras as well as Cozumel, Mexico.
The ship will still visit Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, on Friday, September 15 as originally scheduled.
Harmony of the Seas Itinerary Change
The Oasis-class Harmony of the Seas will depart Miami, Florida as planned on Saturday, but is unable to sail the originally planned Eastern Caribbean itinerary to the US Virgin Islands and St. Kitts.
Photo Credit: GERARD BOTTINO / Shutterstock
The 227,000-gross ton vessel will now still visit CocoCay as originally scheduled on Sunday, September 10, but then will shift course for a Western Caribbean itinerary to call on Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico before returning to PortMiami on Saturday, September 16.
Vision of the Seas Itinerary Change
Vision of the Seas is homeported from Baltimore, Maryland and will set sail as scheduled on Saturday, September 9. Instead of a 5-night cruise to Bermuda with an overnight call in Kings Wharf, however, the ship will be visiting the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas (Photo Credit: Stefan Lambauer / Shutterstock)
Two ports of call are on the revised itinerary for the 78,700-gross ton ship – Perfect Day at CocoCay for an afternoon and early evening call from 2-7:30 p.m. on Monday, September 11, followed by Nassau on Tuesday morning from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The ship’s return to Baltimore on Thursday, September 14 will also be three hours later than originally scheduled, now 10 a.m. rather than 7 a.m.
Wonder of the Seas Itinerary Change
Currently the world’s largest cruise ship, the 236,857-gross ton Oasis-class Wonder of the Seas will not be able to sail the planned Eastern Caribbean voyage departing Port Canaveral on Sunday, September 10. The dates of the 7-night cruise remain the same, but the route will now be a Western Caribbean voyage.
Photo Credit: EWY Media / Shutterstock
Wonder of the Seas will visit Cozumel, Mexico on Wednesday, September 13, and Roatan, Honduras on Thursday, September 14. The ship’s first port of call – Perfect Day at CocoCay – remains the same on Monday, September 11, but the ship will spend an extra hour at the private island destination, now leaving at 5 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. as originally scheduled.
Other Ships Impacted
Royal Caribbean ships are not the only cruises already impacted by Hurricane Lee.
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy has likewise shifted itineraries for the ship’s September 9 sailing from Port Canaveral, which was to have been a cruise to Bermuda. Instead, like the Royal Caribbean itinerary changes, the ship will now be sailing a Western Caribbean cruise.
Additional ships from various cruise lines are likely to be affected by Hurricane Lee in the coming days. Travelers with upcoming sailings should stay closely connected with their travel agent or cruise line for updates on any necessary adjustments.
Hurricane Lee Update
As of 11 a.m. Saturday morning, September 9, Hurricane Lee remains a major Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (185 kilometers per hour).
Hurricane Lee
While wind shear has caused this decrease from earlier reported windspeeds and strength, Lee is still a dangerous storm that can cause significant disruption to maritime traffic and damage to any land it encounters.
The storm is moving west-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph), and is forecast to begin a stronger northward turn on Wednesday.
Depending on the exact location of that turn, as well as how much the storm then turns to the east back into the Atlantic, Bermuda may face a substantial threat from the storm. Less of a turn would bring the storm to eastern Canada, potentially impacting any Canada and New England sailings in the next 7-10 days.
If you have ever wondered how a cruise ship can stay afloat and navigate the water with such impressive maneuverability, you should take a minute to understand how a cruise ship’s draft impacts its overall performance. Fortunately, this guide explains everything you should know about cruise ship draft!
Not only will we cover how cruise ship draft can affect the ship’s stability, maneuverability, and speed, we will dive into some other interesting elements.
To help you gain a more in-depth understanding of ship draft, we will compare how the draft of a typical cruise ship differs from that of other types of vessels.
In simple terms, it is a measure of the vertical distance between the waterline sits and the deepest part of the ship’s hull. So, you can think of ship draft as the amount of the vessel immersed in the water.
