cruise ship and waves

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Plan Your Trip

How Big Of Waves Can A Cruise Ship Handle

Published: December 13, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Brandise Escalante

• Sustainability

Introduction

Welcome aboard! Cruise ships are a popular choice for vacationers who crave the excitement of exploring the open seas while enjoying the comfort and luxury of a floating resort. These massive vessels offer an array of amenities, from world-class dining options to breathtaking entertainment and relaxation options.

However, as impressive as cruise ships may be, there is one question that often arises in the minds of travelers: How big of waves can a cruise ship handle? This is a valid concern given the unpredictable nature of the ocean and the potential for rough seas.

In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of cruise ship stability and explore the factors that play a role in determining a ship’s ability to handle large waves. We will also discuss the design features that help ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew during challenging sea conditions.

Understanding the fundamentals of cruise ship stability is essential for both avid cruisers and those considering a cruise for the first time. By gaining insight into the design and engineering behind these floating marvels, you can better appreciate the efforts taken to create an enjoyable and secure experience while at sea.

So, let’s dive in and explore the fascinating world of cruise ship stability and how these magnificent vessels navigate through even the most challenging of waves.

Understanding cruise ship stability

When it comes to cruise ship safety, stability is of utmost importance. Cruise ships are meticulously designed to maintain stability in a variety of sea conditions, ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers and crew onboard. But what exactly is cruise ship stability?

Stability refers to a ship’s ability to remain upright and steady while floating on water. Cruise ships are built with a low center of gravity, which helps them resist the forces of waves, wind, and other external factors that can cause the ship to roll, pitch, or yaw.

Several key factors contribute to cruise ship stability:

• Metacentric height: The metacentric height is a crucial measurement that determines a ship’s initial stability. It represents the distance between the ship’s center of gravity and its metacenter, which is the point where the vertical line through the center of buoyancy intersects with the line of the center of gravity. A larger metacentric height indicates greater initial stability.
• Weight distribution: To maintain stability, cruise ships need an even distribution of weight throughout the vessel. The weight of accommodations, amenities, and supplies is carefully balanced to prevent excessive listing.
• Buoyancy: The design of the ship’s hull and its displacement in the water contribute to buoyancy, which helps counteract the downward force of gravity. Ships are built with a wide, flat hull to enhance buoyancy and stability.
• Ballast tanks: Cruise ships are equipped with ballast tanks that can be filled with water to adjust the ship’s overall weight distribution. This allows for fine-tuning of stability based on sea conditions.

Together, these factors work in harmony to ensure that cruise ships maintain stability, even in challenging conditions. Advanced technologies, such as stabilizer systems, are also employed to further enhance stability and minimize the ship’s motion.

By understanding the principles of cruise ship stability, passengers can have peace of mind knowing that these floating giants are engineered to handle a wide range of sea conditions, making for a safe and enjoyable voyage.

Factors affecting cruise ship stability

While cruise ships are designed to be stable in various sea conditions, there are several factors that can impact their stability. Understanding these factors can help us grasp the complexities involved in ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers and crew onboard.

1. Weather conditions: The weather has a significant influence on cruise ship stability. High winds, storms, and rough seas can create large waves and swells that can potentially affect the ship’s stability. Cruise lines monitor weather patterns closely and may alter itineraries or change course to avoid severe weather.

2. Wave height: The magnitude and frequency of waves play a crucial role in cruise ship stability. Large waves can exert substantial forces on the ship’s structure, causing it to roll or pitch. However, modern cruise ships are designed to handle waves of varying heights, including those encountered during typical sea conditions.

3. Ship’s size and shape: The size and shape of the ship can impact stability. Larger ships tend to have increased stability due to their larger mass and wider hulls. Additionally, ships with a higher superstructure may be more affected by wind forces, potentially leading to increased rolling.

4. Passenger and cargo distribution: The distribution of passengers and cargo onboard the ship can affect stability, particularly in relation to weight distribution. Cruise ships carefully manage the loading process, ensuring an even distribution of weight to maintain balance.

5. Trim and list: Trim refers to the balance of the ship from bow to stern, while list refers to the balance from port to starboard. Maintaining proper trim and list is essential for optimal stability. Ballast tanks are utilized to adjust the ship’s trim, compensating for changes in weight distribution during the voyage.

6. Operating speed: The speed at which the ship is traveling can impact stability. High speeds can increase the forces exerted on the ship by waves, potentially affecting stability. Cruise ships typically adjust their speed based on prevailing sea conditions to ensure optimal stability and passenger comfort.

7. Environmental conditions: Factors such as currents and tides can also affect cruise ship stability. Strong currents or restricted waterways can influence a ship’s maneuverability, requiring careful navigation to maintain stability.

By considering these factors, cruise ship operators can make informed decisions to ensure the safety and stability of their vessels. Modern technologies and advanced navigation systems enable them to navigate through various conditions while prioritizing passenger safety.

Wave height and its impact on cruise ship stability

Wave height is a critical factor when it comes to cruise ship stability. Waves are formed due to wind, ocean currents, and various other factors. They can vary in size depending on environmental conditions and can have a significant impact on the ship’s stability.

1. Influence on ship motion: The height of waves directly affects the motion of the ship. When encountering larger waves, a cruise ship may experience rolling and pitching movements. Roll refers to the side-to-side motion of the ship, while pitch refers to the movement of the ship’s bow and stern in an up-and-down motion. While moderate rolling and pitching are generally well tolerated by modern cruise ships, excessively large waves can pose a challenge to stability.

2. Structural considerations: Large waves exert considerable forces on the ship’s structure. Cruise ships are built to withstand these forces through robust construction and design features specifically engineered to improve stability. The hull design, the positioning of bulkheads and compartments, and the strength of the materials used all contribute to the ship’s ability to handle big waves.

3. Stabilizer systems: Many modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilizer systems. These are retractable fins or wings located beneath the waterline on either side of the ship. Stabilizers counteract the rolling motion caused by waves by generating forces that act in the opposite direction. They help to minimize side-to-side movement, improving passenger comfort and maintaining stability even in rough seas.

4. Operational adjustments: Cruise ship captains and crews are trained to navigate through different wave conditions. They have the knowledge and experience to adapt the ship’s speed, course, and operation in response to wave height. Adjusting the ship’s speed or changing the direction of the ship’s course can help minimize the impact of larger waves on stability.

Although cruise ships are designed to handle a wide range of wave heights, there are limits to what they can safely endure. Extreme weather conditions can generate unusually large waves, referred to as rogue waves, that can exceed the typical range anticipated during the ship’s design. In such cases, cruise lines rely on advanced weather monitoring systems and navigation technologies to avoid areas prone to these extreme wave conditions.

Overall, cruise ship stability is carefully considered during the design and construction process. Through a combination of structural design, advanced technologies, and the expertise of the crew, cruise ships are built to handle various wave heights and ensure a safe and comfortable voyage for all passengers.

Design features that help cruise ships handle big waves

When it comes to navigating through big waves, cruise ships are equipped with a range of design features that enhance their ability to maintain stability and ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew. These design elements are carefully integrated into the construction of the ship, taking into account the expected operating conditions and the forces exerted by large waves.

1. Hull design: Cruise ships feature a modern hull design that helps them withstand the forces of waves. The hull is typically wider and flatter, which improves stability by providing buoyancy and reducing the impact of rolling. Additionally, the shape of the hull is designed to minimize resistance and optimize the ship’s performance in challenging sea conditions.

