Earlier that morning, I had attended a yoga class. Strangely, I was the only person present. I suggested to the instructor that we only did seated or prone poses – just as well, given the most hair-raising bit of the session was trying to stand on one leg to put my trousers on afterwards. By mid-morning, passengers (and even some of the crew) were doing fine imitations of drunken sailors, lurching from one side of the corridor to the other and grabbing desperately for handrails.
At noon, we assembled in the theatre while the captain (only occasionally hanging on to the podium) explained he was going to alter course and head for shelter in a fjord, abandoning our next port of call in an attempt to outrun the storm. Behind him, the screen displayed windy.com – a website I recommend, a truly fascinating mine of information. It shows rainfall, wind speed, direction and gusts, the height of the waves and, in fact, everything you need to know before you decide to cut and run.
That evening, with the storm at its height and most entertainment cancelled (injuries to dancers being a worry), the cinema showed the latest Bond film, the ship’s own sudden lurches tying in nicely with the action scenes. At dinner there were quite a few empty tables, the waiters performing miracles of balance with plates and glasses. (Incredibly – and against the odds – I don’t think a single drop of wine or water was spilled.)
And so overnight, exactly as planned by the captain, we made it into a deep fjord and sheltered. Then, after hugging the coast for 24 hours, we arrived in Alesund, the skies now a clear blue and hardly a breath of wind. Thankfully, we were back to plain sailing.
What you don’t know, but your captain does
1. Up to a week before you’re aware of a change in the weather, the captain and his team are monitoring atmospheric conditions and aware of potential problems. Satellite weather data is comprehensive and detailed and not only available on the bridge but also to the cruise line’s back-up teams on shore.
2. Cruise ships are very stable and can even cope with hurricanes. They are equipped with anti-heeling systems to stop the ship listing too far and stabilizers to minimise rolling. It might be uncomfortable for the passengers, but essentially the ships can take it.
3. For the comfort of passengers, the captain can decide to reroute, missing or substituting ports to avoid the roughest seas. And generally, a cruise ship can outrun a storm and find shelter if necessary.
