Gusty UK Impacts Cruises

UK Experiencing

Gale Force Winds & Flooding

A nation that earlier in the week was celebrating their Queen's Diamond Jubilee, was forced indoors as Mother Nature brought Gale Force Winds and Rain to south-west England, the Midlands, the South East, and Wales Thursday and Friday.  The Met Office issued severe weather warnings and flood warnings and alerts for Wales and southern England as the weather system moved north-east.

Cruise Ships Impacted

MSC Opera, which was scheduled to dock Friday morning local time (GMT) in Southampton, made it into port at 4 p.m.  The adverse weather conditions and focus on passenger safety prompted the delay which threatened to impact the 8-Night Baltic & Northern Europe cruise departure.

Costa NeoRomantica was unable to dock in Dover, the ship's turn-around port, Friday as scheduled.

Instead, the ship  was redirected to Amsterdam to offload passengers from the current cruise and pick up those scheduled to sail on the next, also an 8-night Baltic & Northern Europe cruise. Passengers on both itineraries were being shuttled by air at the cruise line's expense.  No further delays were expected.

Weather Improving   

The Met Office forecast called for improving conditions on Saturday feeling warmer with some sunny spells.  Some areas however,especially northern England and mid and north-west Wales, will continue to see rainfall and flood warnings remain for many parts of the UK.

More information about the unusual weather for June:

BBC: Bad weather and flood warnings as UK hit by strong winds

Met Office: Stormy end to the week

Has Weather Ever Impacted Your Cruise?

We had a June departure scheduled from Dover, England one year where our ship was diverted to Southampton due to strong winds, similar to those of this weekend.   Once again, the cruise line handled the logistics for passengers so that they could get home or join their cruise.

What weather-related cruise stories do you have?  We'd love to hear your stories and how the cruise lines handled the situation.    As Hurricane Season gets into full swing, we can expect more weather-related itinerary changes.  We'll do our best to keep our readers informed as we have in the past.

Queens Jubilee Celebration

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

 2 - 5 June, 2012

 The Queen celebrates 60 years as Monarch in 2012.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee marks 60 years since her accession in 1952. Royal Jubilees celebrate significant periods in monarchs’ reigns and national life. In 2012, The Queen will become only the second UK monarch to mark 60 years on the throne. Celebrations were previously held for Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 and Golden Jubilee in 2002.

On Saturday 2 June, The Queen will attend the Epsom Derby. On Sunday 3 June the Big Jubilee Lunch and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will take place. On Monday 4 June a concert will be held at Buckingham Palace and a network of beacons will be lit throughout the UK and the Commonwealth. On Tuesday 5 June a Service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage Procession.

Cruise Lines Join in Celebration

Cunard Line will celebrate Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee with a special event on Tuesday 5 June 2012, the final day of the extended bank holiday.  Cunard's three Queens will meet at their home port in Southampton for the first time, with a Red Arrows display and spectacular fireworks in the evening!

Vantage Points - Click to Enlarge (courtesy Cunard)

Approximate Schedule:

Three Ships Arrival: 5.30am - 6.15am
Red Arrows Aerial Display: 6.20pm -6.45pm
Firework Spectacular: 10.20pm - 10.35pm
Three Ships Departure: 11pm

Marking 74-Year Association

The celebration takes place onboard all day as well, including talks from guest speakers with royal connections and a display of royal art. A rare vintage of Graham's 1952 Diamond Jubilee Tawny Port, specially released for Cunard's Jubilee cruises, will be on sale. Grand Balls will be held on each ship on June 6 preceded by a Commemorative Dinner with a souvenir keepsake menu that sets out the 74-year association of Cunard with The Queen. All TV coverage of the June 5 royal procession through London will be screened onboard.


Additional Cruise Line Celebrations

P&O Cruises will hold a royal gala dinner onboard each ship with a toast to the Queen, and a rendition of the national anthem after both evening performances in the theatre on June 5, as well as royal-themed movies onboard and live coverage all day on June 5 of events in London. Each ship will hold a street party and a tea dance with Champagne, with special Jubilee cakes on display. Kids in the children's clubs will be put to work decorating bunting for the street parties. 

