Duncan Craig wrote:
> "Tom K" wrote in message
> news:jcdBi.2$1V2.0@newsfe12.lga...
>> wrote in message
>> news:1188344215.763671.223500@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>>> We haven't actually done a TA, but are considering it for Fall 2009.
>>> What we're considering is booking Oceania, as it includes free
>>> airfare. Since most of our time would be spent on the ship as opposed
>>> to stopping frequently at port, we don't mind spending a bit more for
>>> Oceania since we'd be interested in the ship vs. the itinerary for
>>> that kind of a sailing. I know there is a group going on Oceania next
>>> November TA; you might see if you can get in on that one. Cal Ford
>>> has that group going, I believe. He posts here frequently; he's with
>>> Lido Cruises.
>>>
>> That's a TINY ship to be doing a trans Atlantic on... I actually had
>> doubts about doing a Bermuda sailing during the fall on the Journey
>> (another former Ren sister ship) because of her tiny size. I sailed
>> through a Nor'easter on the tiny Zenith last year... it wasn't pretty. On
>> the Explorer this past spring, we sailed through the remnants of a
>> tropical storm, with waves higher than my second deck window... and until
>> I opened the window I didn't even know we were in rough seas.
>>
>> I think I'd want a huge ship to do a crossing. Either a Voyager class or
>> the QM2. Both from a stability stand point and having tons of stuff to do
>> for 5-6 days.
>>
>> --Tom
> IMO, that's not necessarily true, Tom. The ability to handle rough open
> seas is often the effect of hull design as much as it is size of the ship.
> In 2001, we sailed on the Crown Odyssey from New Zealand to L.A., a 30-day
> cruise. For at least five days of that trip, we were affected by a huge
> South Pacific hurricane, a storm that was as big as Canada on the radar. We
> ended up changing our iteninerary a number of times (and we missed 3
> scheduled ports!). We were never IN the hurricane, but always skirting
> around the edges of it (every time we changed our itinerary, the hurricane
> changed course and tried to intercept us again!) There were a number of
> days that the doors to the outer decks were kept closed, including some days
> between Hawaii and LA. Passengers in the forward cabins on lower decks were
> orderd to keep their porthole covers closed. At one point, we were in the
> dining roon and our table-mates scoffed at our story that a wave had struck
> our cabin window, 3 decks above the lowest passenger deck, and relatively
> amidship, only one deck below the dining room. Just then, a huge wave
> pounded the dining room window, making them instant believers!
> But that wonderful ship just plowed straight through the waves, rarely
> pitching or rolling significantly in spite of the fierce seas.
> And she was relatively small, especially compared to the behemoths at sea
> now. She was about 35,000 tons and 1,050 passengers. If Orient Line had
> kept her in service, we would have just cruised wherever she went.
>
>
Interesting takes on the Oceania ships.
We hit the North Sea on the Regatta as we left the Kiel Canal after 10
days of glass-like Baltic waters. You could feel the change immediately
and we actually moved our table for dinner toward the middle of the
Dining Room to alleviate some of the pitching. Upon discussions later,
we found out the path the Captain chose was not the ultimate it could
have been, but rather to make the proper time to Amsterdam. Regardless,
it was very noticeable, but not objectionable at all - except when
bouncing around the halls like a ping pong ball.
Of course that may have been due to the vodka shots we were slamming
down earlier!
|