As you may have guessed, the ship’s draft will depend on the type of vessel it is, the ship’s size, operational requirements, and even how much cargo space it needs. While certain types of ships need a larger draft than others, the draft’s measurement and size can seriously impact the ship’s performance.
How Ship Draft Impacts the Performance of the Vessel
The following are just some of the ways that ship draft can affect a vessel’s performance in the water.
The Ship’s Stability
The measure of the ship’s draft will play a critical role in determining how stable it will be at sea. The deeper the ship’s draft is, the more stable it will be because a deep draft lowers the ship’s center of gravity, meaning it is more difficult to capsize.
Photo Credit: Mascha Tace / Shutterstock
Not only can a deep draft help prevent the vessel from completely tipping over, but it can also reduce movement when the ship is navigating through rough waters and high winds. For cruise ships, a deep draft is essential for the safety and comfort of the passengers on board the vessel.
The Ship’s Top Speed and Fuel Efficiency
One of the drawbacks of a deep draft is that it generates drag when the vessel moves through the water. With that said, if the lower portion of the ship is designed to maximize hydrodynamic performance, it can reduce water resistance enough to allow the ship to move with speed and efficiency.
Basically, there has to be a balance between the draft depth and how hydrodynamic the draft is. Largescale cruise ships can take a while to get up to full speed, but once they reach it, they can navigate the water without burning excess fuel.
The Ship’s Maneuverability and Ability to Access Shallow Waters
Draft also significantly impacts the ship’s maneuverability and turning radius. While a deep draft allows the vessel to turn without leaning too much, which is more comfortable for the passengers and crew, it also means the vessel needs more space and time to turn.
Cruise Ships in the Dominican Republic (Photo Credit: Ihor Koptilin / Shutterstock)
In contrast to the deep draft of a full-size cruise ship, a small passenger boat would have a shallow draft so that it would be far more maneuverable in the water.
As you would expect, draft depth also decides how capable a ship is of navigating shallow waters. Since cruise ships tend to have a deep draft, they can only access certain coastlines and ports. This is why cruise lines take such careful precautions when plotting a course and deciding which ports the ship will visit.
How Much Weight the Ship Can Carry
Finally, draft depth also has a significant influence on the payload a ship is capable of safely carrying. In other words, the deeper the depth, the more weight the vessel can carry, as the ship will be more buoyant than a ship of equal length but with a shallower draft.
Carnival Cruise Line Deck Party
For cruise ships, which are top-heavy and loaded with thousands of passengers, cabins, amenities, incredible propulsion systems, and so much more, a deep draft is necessary to keep the vessel stable and at no risk of overloading.
What Are the Components of a Cruise Ship Draft?
The area of a cruise ship that could be considered the ship’s draft is composed of several areas. The following are the most prominent:
The Ship’s Bilge
The bilge of a ship is the curved sides of a ship’s hull that provide structural integrity to the entire ship. Since it is where the ship’s lowest part meets up with its sides, it needs to be incredibly strong. It also helps with drainage of the ship’s wastewater and soiled fluid from the ship’s engine.
The Ship’s Ballast
Ballast is the weight of cruise ships that helps keep the vessel balanced and stable. It sits at the bottom of the ship and can be increased or decreased depending on the ship’s needs.
It can also be moved around to counteract forces acting against the ship. Typically, the ballast is filled with seawater, which is easy to take in and drain during the voyage.
The Ship’s Keel
The keel can be viewed as the ship’s spine. It is the lowest point of the hull and stretches along the entire underside of the vessel. Often, it is the first piece put in place when a ship is being built. Essentially, the draft of a ship is a measure of where the lowest point of the keel sits to where the waterline hits on the side of the ship’s hull.
Photo Courtesy: Fincantieri
How Is the Draft of a Ship Measured?