2. Bulkheads and compartments: Cruise ships are divided into multiple watertight compartments and are equipped with bulkheads, which are vertical partitions installed throughout the ship. These structural elements help to maintain the integrity of the ship’s structure and prevent water from flooding the entire vessel in the event of damage caused by rough seas or other unforeseen circumstances.

3. Strengthened superstructure: The superstructure of a cruise ship is the upper portion of the ship that houses cabins, restaurants, entertainment venues, and other facilities. To improve stability, the superstructure is reinforced with high-strength materials and structural supports, reducing the risk of excessive rolling and swaying caused by wind and waves.

4. Stabilizer systems: Stabilizers are retractable fins or wings located beneath the waterline on either side of the ship. These systems can be extended during rough sea conditions to counteract the rolling motion caused by waves. By generating forces that oppose the natural rolling motion, stabilizers help reduce the impact of large waves and maintain stability, enhancing the comfort of passengers on board.

5. Advanced monitoring and navigation systems: Cruise ships are equipped with state-of-the-art monitoring and navigation technologies that provide real-time information about wave height, wind speed, and other relevant data. This allows the ship’s crew to make informed decisions regarding speed, course adjustments, and other operational measures to mitigate the effects of big waves and optimize stability.

6. Ballast systems: Cruise ships utilize ballast systems, including specially designed tanks, to adjust the ship’s weight distribution. By strategically filling or emptying these tanks with water, the ship’s trim and stability can be optimized, providing better control and handling in challenging sea conditions.

These design features work in concert to ensure that cruise ships can handle big waves and maintain stability. By utilizing advanced technology and incorporating robust construction techniques, cruise ships are well-equipped to provide a smooth and enjoyable experience for passengers, even in rough sea conditions.

Case studies of cruise ships encountering large waves

While cruise ships are designed to handle big waves, there have been instances where vessels have encountered exceptionally rough sea conditions. These case studies highlight the resilience of modern cruise ships and the measures taken to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

1. Queen Elizabeth 2: In 1995, the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) encountered a severe storm in the North Atlantic with waves reportedly reaching heights of 90 feet. Despite the tumultuous sea conditions, the ship successfully weathered the storm without sustaining any major damage or injuries to passengers or crew. This incident showcased the robust design and stability of the QE2, which was renowned for its ability to handle rough seas.

2. Norwegian Breakaway: In early 2019, the Norwegian Breakaway, a large cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, encountered a powerful winter storm with waves around 30 feet high. While the ship experienced significant rolling and pitching, it remained stable throughout the ordeal. The ship’s advanced stabilizer systems and knowledgeable crew played a crucial role in maintaining stability and ensuring the safety of all onboard.

3. Anthem of the Seas: In 2016, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas encountered a severe storm off the coast of Cape Hatteras, with wind speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour and waves reaching heights of 30 feet. Despite the challenging conditions, the ship’s design features, including its strengthened superstructure and stabilizer systems, allowed it to withstand the storm and safely return to port. This incident prompted further safety protocols and increased weather monitoring measures for the cruise industry.

These case studies highlight the importance of robust design and advanced technologies in ensuring the resilience of cruise ships in the face of large waves. The meticulous planning and engineering that goes into creating these floating resorts are evident in their ability to navigate through challenging sea conditions while providing a safe and enjoyable experience for passengers.

It is important to note that cruise lines prioritize the safety of their passengers and crew above all else, and will adjust itineraries or alter course if severe weather or exceptionally large waves are anticipated in the ship’s intended path. The industry has stringent protocols in place to minimize risks and prevent accidents.

Safety measures and protocols for navigating rough seas

When it comes to navigating through rough seas, cruise lines have established robust safety measures and protocols to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew. These precautions are designed to mitigate the risks associated with challenging sea conditions and enhance the overall safety of the voyage.

1. Weather monitoring and communication: Cruise ships have sophisticated weather monitoring systems that track weather patterns in real-time. This enables the ship’s crew to anticipate and plan for adverse weather conditions. Additionally, constant communication with onshore meteorological services allows for up-to-date weather forecasts, helping the ship’s captain make informed decisions regarding the ship’s route and speed adjustments.

2. Crew training and emergency procedures: Cruise ship crew members undergo rigorous training in emergency procedures and safety protocols. This includes drills and simulations to prepare them for various scenarios, including rough sea conditions. The crew is equipped with the necessary skills to handle challenging situations, ensuring passenger safety and minimizing potential risks.

3. Stabilizer systems: As mentioned earlier, modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilizer systems that help reduce the rolling motion caused by waves. These systems can be deployed to counteract the effects of rough seas, enhancing the comfort and stability of the ship.

4. Navigation adjustments: The ship’s captain and navigation officers continuously evaluate sea conditions and adjust the ship’s speed, course, and route when necessary. This allows for optimal maneuverability and ensures the ship avoids areas of severe weather or exceptionally large waves.

5. Passenger safety briefings: Prior to setting sail, passengers are required to attend a mandatory safety briefing. During this briefing, important safety information is provided, including instructions on how to respond to emergencies and locate life jackets and evacuation routes. These briefings empower passengers to take an active role in their personal safety while onboard the ship.

6. Enhanced ship construction: Cruise ships are built to stringent safety standards, with reinforced structures and modern materials that enhance their ability to handle rough seas. These design features, such as watertight compartments and strengthened superstructures, provide additional safety measures in case of unexpected events or extreme weather conditions.

7. Regular maintenance and inspections: Cruise ships undergo routine maintenance checks and inspections to ensure that all systems, including navigational equipment and safety features, are functioning properly. This proactive approach helps identify and address any potential issues that could compromise the ship’s safety during rough sea conditions.

By implementing these safety measures and protocols, cruise lines prioritize the well-being of their passengers and crew. The combination of advanced technology, crew training, and meticulous planning helps to mitigate risks and ensure a safe and enjoyable voyage, even in challenging sea conditions.

Cruise ships are marvels of modern engineering, designed to provide a luxurious and enjoyable experience while navigating the vast oceans. Understanding how these colossal vessels handle rough seas and big waves is essential for all who embark on a cruise adventure.

Through meticulous design, advanced technology, and rigorous safety protocols, cruise ships are built to maintain stability and ensure passenger safety in a wide range of sea conditions. Factors such as hull design, stabilizer systems, and weight distribution all contribute to a ship’s ability to handle big waves and provide a comfortable journey for passengers.

Case studies have demonstrated the resilience of cruise ships when faced with challenging sea conditions. The industry’s commitment to safety is evident in the implementation of weather monitoring systems, crew training, navigation adjustments, and enhanced ship construction features. These measures work together to ensure the well-being of everyone onboard.

As technology and engineering innovation continue to evolve, cruise ships are becoming even more equipped to handle rough seas. Cruise lines are constantly improving their safety protocols and investing in the latest advancements to enhance passenger comfort and safety.

However, it’s important to note that while cruise ships are designed to handle big waves, there are limits to what they can endure. Cruise lines prioritize the safety of passengers and crew above all else, and adjustments to itineraries or course changes may be made to avoid severe weather conditions.

So, the next time you embark on a cruise adventure, you can have confidence in the knowledge that cruise ships are well-prepared to handle various sea conditions. From the design and construction of the ship to the crew’s training and the implementation of state-of-the-art technology, the safety and comfort of passengers remain paramount.

Now that you have a deeper understanding of cruise ship stability and its ability to handle big waves, you can embark on your next cruise adventure with peace of mind, knowing that your journey will be both safe and unforgettable.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Watch CBS News

Rogue wave kills navigation system on cruise ship with nearly 400 on board as deadly storm hammers northern Europe

December 22, 2023 / 9:05 AM EST / CBS/AP

A cruise ship in the North Sea was hit by a massive rogue wave, causing a power outage and disabling the vessel's navigation system late on Thursday, Danish authorities said, as a deadly storm brought heavy rain and strong winds across northern Europe overnight and into Friday.

