Thunderstorms at Sea About This Page:

[Tiki4]

Our Weather Forecast indicates we will have Thunderstorms while on our cruise in the Bahamas.

This is our 1st cruise and I am a bit nervous!

Anyone have experience with Thunderstorms at sea?

What do I need to prepare myself??????

[Colexis Mom]

They're really no different than thunderstorms on the mainland!

[nurse_mom]

we have been on board in the rain. Really no different than on land. Trust me there will be enough activities on board you won't notice the rain all that much

[Tiki4]

Originally Posted by nurse_mom

we have been on board in the rain. Really no different than on land. Trust me there will be enough activities on board you won't notice the rain all that much

Thanks!! I am sure I have nothing to worry about. It is just the "new unknown experience" nerves I am dealing with......

What does one do on Castaway Cay if it is raining or Thunderstorming?

[MollyB]

Yes I have! Let me say I think it was a once in a lifetime experience! The day we boarded the Dream last March it poured! Then the Sail Away party had to be relocated indoors (it was so sad, I cried!). Even the Aqua Duck was closed! . That night at sea is STORMED all night long! I had left the verandah door open all night since it wasn't raining in but it really was kind of a peaceful feeling. It didn't bother me at all. My DD10 slept right through it! I just kept thinking I may never have this experience again and i got up to look out and it is truly something I will never forget. My biggest worry was that it would be rainy and icky the next day because the forecasts weren't good. But in the AM the sun was shining beautifully and the rest of the short trip was wonderful. I would not worry about the storms while on the ship. Those storms can come and go quickly especially when the ship is moving. I hope you will have some beautiful weather too even if it does rain/storm.

[Tiki4]

Originally Posted by MollyB

Yes I have! Let me say I think it was a once in a lifetime experience! The day we boarded the Dream last March it poured! Then the Sail Away party had to be relocated indoors (it was so sad, I cried!). Even the Aqua Duck was closed! . That night at sea is STORMED all night long! I had left the verandah door open all night since it wasn't raining in but it really was kind of a peaceful feeling. It didn't bother me at all. My DD10 slept right through it! I just kept thinking I may never have this experience again and i got up to look out and it is truly something I will never forget. My biggest worry was that it would be rainy and icky the next day because the forecasts weren't good. But in the AM the sun was shining beautifully and the rest of the short trip was wonderful. I would not worry about the storms while on the ship. Those storms can come and go quickly especially when the ship is moving. I hope you will have some beautiful weather too even if it does rain/storm.

Thanks so much!!! You made me feel a whole lot better!! I bet it is a site to see!

[Dave Marx]

There are storms, and there are storms, too.

During much of the year there's a 30% chance of isolated showers/thundershowers, nearly every day. Seawater evaporates, small clouds form, and they drop their water later in the day. On any partly cloudy day (which is most days) you can look to the horizon and see the tell-tale signs of a localized shower here and there. Those showers tend to last just a little while when they do pass over. If you see one of those headed towards Castaway Cay, plan to sit it out, rather than dash for the ship. (Essentially, this is a similar weather pattern to Orlando's summertime conditions - thundershowers possible daily.)

Then, there's the rain/thunderstorms associated with a larger weather system - a front moving in, a tropical storm, etc. Those can bring sustained rain.

So, check the forecast again, and see if there's a front/storm system associated with the forecast, or whether it's routine shower activity.

[MollyB]

Originally Posted by Tiki4

Thanks so much!!! You made me feel a whole lot better!! I bet it is a site to see!

Oh I'm glad. I was afraid I gave too much info ! Other than being sad of the rainy weather the storms at night were kinda neat. And by storms I did mean loud thunder and lightning in the distance

[marisag]

During the TA Earmarked cruise on the Dream last year, there was one night it stormed, and bad! I remember seeing the lightening anf hearing the thunder. But it wasn't bad at all. In fact, I also remember thinking how little I felt the ship move. I was very impressed with the stabilizers There is so much to do on the ship- even in the rain. I wouldn't worry if you are at sea and it rains. I think it would be worse if you were in port and it was raining. Have fun on your trip!

[marshmellow86]

It also depends on if you are in port or not. This summer I really enjoyed sitting on the vernadah and watching the lightning storms off in the distance. They were beautiful and the ship steered far enough away, it was truly just like watching a show.

[boxerstoo]

Originally Posted by Tiki4

Our Weather Forecast indicates we will have Thunderstorms while on our cruise in the Bahamas.

This is our 1st cruise and I am a bit nervous!

Anyone have experience with Thunderstorms at sea?

What do I need to prepare myself??????

Thunderstorms are a piece of cake, nothing to worry about. The Caption's crew keeps an eye on all the weather and if a problem storm is on the horizon, they just alter the course to calmer waters so you can go on and enjoy your cruise.

[KSSteve]

DW and I sailed in 2009 during tropical storm/hurricane Ida. Piece of cake. Windy, but fun. Only bad thing was my parasailing excursion was cancelled on Castaway Cay. Oh well, guess I'll have to book a Carribean cruise when we are on the Wonder in July to try parasailing again

[Tiki4]

Originally Posted by boxerstoo

Thunderstorms are a piece of cake, nothing to worry about. The Caption's crew keeps an eye on all the weather and if a problem storm is on the horizon, they just alter the course to calmer waters so you can go on and enjoy your cruise.

That is reassuring!!
Thanks!!

We are only 2 days away from boarding!! Been in Florida a few days now (loved Disney Vero Beach ) and on Sunday it is the DREAM!!

It has been a bit windy and some rain as of late. On Thursday it was 16 mph winds and the seas was pretty rolly (or it seemed along the coast at VB). What is it like at sea with wind speeds like that? What is a heavy wind speed for out at sea?

[Dave Marx]

Wind of that sort is meaningless. When the ship is moving at 18 knots, unless you're headed into the wind, the ship trumps Mother Nature. The pool deck is completely sheltered. Go up to Deck 12, you'll find some areas exposed to wind, others sheltered by glass panels. On verandahs the direction of wind is the consideration - you're sheltered from all but one direction.

You can't judge by Vero Beach. That's the open Atlantic. Most of the time you're in the sheltered waters of the Bahamas. Conditions on the Atlantic affect the first and last 8 hours of the cruise. You'll be asleep for half that.

[Tiki4]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

Wind of that sort is meaningless. When the ship is moving at 18 knots, unless you're headed into the wind, the ship trumps Mother Nature. The pool deck is completely sheltered. Go up to Deck 12, you'll find some areas exposed to wind, others sheltered by glass panels. On verandahs the direction of wind is the consideration - you're sheltered from all but one direction.

You can't judge by Vero Beach. That's the open Atlantic. Most of the time you're in the sheltered waters of the Bahamas. Conditions on the Atlantic affect the first and last 8 hours of the cruise. You'll be asleep for half that.

Thanks Dave!!

Tommorrow we board the DREAM!!! SO excited!!!