Princess Cruises' Grand Princess will have a brass band send-off as its sails for Scandinavia from Southampton on June 2, with British comedians and singers onboard, a ‘British Invasion' production show, and royal-themed movies including The Queen and The King's Speech showing, as well as British-themed trivia pub quizzes and even a children's party. Passengers will be issued with union jack flags and hats and there will be a huge party on deck at which the national anthem will be sung and strawberries and cream and Pimms served, as well as cider and British beers. Royal historian Janet Campbell will give lectures. The Captain will raise a champagne toast to the Queen, and British pub food will be served at lunchtime on every sea day during the voyage, as well as a gala dinner one night with a special dessert dedicated to the Queen. A giant Jubilee cake will also be displayed in the Atrium. 


Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas will host a lavish Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch on June 3 (the day those of us ashore are being encouraged to throw street parties) Approximately 3,634 guests will participate in this street party at sea. Special dishes over the weekend will include British classics such as prawn cocktail, roast beef, bread and butter pudding, beer-battered fish and chips, steak and kidney pie and Cumberland sausages with mash. The ship's Royal Promenade will be decked out in red, white and blue bunting and passengers will be given flags to wave and will be able to enjoy live music, traditional village fair-style stalls, English strawberries and Union Jack cupcakes. Sculptors will create special Jubilee ice carvings throughout the ship. On June 4, the Royal Promenade will be the venue for the ‘Rock Britannia' performance by the onboard team. 

Some of the less-known lines will also hold various festivities and have special menus to commemorate the event.  We're certain that there will be many pints raised in tribute to the Queen cruise-industry wide.

Congratulations to Queen Elizabeth on the achievement of this milestone.

Carnival Breeze Delivered

Welcome Carnival Breeze

Carnival Cruise Lines, Miami, FL, took delivery of the 130,000-gross ton Carnival Breeze at a traditional maritime handover ceremony held on May 31 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

Carnival Breeze is a sister ship of the Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic, which were delivered by the Monfalcone shipyard in 2009 and 2011, respectively.

3,690-Passenger 'Fun Ship' Departs Sunday from Venice on Inaugural 12-Day Cruise

Carnival Breeze will depart on its inaugural cruise from Venice this Sunday, June 3, operating a special 12-day Mediterranean cruise that ends in Barcelona June 15. Following a summer schedule of 12-day Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona that runs through October 25, Carnival Breeze will reposition to Miami for year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning November 24, becoming Carnival Cruise Lines' largest South Florida-based ship.

"Carnival Breeze represents the continued evolution of our product, offering a huge array of branded experiences for our guests and inviting public spaces each with its own personality and character, all enhanced by the spirited fun that makes a Carnival cruise so memorable," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. 

Carnival Breeze Firsts

• Thrill Theater, an immersive multi-dimensional special effects experience that makes viewers feel as if they're part of the movie
• Bonsai Sushi, a full-service sushi restaurant
• Fat Jimmy's C-Side BBQ, a free open-air barbecue venue
• Comfort Kitchen, a casual poolside spot for American-style comfort food
• Guy's Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network personality Guy Fieri
• BlueIguana Cantina, a Mexican-themed dining venue
• Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian restaurant that brings the heritage of Carnival's captains to the table
• "Fun Ship 2.0" , all entertainment elements, including Hasbro, The Game Show

Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus |   Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | Photos

Related Blog Posts 

Breezing Along in the Adriatic 

Hasbro The Game Show Coming Soon to Sea

Introducing Fun Ship 2.0 

Carnival Corp. Places Orders With Fincantieri Shipbuilders

Welcome to Carnival Breeze - the 24th Ship in the Carnival Cruise Line Fun Ship Fleet

2012 Hurricane Preparedness Week

 

National Hurricane Preparedness Week 2012 

 May 27th through June 2nd

The goal of NOAA's Hurricane Preparedness Web site is to inform the public about the hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take ACTION. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water.