The Norwegian cruise ship MS Maud temporarily lost power on Thursday after encountering the rogue wave. Its operator, Hurtigruten Expedition, said in a statement that the 266 guests and 131 crew were uninjured and that the vessel, initially headed for the English port of Tilbury, would be diverted to Bremerhaven, Germany, for disembarkation.

Danish Search and Rescue said the vessel could "maneuver via emergency systems, and it has two civilian support vessels close by."

Reuters reported that the ship was being towed to Bremerhafen in Germany after the power outage. A spokesperson for the Danish Joint Rescue Coordination Centre told the news agency that a ship from civil rescue firm Esvagt had managed to connect a tow line to the MS Maud.

"An Esvagt ship is towing it slowly towards Bremerhafen in Germany at around 8-9 knots," the spokesperson told Reuters.

On Thursday, high winds also grounded flights in parts of the U.K., suspended train services and stopped Scottish ferries.

Women killed by falling trees

The storm also brought down trees and prompting warnings of flooding on the North Sea coast. A woman in Belgium was fatally injured by a falling Christmas tree, while another tree killed a person in the Netherlands.

The 65-foot Christmas tree collapsed onto three people at a busy market in Oudenaarde in western Belgium late Thursday, killing a 63-year-old woman and injuring two other people. The Christmas market was immediately canceled.

A woman who was struck by a falling tree on Thursday in the eastern Dutch town of Wilp later died of her injuries, her employer said.

Pre-Christmas rail travelers in parts of Germany faced disruption. National railway operator Deutsche Bahn said Friday there were cancellations on routes from Hamburg and Hannover to Frankfurt and Munich, while long-distance services from Hamburg northward to Kiel and Flensburg weren't running, among other disruptions.

The company said that falling trees damaged overhead electric wires or blocked tracks largely in northern Germany, but also in the central state of Hesse.

In Hamburg, the Elbe River flooded streets around the city's fish market, with water waist-high in places. German authorities warned of a storm surge of up to three meters (nearly 10 feet) or more above mean high tide on parts of the North Sea coast on Friday.

Streets around harbors flooded overnight in some Dutch North Sea towns including Scheveningen, the seaside suburb of The Hague.

The huge Maeslantkering storm barrier that protects Rotterdam from high sea levels automatically closed for the first time because of high water levels - meaning that all six major storm barriers that protect the low-lying Netherlands were closed at the same time. The nation's water and infrastructure authority said that was also a first. By Friday morning, all six barriers were open again as winds eased.

• Cruise Ship

More from CBS News

First tropical storm warning of hurricane season issued along coastal Texas

American among tourists reported missing in Greece amid deadly heat

German police seize $2.78 billion in cocaine

As Putin heads for North Korea, South fires warning shots at North Korean troops

Norwegian cruise ship loses ability to navigate after rogue wave hits

A Norwegian cruise ship lost the ability to navigate after a rogue wave crashed into it Thursday, the cruise company HX said.

The MS Maud lost power after the wave hit as the ship was sailing toward Tilbury, England, from Florø, Norway, HX, a unit of Norway’s Hurtigruten Group, said in a statement.

None of the 266 passengers or 131 crew members were seriously injured, HX said.

"The situation is stable, the ship has propulsion and they are able to navigate the ship manually via emergency systems," the Danish Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said in a statement Friday local time.

The rogue wave shattered windows on the ship's bridge, which caused water to enter the vessel and resulted in a power outage, Reuters reported.

The ship was in the North Sea at the time, in an area hit by a storm late Thursday with hurricane-force gusts forecast to continue Friday, the Danish Meteorological Institute said according to Reuters.

One passenger posted a video on Facebook showing the view from her room's window Thursday with the cruise ship bobbing up and down and creaking in the throes of high waves. 

Because of a lack of navigational abilities, the ship had to be steered manually from the engine room, per the news agency.

Two civilian support vessels are aiding the ship in its journey to port, Danish rescue authorities said.

The ship, traveling under its own power, is currently sailing to Bremerhaven, Germany, for disembarkation, HX said in an updated statement Friday.

“Following ongoing safety checks and technical assessments, given the weather conditions, we decided to amend the planned sailing route. Across the fleet, there are thorough operational protocols in place and we always prioritize the safety of those onboard,” HX said.

"Our team are working to arrange onward travel back home for guests onboard," the statement added.

Irene Byon is a booking producer for NBC News.

Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Rogue Wave Strikes Cruise Ship, Killing a Passenger and Injuring 4 Others

The passengers were hurt after a large, unpredictable wave hit the ship, which was traveling toward the Antarctic, Viking Cruises said.

By Amanda Holpuch

A passenger died and four others were injured after a large, unexpected wave hit a cruise ship traveling toward a popular launching point for expeditions to Antarctica, Viking Cruises said.

The ship, the Viking Polaris, was struck by a “rogue wave” on Tuesday at 10:40 p.m. local time while traveling toward Ushuaia, Argentina, which is on the southern tip of South America, Viking Cruises said in a statement .

Viking Cruises did not say how the passenger was killed or provide the passenger’s name. The four passengers who were injured were treated by onboard medical staff and had non-life-threatening injuries, Viking Cruises said.

A State Department official said that a U.S. citizen died and that the department was offering consular assistance to the person’s family.

Rogue waves are unpredictable, typically twice the size of surrounding waves and often come from a different direction than the surrounding wind and waves, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Scientists are still trying to figure out how and when these uncommon waves form.

Ann Mah, of Topeka, Kan., told the news station WIBW that she and her husband were on the ship when it was hit by the wave and that it was “just like your whole house got shook really hard.”

“I mean, it was just a thud,” Ms. Mah said.

The Viking Polaris was launched this year and was designed for travel to remote destinations such as the Antarctic Peninsula. The ship is 665 feet long and can carry 378 passengers and 256 crew members.

The ship sustained “limited damage” from the wave and arrived in Ushuaia the day after it was struck, Viking Cruises said.

The cruise company canceled the Viking Polaris’s next scheduled trip, a 13-day cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula.

“We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities,” the company said.

Tourism to the Antarctic has steadily increased in the last 30 years, with 74,401 people traveling there in the 2019-20 season, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Roughly 6,700 people traveled there in the 1992-93 season, according to the association.

In recent years, some observers have warned that the increase in tourism may not be sustainable and that it could threaten visitor safety or disrupt the fragile environment, which is already straining under the effects of climate change.

It is the beginning of the Antarctic tourism season, which coincides with its summer, beginning in late October or early November and usually lasting until March.

The death on the Viking Cruises ship this week comes after the death of two other cruise ship passengers in the Antarctic last month. Two Quark Expeditions cruise ship passengers died after one of the ship’s heavy duty inflatable Zodiac boats overturned near shore, Seatrade Cruise News reported .

Amanda Holpuch is a general assignment reporter. More about Amanda Holpuch

clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

Carnival passengers recount ‘nightmare’ cruise as storm floods ship

Videos showed the Carnival Sunshine cabins and hallways flooding and ceilings leaking

Matthew Branham and his fiancée, Madison Davis, were lying by a Carnival Sunshine pool on Friday aboard a cruise returning to Charleston, S.C., from the Bahamas when an announcement came over the loudspeaker. The captain was expecting rougher weather that evening, but there was nothing to worry about. So Branham and Davis didn’t worry.