When measuring a ship’s draft, there are several ways to do it. Each method offers varying degrees of accuracy. Since cruise ships are so massive in scale and have to carry such a tremendous number of passengers, they are typically equipped with the necessary equipment to take draft measurements in more than one way.
For cruise ships, these methods can include the following:
Measuring Load Lines or Plimsoll Marks
Load lines, also referred to as Plimsoll marks, are markings made along the sides of a ship’s hull. These highly visible lines act as a sort of ruler, so observers can easily see how deep the waterline is sitting. Since these lines are carefully plotted from the deepest point of the keel, they provide a quick, accurate, and convenient way to measure the current draft.
Draft Line Measurement (Photo Credit: Denys Yelmanov / Shutterstock)
While they offer an accurate way to measure a ship’s draft, they can be challenging to read if the vessel is not in port. Not only is it difficult to view them while onboard the ship, but rough waters can also make it difficult to see where the water line actually hits.
Electronic Draft Sensors
Most modern cruise ships have electronic sensors and cameras that take up-to-the-second measurements while the ship navigates the water to provide more accurate and current measurements.
The sensors measure pressure against the hull, then average that pressure to find where the water and air meet. This is incredibly beneficial, as it considers water conditions and provides instantaneous readings that the ship’s bridge can use in its navigational efforts.
Draft Survey Cameras
Some cruise ships also have downward-facing cameras that can measure the vertical distance between the waterline and various points of the ship’s hull where they are pointed.
By taking measurements at multiple points across the hull, they can provide an accurate average so the ship’s bridge crew knows where the draft sits at all times.
How Does a Cruise Ship’s Draft Differ from the Draft of Other Types of Vessels?
Now that you understand how it can impact the performance of a vessel and the comfort of those on board the vessel, it is easy to understand why cruise ships need a unique draft depth and shape.
Passenger comfort is critical on a cruise ship, unlike other vessels, like shipping freighters. Cruise ships have such a deep draft. This deeper draft helps limit rocking and pitching while the vessel is in rough waters, which means passengers enjoy a more comfortable voyage and reduce the risk of seasickness.
Cruise ships also need numerous decks, so they are relatively tall vessels. They need separate cabin quarters for every passenger on board, which takes up a significant amount of space compared to the shared basic quarters that crewmembers are given on cargo and naval ships.
Cruise ships must also accommodate spacious and heavy amenities, like bars, restaurants, swimming pools, and countless other entertainment venues. All of this added weight and height requires a deep draft.
In other words, without a deep draft, the cruise ship would be too heavy and at risk of toppling over in rough waters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the draft of a ship change during a voyage?
Yes, a ship’s draft can vary during a single voyage. Given that the ship’s weight will impact how much it will sit below the waterline, a ship’s draft can lower as it unloads passengers and cargo.
Water conditions can also temporarily affect the draft, as the vessel will bob up and down in the water if it is navigating through rough seas. The fact that ship draft can change is why taking accurate and current measurements throughout a voyage is so important.
Can cruise ship passengers see draft markings?
It is possible to see the markings on the side of a cruise ship, but only when viewing the ship from dry land or another vessel. Typically, they look like small markings that sit just a little bit above the waterline. They tend to be at the bow or stern of the ship.
What is the average draft of a cruise ship?
The average draft of a cruise ship is roughly 20 feet. As you would expect, larger cruise ships have a much deeper draft, while smaller ships can afford a shallower draft.
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class cruise ships have some of the deepest drafts of any. The draft of these enormous vessels will measure nearly 31 feet in most conditions.
Final Words
While ship draft is one of the less visible parts of a cruise ship, it is integral to its overall safety and performance. Not only does it impact the ship’s stability and buoyancy, but it also plays a significant role in determining its maneuverability and fuel efficiency.
A ship draft also determines where a ship can visit, as a deep draft prevents a ship from visiting shallow coastal waters and low-depth ports. This explains why it is so essential that the ship’s crew can access accurate and instant measurements of the ship’s draft.
