Vacation Views from the Crow's Nest

Welcome to the latest edition of my Vacation Views from the Crow’s Nest. This week in my Horizon Scan I examine how cruise lines manage extreme weather events and what this means for you, share my Traveller Tip on staying stylish and versatile at the same time, and talk about the World Explorer Sale in my Sail Savings. So, let’s cast off and get started!

Horizon Scan - Climate Change: Red Sky at Night, Sailors' Delight? 

With the increasing frequency of severe weather events, like Hurricane Helene's disruption of the cruise industry last month, it's essential to understand how cruise lines manage bad weather and what that means for your travel plans.

Fortunately, the modern cruise industry relies on more than just the old adage, "Red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morn, sailors take warn." While there's some truth to this saying (you can read more about it in the Library of Congress article), you can rest assured that your ship’s captain and crew are backed by a dedicated team focused on ensuring your safety and comfort during storms. In short, cruise lines are well-prepared.

The industry is continuously making significant investments in Fleet Operations Centers (FOCs) that monitor weather patterns to help ships avoid storms and keep guests safe. This is crucial, as unhappy guests are bad for business. Cruise lines employ teams of meteorologists, and experienced mariners who collaborate with port authorities and government agencies. Together with the ship's bridge—where the captain and officers operate—they utilize a variety of tools, including weather maps, satellite imagery, and computer models from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other meteorological experts. These teams constantly monitor conditions, often tracking storms up to 10 days in advance and devising avoidance strategies.   

Modern cruise ships are designed to endure gale-force winds and storms, but that doesn't always make for a pleasant experience for passengers. Safety and comfort are the top priorities. Unlike land vacations, cruise ships can navigate away from storms. Most cruise ships travel at speeds of 18-22 knots (20-25 miles per hour), while isolated thunderstorms typically move at 8-13 knots (10-15 miles per hour). This speed advantage allows ships to often outrun or circumvent inclement weather.

High winds can also pose challenges during docking. Most cruise ships are unable to dock when winds exceed 30 knots. In such cases, you might experience an additional day at sea, or the captain, in consultation with the FOC, may choose to dock at an alternative port. This could result in a change to your itinerary or an unexpected stop at a sunny location.

To minimize disruptions to your travel plans, it's wise to consider the timing of your cruise. There are certain seasons when storms are more likely, such as the Caribbean from late spring to early fall, which is hurricane season. Choosing to sail from November to April can reduce the chances of itinerary changes. If you do decide to travel during more volatile periods, stay informed about weather patterns and check with your cruise line for updates regarding any potential disruptions.

In the event of a change—such as avoiding a port due to closures or spending an extra day at sea—cruise lines are experienced in managing these situations and will communicate their policies with you. If your itinerary is affected, contact the cruise line directly (or me if I was involved in your planning, and I will work on your behalf 😃 ) regarding refunds or other compensation, especially if delays impact your travel plans home.

Traveller Tip: Think Versatility

Not just for your travel plans but here I am referring to your luggage when you pack. Try to pack versatile clothing that can serve for both a dressy affair or casual laid back look. What can you mix and match. For example, men should consider packing a single navy blue suit. Matched with a French cuff shirt and tie it can be a formal look, conversely remove the tie and pair it with brown loafers and matching brown belt and you have a relaxed casual look. Add a sweater or wear the jacket with jeans in a pinch and that same navy suit has just given you four different outfits. 

Why do this? Because this will save you weight in your suitcase and ultimately money for avoiding airline over limit charges. Besides, it also gives you more space to collect souvenirs from all those wonderful ports of call! 😉 

Sail Savings

October is World Explorer Sale month at Expedia and a number of cruise lines have some additional offers just for Expedia agents to entice your wanderlust. These include additional onboard credit, free Wi-Fi, drinks packages and even reduced deposits on some cruise lines.  So planning starts with dreaming and dreaming starts by clicking here!

That concludes this edition of my Vacation Views from Crow’s Nest. The next edition will be sent on October 20.  Please reach out to allow me to provide a quote for your next dream vacation and feel free to share this with colleagues and friends!