As the day went on, “We noticed it started getting cooler in the afternoon — much, much cooler,” said Branham, 25, of Castlewood, Va. “And then it was like a switch was flipped, and it literally turned into a nightmare.”

En route back to Charleston Friday night into Saturday, the Carnival Sunshine navigated into a strong storm system that battered the southeast over the holiday weekend. Videos emerged on social media showing cabins and hallways flooding, shop floors littered with destroyed merchandise and leaking ceilings . Passenger Brad Morrell snapped a photo of an automated instrument map reporting a 69 knot, or 79 mph, wind.

#CarnivalSunshine : Due to return to Charleston, South Carolina this Saturday, May 27, 2023, has been delayed due to severe weather. The ship is currently off the South Carolina coast and holding position, unable to return to the port because of high winds & rough seas. #cruise 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/2B6HlAn2yD — ∼Marietta (@MariettaDaviz) May 28, 2023

Carnival said in a statement that the weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecast, but that its fleet operations center team, which relies on outside meteorology resources for itinerary planning, “coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location.”

“Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous,” the statement continued. “The ship proceeded to the port as soon as the weather began to clear.”

Strong Southeast storm slams Carolinas

Carnival said the captain made “several announcements about the weather and the delay it caused in returning to Charleston, asking guests to use extra precaution while walking around the ship.” Additionally, “some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made, but guests and crew were safe.”

The ship’s medical staff did help a “small number” of guests and crew members who needed minor assistance following the storm. Despite the significant damage and a delay in schedule, Carnival Sunshine embarked on its next five-day Bahama sailing on Saturday.

From their sea-view room, Branham and Davis watched as waves surged over their window and braced themselves as the 892-foot-long ship lurched in the storm.

“Waves were hitting the boat so hard that it was like an earthquake experience, jarring you like a really rough roller coaster — even in the middle floor,” Branham said.

They were told to stay in their cabins. Meanwhile, Branham said, TVs were falling off walls, and glassware was sliding off shelves and shattering on the floor. “You could not stand up in your room,” he said. “You could be thrown from the bed.”

They packed up their belongings when their floor started to flood and took shelter in a main lobby area.

“All of the employees were sprinting downstairs with life vests,” Branham said. “There were little kids besides us screaming and crying and throwing fits.”

Throughout the storm, Branham wondered why there weren’t more announcements from Carnival staff. Besides the warning of rougher seas earlier Friday and one Saturday morning after they’d weathered the storm, Branham said they weren’t given any official updates on their situation. When he asked workers what was going on, they told him not to worry.

⁦⁦ @CarnivalCruise ⁩ #carnivalsunshine still 75mph winds at 9:25am. Sitting and spinning in the Atlantic. pic.twitter.com/NITCO2l9Ss — FlyersCaptain™®© (@flyerscaptain) May 29, 2023

“But you see rooms flooded, and you can pick up a handful of sand and you’re kind of like, ‘What in the world? Why is nobody telling us anything?’” Branham said.

Jim Walker, a maritime lawyer and cruise industry legal expert, says his firm has been contacted by some Carnival Sunshine passengers who were injured during the storm, including a man who says he was struck by a door and broke his foot. Others have asked him about the potential for a class-action lawsuit.

While Walker said passengers should make their complaints known to Carnival, he doesn’t believe filing a lawsuit would be an efficient next step. Instead, impacted passengers can ask Carnival for a refund or a credit for another cruise, although there’s no guarantee the cruise line will grant such requests.

Pete Peterson, owner of Storybook Cruises , which is affiliated with Cruise Planners, said cruise ships keep a close eye on weather developments and will adjust their itinerary depending on the severity of the storm.

“Cruise lines monitor the weather all the time. They’re not going to put their passengers in harm’s way,” said Peterson, who has been a cruise adviser for more than 20 years and has sailed on nearly 60 cruises. “Obviously, some cruise lines are better at doing this than others.”

In 2016, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas returned to port after cruising into a “bomb cyclone,” which damaged the ship amid winds gusting to 100 mph. The ship sailed into the remnants of Hurricane Hermine seven months later, causing additional problems.

To ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers, a cruise ship can alter its course and circumvent the rough weather system. In stormy conditions, the crew can deploy the stabilizers, which will prevent the ship from rolling and bucking.

“You don’t experience the up and down,” Peterson said. “It’s not as rough a ride.”

Both approaches can add to a cruise line’s expenditures, Peterson said. Stabilizers slow the vessel, thereby consuming more fuel. Sailing around the storm can take longer than the original route and disrupt the company’s cruise schedule, leading to delays or cancellations. The cruise line may have to reimburse passengers or provide them with future credits because of the inconvenience.

“When they do something like that, it’s going to cost them money,” Peterson said.

Craig Setzer , a meteorologist and hurricane preparedness specialist, said that even with the hurricane-like conditions and flooding, “I would never be in doubt of the vessel’s integrity,” he said. “Cruise ships are structurally very, very sound and can survive a lot. They’re really rugged.”

Matthew Cappucci contributed to this report.

More cruise news

Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.

Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .

The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.

40-foot waves batter cruise ship, shattering glass, causing flooding, terrifying passengers: ‘Things were crashing all around us’

• Published: May. 30, 2023, 11:11 a.m.

A storm with 40-foot waves battered the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship on Friday, delaying its arrival in Charleston, South Carolina. Terrified passengers described glass shattering and water pouring into the ship. Here the ship is seen docked in Charleston in 2020 (AP Photo/Mic Smith, File) AP

• Robert Higgs, cleveland.com

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A storm with 40-foot waves battered the cruise ship Carnival Sunshine late Friday night, breaking glass, causing water to pour into the ship and terrifying passengers.

The ship, en route from the Bahamas to Charleston, encountered the storm off the South Carolina coast.

“We had a 40-foot wave hit our side of the ship. We almost fell out the bed. Things were crashing all around us and the carpet on my side of the bed was soaked (because) water came in thru our balcony door,” passenger Goodwin Sherbert wrote on Facebook .

Passenger William B. Blackburn, aboard for his first cruise with his wife and other family members, told CNN they stayed in their cabin and prayed they would be OK.

“(We) discussed the fact that it would be very unlikely to survive in the water even with life jackets and doubted that lifeboats could even be launched in those conditions,” he said. “It was terrifying.”

Video posted to Twitter under the handle @CrewCenter showed water running up and down a hallway and said the crew on one deck had to be evacuated to another part of the ship.

At one point the ship was listing to the left, CBS News reported .

“The ship took a hit from a wave that sounded like the ship split in two,” passenger Sharon Tutrone, a professor at Coastal Carolina University, said in a Twitter post .

Some passengers complained to CNN and CBS News about a lack of communication from cruise staff as the ship was pitching about.

Tutrone said the only time passengers heard from the captain was on Friday when he told them he had an experienced crew and would do everything he could to minimize discomfort as the ship encountered the storm.

Some passengers and crew members needed “minor assistance” from medical staff, a Carnival cruise spokesperson told CBS News. “Guests on board the ship were safe,” the spokesperson added.

The ship’s docking in Charleston was delayed by the weather. Some repairs to crew quarters also delayed its departure over the weekend to return to the Bahamas.

The National Hurricane Center warned on Friday that a non-tropical area of low pressure off Florida was set to move northward and inland over the Carolinas during the weekend. Forecasters said there would be gusty winds, dangerous surf and rip current conditions along parts of the southeastern coast of the United States through Sunday.

Passenger Bill Hassler, who told CNN he was “surprised I’m still alive” after enduring the storm, criticized the cruise line for allowing the ship to sail into such extreme weather.