A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone or severe tropical storm that forms in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. A typical cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms, and in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the earth’s surface.

Every year, hurricanes put communities at risk of catastrophic damage from storm surges, flooding, high winds, and tornadoes.  During National Hurricane Preparedness Week, we rededicate ourselves to preventing loss of life and damage to property by raising awareness about hurricane hazards and taking action to protect our families, our homes, and our neighborhoods.

As we mark the beginning of hurricane season, let us recommit to ensuring the safety of our loved ones and our communities, and to building a stronger, more resilient Nation.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 27 through June 2, 2012, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week.  I call upon government agencies, private organizations, schools, media, and residents in the coastal areas of our Nation to share information about hurricane preparedness and response to help save lives and protect communities.

Basics	Storm Surge	Winds	Inland Flooding	Forecast Process	Get A Plan!	Take Action
Sunday 27 May '12 YouTube EN ES Audio EN ES	Monday 28 May '12 YouTube EN ES Audio EN ES	Tuesday 29 May '12 YouTube EN ES Audio EN ES	Wednesday 30 May '12 YouTube EN ES Audio EN ES	Thursday 31 May '12 YouTube EN ES Audio EN ES	Friday 1 June '12 YouTube EN ES Audio EN ES	Saturday 2 June '12 YouTube EN ES Audio EN ES

Subtropical Storm Beryl Forms in Atlantic

Subtropical Storm BERYL 

2nd Named Storm in Atlantic

Cruise Ship Impact    Current Watches & Warnings

500 PM EDT WED MAY 30 2012
 
...BERYL IS NOW A POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE...THIS IS THE LAST
ADVISORY...

Tropical Storm Beryl, with sustained winds of 70 mph, became the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in the U.S. before the official June 1st start of the Atlantic hurricane season. It made landfall just after midnight (local time) on the night of May 27, 2012, near Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Beryl brought welcome rain to parts of the drought stricken Southeast including parts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas before heading back out to sea.

Atlantic Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

CRUISE SHIP IMPACT

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE.

No reported cruise ship itinerary changes at this time.

SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...34.9N 76.1W
ABOUT 40 MI...65 KM WSW OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...ENE OR 60 DEGREES AT 21 MPH...33 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...998 MB...29.47 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS 

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

ALL COASTAL TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED.
 

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...75 KM/H...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS.  SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48
HOURS.

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
 
WIND...ISOLATED TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WIND GUSTS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG
THE COASTS OF NORTH CAROLINA TODAY.
 
SURF...DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS...INCLUDING RIP CURRENTS...ARE
POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA THROUGH TODAY.  FOR
INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE SEE STATEMENTS ISSUED BY
YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
 
RAINFALL...BERYL IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS
OF 2 TO 4 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES...IN

Historical Data:                Graphics   Archive   

1100 PM EDT FRI MAY 25 2012

...SUBTROPICAL STORM FORMS IN THE SOUTHEWESTERN ATLANTIC...
...TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR A PORTION OF THE SOUTHEASTERN
U.S. COAST...

200 PM EDT SUN MAY 27 2012
...BERYL STRONGER...NOW A TROPICAL STORM...

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...

* VOLUSIA/BREVARD COUNTY LINE FLORIDA TO EDISTO BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA

1215 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2012
...BERYL MAKES LANDFALL ALONG THE COAST OF FLORIDA NEAR JACKSONVILLE
BEACH... 

500 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2012
...BERYL GRADUALLY WEAKENING AS IT MOVES INLAND...WILL CONTINUE TO
PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS EVEN AS THE WINDS DECREASE...

1100 AM EDT MON MAY 28 2012
... NOW A TROPICAL DEPRESSION...
...BERYL SOAKING PORTIONS OF NORTH FLORIDA AND SOUTH GEORGIA...MORE
RAIN TO COME...

1100 AM EDT WED MAY 30 2012
 
...BERYL EXPECTED TO BECOME A POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE LATER TODAY...