“Why would you sail into this storm with 80 mph-plus winds, I mean who does that?” Hassler said. “What were they thinking?”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

• Starting a Business
• Growing a Business
• Small Business Guide
• Business News
• Science & Technology
• Money & Finance
• For Subscribers
• Write for Entrepreneur
• Tips White Papers
• Entrepreneur Store
• United States
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East
• South Africa

Copyright © 2024 Entrepreneur Media, LLC All rights reserved. Entrepreneur® and its related marks are registered trademarks of Entrepreneur Media LLC

'We Had Crew Crying': Video Shows Cruise Ship Pummeled By Massive Waves, 100 Passengers Injured The Spirit of Discovery was headed back to the U.K. after the captain heard of inclement weather approaching.

By Emily Rella Nov 9, 2023

It was every cruisegoer's worst nightmare come true last week when violent storms and sky-high waves caused roughly 100 passengers to be injured, five of which were considered to be serious.

Passengers onboard Saga Cruises' Spirit of Discovery were on day nine of a two-week journey from Southern England through the Canary Islands, located off the coast of Spain. While crossing the Bay of Biscay (which borders France and Spain), the ship was pummeled by massive waves.

"People were writing texts to their loved ones in case we capsized," one passenger told BBC News . "The tone of voice in our captain... he was physically scared. We had crew crying. We had many passengers in awful states of fear."

The passenger also told the outlet that there were passengers who suffered "horrific broken bones, pelvises, lacerations, stitches," and that the majority of the clientele was elderly.

Multiple users took to social media to document experiences that loved ones were having while onboard the ship.

I've heard from my in-laws that they've got 7 passengers are needing hospitalisation and a 150 have needed treatment onboard. Hope the people needing hospitalisation aren't too seriously injured. Questions definitely need answering! — (@KattyB08) November 6, 2023

WATCH: BBC reports "tables were flying" as waves threw people "all up and down the place", say passengers on UK cruise ship 'Spirit of discovery' caught in storm. 100 people got injured as 30ft waves battered the ship windows. pic.twitter.com/NWZh2tL2ff — Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) November 7, 2023

Although the ship was originally supposed to dock in Las Palmas, the ship's captain decided to change directions due to weather and instead attempted to dock the ship at La Coruña near the northwest tip of Spain.

Related: After Drake Passage 'Rogue' Wave, Cruise Passengers Speak Out

But then the captain received word that La Coruña was closing because of the incoming storm, resulting in the ship rerouting back to England.

Related: Cruise Passengers Go Flying During Storm in Florida: Video

"Spirit of Discovery was sadly caught in the challenging weather conditions this weekend, as she started her return to the UK. The ship remained safe at all times, but due to the impact of the storm some guests sustained injuries," a spokesperson for Saga Cruises told The Independent . "All were treated immediately by onboard medical staff. While the weather is clearly beyond our control, we want to offer our sincere apologies to all those affected who are now safely back, having sailed home in calmer seas."

Saga Cruises did not immediately respond to Entrepreneur 's request for comment.

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick Red Arrow

• Steve Jobs' 3 Public Speaking Power Moves Remain Just as Relevant Today, 13 Years After His Final Keynote at the Apple Developers Conference
• Lock I Blocked a Toxic Childhood Friend and It Taught Me an Important Lesson About Managing People
• Lock 10 of the Biggest Business Blunders in 2024 (So Far)
• 'I've Never Regretted Leaving the Corporate World Behind': This Former Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How
• Lock 5 Ways to Fix Your Lack of Inspiration
• 'Unpredictability in Various Forms' — How Franchisees Can Adapt and Protect Themselves From Election Year Uncertainty

Most Popular Red Arrow

63 small business ideas to start in 2024.

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Use This Code to Get 1TB of Cloud Storage for $120

Koofr Cloud Storage makes backing up and sharing work files a safer and easier process.

Wells Fargo Reportedly Fired More Than a Dozen Employees for Faking Keyboard Activity

The bank told Bloomberg that it "does not tolerate unethical behavior."

The Key to Real Innovation Is Cross-Pollination — Here Are 10 Ways to Implement It in Your Business

Transform your business with this unique approach to sparking innovation.

Get Easy Access to Fun Summaries of Non-fiction Bestsellers with This $60 Subscription

Headway lets users gain key ideas and insights from best-selling works of non-fiction.

5 Questions to Ask to Make Sure Your Company's Financial Plan Is on Track

Conducting a "check-up" at midyear is essential to maintain a healthy financial plan.

Successfully copied link

Rogue Waves: How Likely Are You To Encounter One On A Cruise?

Sudden freaks of nature in the sea can swallow helicopters and sink ships. These are rogue waves, but they're relatively rare — or are they?

Rogues waves, also referred to as "extreme storm waves", "freak waves", or "killer waves", maintained their place among marine folklore for hundreds of years. Although these tremendous titan tsunamis that swallow ships seemingly — and suddenly — have spooked seafarers for centuries, they were officially recorded for the first time in the 1990s.

Even since, a common denominator applies to numerous experts the world over: the study of these sudden swells. Some historians and scientists even attribute the demise of many sunken shipwrecks resting under the surface around the globe to such titanic waves, from the chilly seas of the Northern Hemisphere to the tropical waters of the Bermuda Triangle — where a graveyard of ghostly shipwrecks await .

To date, little is known about rogue waves, which are defined as waves twice as high as the background ocean. Some can even attain heights of over 30 meters — and, in their strongest, most catastrophic form, can sweep people out to sea and even sink an entire ship. Unsunk vessels, though, often don't escape unscathed. That's the case of a fated cruise ship, which, last November, was hit by one such suspected and destructive rogue swell in the sea.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise

What Happened To The Viking Cruise Ship Hit By A Rogue Wave?

It was the night of November 29, 2022, when the 202-meter (662 feet) cruise ship, the Viking Polaris , sailed through the Drake Passage in Antarctica's Southern Ocean toward Ushuaia port — the latter where many Antarctic cruises begin and end. While not one of the biggest cruise ships in the world , it covers long-haul ventures, catering to global passengers.

The ship, owned by travel company Viking , was on its way from Antarctica to Argentina; however, an abnormally huge wave struck the vessel as it voyaged through the said port, smashing a number of exterior windows, flooding several rooms, and causing internal structural damage.

The power of this kinetic wall of water also shook passengers, sending them flying into the air. Sadly, the event led to the death of a 62-year-old American woman who sustained serious injuries. Four other guests also suffered injuries, although not life-threatening. In the aftermath, Viking expressed its deepest sympathies and launched an investigation into the incident.

Related: When Is Cruising Wave Season & How Can You Take Advantage Of It?

Saddening it was — a bucket-list dream trip for the passengers on board that resulted in tragedy — but these gargantuan waves are somewhat rare. Or are they? There are questions to be asked. What are these huge-and-sudden sea swells, and how are they formed? And, perhaps more worryingly, does climate change affect their prevalence?

What Are Rogue Waves?

Rogue waves aren't like the swells that surfers seek at the various beaches where the world's biggest waves break . No, these gigantic watery walls are essentially "freak" waves. To qualify, they're at least twice as high as the surrounding sea; ergo, the average height of the waves for a given area at a given time, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains . It's not solely these swells' size that shivers the spine; it's that they seem to appear out of thin air — and typically without any warning.

Related: Not Just Waves: 10 Most Instagrammable Surfing Spots In The World

How Are Rogue Waves Formed?

How rogue waves are formed remains unknown, but scientists do have some valid explanations based on accrued findings from research over the years. When a storm develops waves in a water current that go against the usual wave direction, the movement shortens the wave frequency. In other words, according to the NOAA , it's thought that these powerful rogue crests are created when smaller waves blend into larger ones. This interaction between smaller and larger waves may occur due to high ocean surface winds or changes in currents — changes typically caused by storms.

At the moment, it's not yet confirmed if the Viking Polaris was indeed hit by a rogue wave due to a lack of data on the wave's height and the state of the surrounding sea. Various news outlets reported that a storm was happening when the suspected rogue wave stuck — a storm being a potentially necessary risk factor for this kind of freakish swell, which is believed to cultivate the required conditions for rogue wave formation.

At the same time, the area where the ship was sailing — Drake Passage — also comes into question. This part of the Southern Ocean is infamously perilous; the mighty Antarctic Circumpolar Current feeds its deep waters, fostering an environment below the surface that leads to big but not rogue waves, scientifically speaking.

Related: Praia do Norte, Portugal: Home to The Largest Waves Ever Surfed

What Is The Biggest Rogue Wave Ever Recorded?

The largest rogue wave ever documented was the Draupner wave. Recorded in Norway in 1995, the humongous freak wave reached 25.6 meters (84 feet) in height. It might have been the biggest, but it wasn't the most extreme of its kind ever recorded in terms of size difference between its height and the surrounding sea.

As Live Science reports, the most extreme rogue wave was the Ucluelet in November 2020. At 17.7 meters high (58 feet), it was clocked by an ocean buoy located off the coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. To classify as "rogue", a wave must be at least twice as high as the surrounding water — but the Ucluelet was three times higher, whereas the Draupner was only twice as tall compared with the surrounding sea state.

Though ships are obviously most at risk of rogue waves, these biblical-like phenomena can even swallow rescue helicopters as they hover down toward the water. Still, what are the odds of a rogue wave, and seeing as they can and do strike ships, as evidenced in the case of the Viking Polaris , do cruise vacationists need to be concerned?

Related: Looking For A Kid-Free Cruise? These Ships Are Exclusively For Adults

What Are The Chances Of Getting Hit By A Rogue Wave?

Scientists estimate that only one in 10,000 waves is a rogue wave . ANU theoretical physicist Professor Nail Akhmediev, who has worked on predicting rogue waves via equations, said, "there would be at least 10 of them at any one time in the ocean", as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald .

Furthermore, a 2019 study published in Scientific Reports that utilized data from the US coast suggests that rogue waves might become less frequent but more extreme due to climate change. In the most significant rogue wave study undertaken to date, experts examined two decades of readings from buoys along the western seaboard of America. The buoys' findings indicated that from 1994 to 2016, the prevalence of rogue waves decreased; however, they did increase in height.

Related: Explore Far-Flung Ports With This All-Suite Cruise Line

Although the report's results suggest these waves may become less common but more extreme, the team of scientists said the study's findings could be geographically specific to the region of the ocean they studied. More data on a global scale is required to expand on the study.

Since experts expect climate change to influence rogue waves as the future unfolds, it's of little surprise they hope to learn more about these freaks of mother nature — to discover how and when they may appear. They're a growing threat to the worldwide shipping industry — yet also cruise ship tourism, it would seem. As many luxe cruise ships will sail in 2023 and beyond, the looming issue of rogue waves, albeit rare occurrence to some degree, has scientists', travel operators', and cruise enthusiasts' attention.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Cruise passenger describes the moment their ship was hit by a rogue wave: 'You could just see a wall of water, no sky or anything'

A rogue wave smashed into a cruise ship on Thursday, causing it to lose power, Reuters reported .

The wave struck the Norwegian ship, the MS Maud, and knocked out its navigation abilities.

A passenger on board said that at one point, she could just see "a wall of water, no sky or anything."

The MS Maud, a Norwegian cruise ship, lost its ability to navigate after a rogue wave knocked out its power on Thursday.

The ship, operated by HX, a cruise company owned by Norway's Hurtigruten Group, was about 120 miles from Denmark's west coast when the wave struck, Reuters reported . The wave's force shattered some of the ship's windows and caused it to tilt "pretty violently," passenger Elizabeth Lawrence told Business Insider. She was one of 266 passengers and 131 crew members.

Lawrence, who had picked the cruise to see the Northern Lights, said the day started out with fairly big waves but that the captain had let passengers know to expect that. But as the day went on, the waves got bigger until they were large enough to spray her window on the sixth deck, she said.

"The situation started with the ship's horn sounding for an extremely long time, then the PA system came on, and we just heard scuffling and general moving around noises," Lawrence said. Then, passengers heard the alarm that meant they should head to their muster stations — the place on board where guests gather in case of an emergency.

"I only had to go down a nearby flight of stairs to get to my muster station in the main restaurant, but the ship was tilting pretty violently. When it was all the way over to one side, you could just see a wall of water, no sky or anything," she told BI.

Even in moments of sheer fear, our fellow passengers found levity from the destruction of the Gingerbread Town that collapsed, fragmented & slid around us in Muster Station A Deck 5 18.19 21.12.23 #Hurtigruten #MSMaud whilst #StormPia raged around us. https://t.co/vBjwTDa3v1 pic.twitter.com/iqRkGdZGTG — Oscar Dog (@OscarWoofs) December 23, 2023

Lawrence added that while in their muster stations, passengers were given "survival suits" — or suits that "dramatically extend survival times" with insulation, per the Coast Guard .

She said they didn't get an update for about 20 minutes but that, during that time, crew members helped guests put on their suits, reassured nervous passengers, and brought out water and snacks once things had calmed down.

According to Reuters, a tow boat arrived to help the ship Thursday night. Hurtigruten told the outlet in a statement that no serious injuries resulted from the rogue wave.

"At this time, the ship has confirmed that no serious passenger or crew injuries have been sustained as a result of the incident and the condition of the ship remains stable," the statement said.

Lawrence told BI that while she probably won't head to the North Sea in the winter again, she would still cruise with HX in the future.

"The whole thing was very scary at the time, but I think everything was handled as well as possible, considering the circumstances," she said.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Recommended Stories

How much money should you keep in your checking account.

Every bank customer likely wonders: “How much money should I keep in my checking account?” And the answer might surprise you. Here’s how much you should really keep in a checking account.

Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson is showing off his gnarly bruise from a ruptured bursa sac. What is that?

It probably looks worse than it is: Experts say Johnson's elbow injury should heal on its own.

Les Miles sues LSU for vacating wins, making him ineligible for College Football Hall of Fame

Former LSU coach Les Miles is suing the school for vacating 37 wins that made him ineligible for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Yankees' Anthony Rizzo to miss 4-6 weeks with fractured arm after awkward collision in loss to Red Sox

Anthony Rizzo went down hard after colliding with Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino on Sunday.

Ranking all MLB City Connect jerseys, from the Dodgers at No. 28 to the Marlins at No. 1

With every participating team having released their set, let's rank and grade them all.

Latest inflation data provides potential for 'even greater upside' in the stock market rally

Positive developments in inflation data have Wall Street feeling more positive about the outlook for stocks into the end of the year.

Best RBs for 2024 fantasy football, according to our experts

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first running back rankings for the 2024 NFL season.

Chinese cars are pouring into Mexico — and the U.S. is worried

Four years after the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), Mexico and the U.S. face the prospect of cheap Chinese electric vehicles dominating a fast-growing market and undermining GM, Ford, and Tesla.