NOAA 2012 Hurricane Season Predictions

NOAA predicts a Near-normal 2012 Atlantic & Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season

  NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center released its annual Spring Hurricane predictions today. 

Atlantic: Conditions in the atmosphere and the ocean favor a near-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this season.


Eastern Pacific: Climate conditions point to a near-normal hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific this year. The outlook calls for a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season, a 30 percent probability of a below-normal season and a 20 percent probability of an above-normal season.

Looking for past & current hurricanes?  Click Image or Here

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Hurricane Season Approaching 

In the image above, courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Irene made landfall at approximately 7:30 am EDT on Aug. 27, 2011, near Cape Lookout, N.C. with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (Category 1). This NOAA GOES-13 satellite image captures Irene’s landfall moment.

This was the scariest  moment during the 2011 Hurricane Season.   NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) had predicted an active season, but as Warnings Issued for Hurricane Irene, it was also the finest hour for NOAA's NHC as they had accurately predicted the path of the storm four days earlier.

Looking Back at 2011

In the chart below, the numbers in parenthesis are the averages, so you can easily see that the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season was above average, with 2011 ranking as the 14th busiest season since 1966.

Atlantic Basin

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000 Climatology (in parentheses)	NOAA 2011 Prediction	2011 Actual Results
Named Storms (NS) (9.6)	12-18	19
Hurricanes (H) (5.9)	6-10	7
Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.3)	3-6	4
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) (96.1)	105 - 200	138

For more details, read the complete NOAA 2011 Atlantic Seasonal Climate Summary

The 2011 Eastern Northern Pacific Hurricane Season was well above average. Despite predictions of a near-normal season, there were eleven named storms, ten hurricanes and six major hurricanes, all of which were above-average.

East Pacific

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000 Climatology (in parentheses)	NOAA 2011 Prediction	2011 Actual Results
Named Storms (NS) (9.6)	9 - 15	11
Hurricanes (H) (5.9)	5 - 8	10
Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.3)	1 - 3	6
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) (96.1)	45 - 105	118

For more details, read the complete NOAA 2011 Eastern Pacific Seasonal Climate Summary
 

Looking Ahead to 2012

As is customary, the Colorado State University releases its predictions in  April and NOAA releases its predictions in late May.  See our blog post,  Below Average 2012 Atlantic Hurricane Prediction, for CSU's 2012 predictions.  They discontinued their December predictions due to previous inaccuracies.

Atlantic Basin

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000 Climatology (in parentheses)	NOAA 2011 Prediction	CSU 2011 Prediction
Named Storms (NS) (9.6)	9 - 15	10
Hurricanes (H) (5.9)	4 - 8	4
Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.3)	1 - 3	2
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) (96.1)	65 - 140	70

East Pacific

Forecast Parameter and 1950-2000 Climatology (in parentheses)	NOAA 2011 Prediction
Named Storms (NS) (9.6)	9 - 15
Hurricanes (H) (5.9)	5 - 8
Major Hurricanes (MH) (2.3)	1 - 3
Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) (96.1)	45 -105

Based on these early season predictions, and despite the early jump start on the Hurricane Season, this year should be near-normal.   Of course, that doesn't imply that we should be complacent.  It only takes one major hurricane making landfall to cause significant loss of life and property.

Additional References

NOAA predicts a near-normal 2012 Atlantic hurricane season

NOAA predicts near-normal Eastern Pacific hurricane season 

NOAA expects below-normal Central Pacific hurricane season  

Extended Range Forecast of Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Activity and Landfall Strike Probability for 2012 - PDF Format

Atlantic Hurricane Summary Archive 

2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season 

Active 2011 hurricane season breaks 'Hurricane Amnesia' 

The 2011 North Atlantic Hurricane Season A Climate Perspective 

2011 Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season - National Hurricane Center

Workers Strike in Norway May Impact Vision OTS

State Workers in Norway Strike

May Impact Sailings

Schools, day care centers, and other public institutions are closed in Norway due to an indefinite strike called Thursday.  Striking workers include port pilots which would impact sailings.