Something’s up with the Braves, Paul Skenes’ standing ovation, the Dodgers make a trade

Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman examine what’s wrong with the 2024 Atlanta Braves, Paul Skenes receiving a standing ovation on the road, the Dodgers making a trade and MLB dropping the ball in regards to Rintaro Sasaki.

Men's College World Series 2024 Day 2: Kentucky delivers another walk-off, Texas A&M wins after midnight

Day 2 of the 2024 College World Series ended at 1:13 a.m. local time.

Men's College World Series: Tennessee trounces North Carolina, Florida State eliminates Virginia

Tennessee is a win away from advancing to the MCWS finals.

Caitlin Clark scores 23 in Fever win over Sky, Angel Reese disputes flagrant foul call

Caitlin Clark led the Fever to a win over the Sky. Afterward, Angel Reese disputed a flagrant foul she was called for on Clark.

Charles Barkley announces he will retire from broadcasting after 2024-25 season

Next season will be the end of an era for both TNT and Charles Barkley.

As the WNBA surges in popularity, all eyes are on its players. Stylists share what it's like to dress the league's stars.

All eyes are on the WNBA and its players. Their stylists are rising to the occasion.

'Ghost' busted: Gervonta Davis defeats Frank Martin via wild eighth-round KO

"Tank" showed his old form in his first fight in 14 months.

'Sopranos' star Drea de Matteo says doing OnlyFans made her realize she's 'a 52-year-old woman with a smokin' hot body'

The Emmy-winning actress used to be her "worst critic." Now she has "such a sense of pride walking onto set in stilettos and a bikini."

NBA legend Jerry West dies at age 86

One of basketball's most accomplished contributors, West was a staple of the sport across eight decades, winning nine championships as a player, scout, coach, executive and consultant.

Dodgers expect All-Star Mookie Betts to miss 6-8 weeks with fractured hand

Betts was hit in his hand with a 98 mph fastball on Sunday.

2025 Ford Expedition spy photos reveal major exterior overhaul

2025 Ford Expedition full-size SUV spy photos show a significantly changed exterior that takes cues from the recently updated F-150 pickup truck.

Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Michael Jordan and more react to death of Jerry West: 'He was the silhouette for a reason'

After the announcement of Jerry West's death on Wednesday, the basketball world took time to pay their respects to the late legend.

• Updated Terms of Use
• New Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Closed Captioning Policy

Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by  Factset . Powered and implemented by  FactSet Digital Solutions .  Legal Statement .

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FAQ - New Privacy Policy

Cruise ship hit by rogue wave during storm, loses ability to navigate

The ms maud was hit by a 'rogue wave' en route to england from norway.

Coast Guard rescues sick Carnival Cruise passenger

The Coast Guard airlifted a passenger aboard the Carnival Legend around 180 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Sept. 4. (U.S. Coast Guard District 1)

A Norwegian cruise ship sailing in the North Sea on Thursday lost its ability to navigate after it was hit by a rogue wave during a storm.

The MS Maud was en route to Tilbury, England, from Florø, Norway, when the wave hit, causing the vessel to temporarily lose power. While sailing roughly 120 miles off Denmark's west coast and roughly 185 off Britain's east coast, strong winds blasted windows on the bridge of the vessel, allowing water to enter and resulting in a power failure on the bridge, according to the Danish Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.

A spokesperson for HX, a unit of Norway's Hurtigruten Group, told FOX Business that the ship is sailing to Bremerhaven, Germany, for disembarkation. All 266 passengers and 131 crew members are safe.

"At this time, the ship has confirmed that no serious guest or crew injuries have been sustained as a result of the incident," the spokesperson said. "The condition of the ship remains stable, and the crew are able to sail under their own power."

A view of the MS Maud during a voyage. (Hurtigruten Group/Espen Mills)

Support vessels are working with the ship as it continues to head toward the port city in northern Germany, according to the company. Reuters reported earlier Friday, citing a Danish Joint Rescue Coordination Centre official, that another ship had assisted with a tow. 

"Following ongoing safety checks and technical assessments, given the weather conditions, we decided to amend the planned sailing route," the HX spokesperson said. "Across the fleet, there are thorough operational protocols in place and we always prioriti z e the safety of those on board."

CRUISE PASSENGERS GET UGLY SURPRISE WHEN SHIP IS REROUTED TO BOSTON AND CANADA INSTEAD OF WARM BAHAMAS

Rogue waves typically "come unexpectedly from directions other than prevailing wind and waves," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . The larger-than-normal wave phenomenon is relatively uncommon.

CARNIVAL CRUISE CREW MEMBERS HELP RESCUE 12 PEOPLE FROM OCEAN AFTER CARGO VESSEL CAPSIZES

A handout image of the Norwegian cruise ship MS Maud, in Westfjords, Iceland, on July 12. (Magnus Thor Hafsteinsson/Handout via Reuters / Reuters Photos)

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

The MS Maud, built two decades ago, can carry up to 570 people, according to Hurtigruten’s website. It weighs more than 16,100 gross tons and spans 445 feet in length.

Reuters contributed to this report.

'I really thought I wasn't going to make it back': Carnival cruise ship rocked by weather

A Carnival Cruise Line ship was rocked by rough weather on its way back to the U.S. over the weekend. Carnival Sunshine had been sailing on a round-trip Bahamas cruise from Charleston, South Carolina, when it got delayed ahead of its return Saturday.

“It felt like it was tilting all the way to one side at one point,” said Kathleen Meenan, a passenger who went on the cruise with her husband for their wedding anniversary. “I really thought I wasn't going to make it back to shore.”

Meenan, a 26-year-old social media strategist based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been on several other cruises and said she is used to rocking in the waves but likened the sounds to the ship “being attacked.”

“It was shaking us so violently,” RJ Whited, another guest, told Charleston’s WCIV .

“The weather was unexpectedly strong, causing conditions that were rougher than forecasted,” a Carnival spokesperson said in an email. “Given the circumstances as they were, the ship’s officers and our Fleet Operations Center team coordinated to keep the ship in its safest location. Attempting to sail out of the large front could have been dangerous.”

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

Cruise ship overboard detection systems: What are they and why doesn't every ship have them?

The spokesperson said the ship went on to the port as soon as the weather started to clear. The ship’s arrival in Charleston was delayed, as was embarkation for the vessel’s following sailing. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of all our guests,” they said. The ship is currently on a five-day Bahamas sailing and will return to Charleston on Thursday.

Meenan said the crew announced that they were heading into some rough weather on Friday afternoon, advising them to hold onto handrails and warning of a potential delay, but did not communicate further until the following morning. “It felt like just being trapped,” she said.

The cruise line’s spokesperson said the captain “made several announcements about the weather and the delay it caused in returning to Charleston, asking guests to use extra precaution while walking around the ship.”

“Some of the worst weather occurred in the overnight hours when announcements are not typically made, but guests and crew were safe,” the spokesperson added. “The ship’s officers worked through the night to minimize discomfort as much as possible from the added movement caused by the rough ocean.”

Meenan also noted that the crew worked hard to make the remainder of the sailing pleasant for passengers. “Even the next day, they all had smiles on their faces and tried their best to make it a nice day for us,” she said. 

While she said she will cruise again, it may take some time. “I think that it’s going to be a while,” Meenan said.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected] .

Cruise ship rocked by massive rogue wave in North Sea

Rough weather in the North Sea churned up massive waves which battered a cruise ship.  "I love it," said the tour operator. "However, a few of my guests are not so happy." 