Norway is currently experiencing a period of economic growth, and state workers are looking for their share of the pie.   Their wages have lagged behind that of the private sector triggering the work stoppage as talks broke down.

Must Have Port Pilot to Enter Harbor

According to Maritime law, a cruise ship must have a pilot onboard the vessel as they enter the port. If the strike continues, ships would not be able to dock in Norway ports, including Oslo.

Pilots & Pilot Boat Skippers Strike Over

According to Norwegian Coast Guard Web site Kystverket, the pilots reached an agreement Friday night, June 2nd, ending a week long strike which had impacted cruise line itineraries.

• Brilliance of the Seas, which departs Amsterdam today, will sail its original schedule
• Vision of the Seas is still turning around in Gothenburg today, instead of Oslo as was originally planned
• No word yet on Fred. Olsen Balmoral's altered itinerary

This is excellent news as the popular Norwegian Fjords cruise season is just getting into full swing.  Cruises typically combine the British Isles and Fjords.  Another option includes a cruise to North Cape and the Arctic Circle.

If you've never sailed to Norwegian Fjords, we highly recommend adding that to your bucket list.

Cruise Destination: 
Norwegian Fjords

Impact of Strike Widens

With all 42 of the Port of Oslo's pilots on strike, a number of cruise ships were turned away or forced to cancel calls.

These include Emerald Princess, which was forced to turn away from the port last Friday, Star Clippers' Star Flyer which cancelled a call on Saturday and Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas which was diverted to Gothenburg on Sunday.  

Upcoming calls in Tromsø or Alesund in the next week include:   P&O Cruises's Adonia, Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas, MSC Cruises' Magnifica and two Holland America Line  Eurodam and Rotterdam.   

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral will sail to Kiel Canal, Warnemunde, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, will be at sea on June 4, visit Zeebrugge June 5 and return to Southampton on June 6.

The only line that has ships in the region that isn't impacted is Hurtigruten, which sails the coastal waters year-round between Bergen and Kirkenes.  They are not required to carry a pilot.

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas June 2 Sailing

UPDATE:

Since the port pilots are on strike, and they are required to enter and leave the port, Vision of the Seas will be unable to dock in Oslo on Saturday, June 2, as originally planned. Because of this, it is necessary to modify Vision of the Seas’ boarding and debarking process. On Saturday, Vision of the Seas will arrive in Gothenburg, Sweden, and guests will be transported to and from Oslo via motor coach. Guests on the Saturday, June 2, sailing of Vision of the Seas should proceed to Oslo as originally scheduled.

Additional Cruise Ship Impact

Should the strike continue and include all port pilots in Norway, Brilliance of the Seas’ next sailing will be unable to call to any of the Norwegian ports of call on its itinerary. Royal Caribbean has been diligently working to prepare an alternative itinerary should the strike continue, which will include port calls to Copenhagen and Aarhus, Demark, and Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany.

We encourage guests on the Saturday, June 2, sailing of Brilliance of the Seas monitor this website for any additional updates. 

Royal Caribbean Updates:   IMPORTANT UPDATES

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas May 27 Sailing

Royal Caribbean International has issued an advisory that Vision of the Seas, which is currently scheduled to conclude its sailing in Oslo on Sunday, May 27, may be unable to enter the port.  RCI is currently preparing contingency plans in the event the strike continues and Vision of the Seas is unable to dock in Oslo.

They encourage guests on the Sunday, May 27, sailing of Vision of the Seas to monitor the website for any additional updates. 

Since the port pilots in Oslo are on strike, and they are required to be onboard in order for us to enter the port, if the strike continues Vision of the Seas will be unable to dock in Oslo on Sunday, May 27, as originally planned. Because of this, it will be necessary to modify Vision of the Seas’ boarding and debarking process on Sunday. Vision of the Seas will arrive in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Sunday, and guests will be transported to and from Oslo via motor coach.