• Weather News

Latest Videos

Temperatures soar in Midwest, Northeast as first summer scorcher heats up

Potential Tropical Cyclone 1 remains large, disorganized over Gulf of Mexico

Las Vegas mystery monolith similar to ones found in 2020

Mystery monolith appears in Georgia

Watch: Shark with rare deformity snagged in Florida

Potential Tropical Cyclone 1 to become Tropical Storm Alberto by Wednesday

Flames, smoke fill horizon outside of Ruidoso, New Mexico as South Fork Wildfire spreads nearby

Record-breaking heat wave cranks up from Midwest to Northeast

Weather in America: June 18, 2024

Potential Tropical Cyclone 1 to bring heavy rain to Texas, Louisiana

Sixthman Announces Chefs Making Waves Cruise 2025

• June 13, 2024

Sixthman has announced the second Chefs Making Waves voyage, featuring celebrity chefs, personalities and authors, sailing in the spring of 2025.

Created in partnership with a21 and EBG Solutions, the four-night culinary cruise sails May 5-9, 2025 from Miami, FL to Cozumel, Mexico aboard the Norwegian Gem.

Pre-sales for Chefs Making Waves Alumni will be available June 13-17, with first-round pre-sale signups available now through Sunday, June 16.

The Chefs Making Waves voyage will include cooking demonstrations, buffet spotlights, curated dining and restaurant takeovers led by celebrities including Richard Blais, Maneet Chauhan, Tom Colicchio, Scott Conant, Robert Irvine, Antonia Lofaso, Jonathan Waxman, Geoffrey Zakarian and Claudette Zepeda. Guests will have a range of opportunities to sharpen their cooking skills and enjoy experiences such as theme nights, mixology experiences and autograph opportunities.

In addition to the onboard entertainment, guests will have the chance to embark on a shore excursion in Cozumel, Mexico and explore the Mayan ruins. Shore excursions will be available for booking 4-6 weeks prior to sailing. 

Cruise Industry News Email Alerts

• Breaking News

Get the latest breaking  cruise news .  Sign up.

62 Ships | 142,732 Berths | $46.7 Billion | View

Highlights:

• Mkt. Overview
• Record Year
• Refit Schedule
• PDF Download
• Order Today

• 2033 Industry Outlook 
• All Operators
• Easy to Use
• Instant Access
• Advertising
• Cruise News
• Magazine Articles
• Quarterly Magazine
• Annual Report
• Email Newsletter
• Executive Guide
• Digital Reports

Privacy Overview

• The Inventory
• Beyond Cars

Spontaneous Tsunamis Could Take Out Cruise Ships

If you get caught in a 650-foot wave, your options are pretty limited.

Landslide-generated tsunamis don’t come with any warning signs and they’re impossible to predict. Tsunami scientists are meeting with vessel operators in Alaska this month to put together some practical guidelines for captains to use in the case they encounter one of these snap tsunamis. These recommendations will be useful for the hundreds of tour ships that navigate the large landslide-prone coastlines of Alaska, Greenland, Chile, Norway, and New Zealand. Hopefully this summit will help prepare ships , and save lives in the process. A tsunami hasn’t killed any boat passengers in Alaska in 60 years, but as ice mass continues to dwindle in the face of a warming climate, the probability of a big event increases .

Suggested Reading

Geologist Bretwood Higman recently spoke with the Atlantic for this piece regarding a potential epidemic of landslide-triggered tsunamis. He knows of dozens of unstable slopes with millions of cubic feet of rock ready to push into a bay or fjord. Any of these tourist ships caught in the area at the wrong time would be helpless to capsize. It would be a freak accident, to be sure, but a potentially devastating and deadly event that bears thought.

“I do think that, at some point, [the situation] is going to explode,” says Higman.

Related Content

In 2015 the Taan Fjord saw a 2.6 billion cubic feet of rocky land slide into the water in an instant. This sparked a 650-foot tall wave to roar out of the fjord and into Icy Bay. As the water became deeper the wave gathered speed, pushing faster and faster out of the bay and into open ocean. Thankfully no boats were in the bay at the time of the massive wave, but boats do visit semi-regularly.

The National Park Service is particularly concerned with large cruise lines entering Glacier Bay. An average of two ships traverse the bay every day during the height of tourism season, and there are as many as a dozen large slabs of land poised to slide into the water at any given time. If one of those lets go at the wrong time, thousands of people could lose their lives.

Right now the best advice for tsunami avoidance on a ship is to either run the ship aground and hope for the best, or head for deeper ocean and hope for the best. Both of those pieces of advice are based around deepwater earthquake-triggered tsunamis, which typically provide ship captains lots of advance warning. If you have mere minutes to attempt getting out of an Alaskan bay, you don’t have time to second guess yourself. That’s why the summit is so important, providing best practices for ships in the case of one of these freak accidents.

I don’t think I’ll be taking a cruise to Alaska any time soon. That sounds like a horrifying way to die.

Rich tourists rejoice! Greece is finally doing something about the cruise ship problem.

• Greece's prime minister reportedly aims to limit cruise ships at Mykonos and Santorini .
• The islands have become overrun by cruise passengers over the last few years.
• And the rich tourists staying on the island aren't happy about it.

Tourists headed to the expensive hotels of Mykonos and Santorini : rejoice!

Greece's prime minister is reportedly moving to limit the number of unattractive cruise ships clogging the harbors of the country's most popular islands — ruining views of sunsets and leading to overcrowding on the picturesque narrow streets.

"There are people spending a lot of money to be on Santorini and they don't want the island to be swamped," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Bloomberg .

Since the pandemic, the European nation has seen an influx of tourists. About 36 million people visited Greece last year, up 20.8% from 2022, according to data from the Bank of Greece.

The increased demand, in addition to macroeconomic factors, has made the country more expensive to visit, with the average overnight stay costing 8.6% more in 2023 than in 2022, also according to the Bank of Greece.

Some who want to experience the islands without the high costs have turned to cruises , whose passengers have grown disproportionately — a 61.1% increase, year over year — the Bank of Greece reported. On Mykonos and Santorini, two of the most popular islands, the number of passengers arriving by cruise increased by 74% and 57%, respectively, according to a report by the Greek Tourism Confederation.

Related stories

That's led to headaches for the local population, as well as those paying a lot of money to stay on the islands, which have become expensive travel destinations for the well-heeled looking to visit luxury hotels and shop at designer stores. Mykonos has a Soho House (it costs over $1,000 per night in peak season) and several Louis Vuitton boutiques, plus a pop-up. Santorini has a Nobu .

But the influx of cruise passengers who descend on the islands has made their iconic white alleyways almost impossible to navigate, and the enormous vessels they arrive on have marred the famous views.

Last summer, visitors and locals took to social media to complain.

"Another inconsiderate cruise ship blocking the sunset," one X user in Mykonos said.

"Streets are full even in the middle of the day with sun beating down," Georgios Hatzimanolis, who often documents the ships going in and out of the port during his summers in Mykonos, wrote last year. "Not sure this is enjoyable for them or for the rest of visitors, certainly not sustainable."

"It was much dirtier, more crowded and overdeveloped in ugly ways than when I visited it twice ten years ago," a Reddit user said of Santorini. "Used to be stunning back in 2012. The local government has let tourism ruin the island.

"In Santorini, even tourists complain about the great number of tourists," Greece's ombudsman said in a report released on Thursday.

Reducing the number of ships allowed will be a welcome change for those who want to enjoy their expensive lemonade without a throng of (likely less rich) tourists ruining their meal.

The boats that will still be received with open arms? Yachts, which tourists seemingly have no problem with. In fact, Koru, the superyacht owned by Jeff Bezos , has already made its way to Greece for the summer.

Watch: Greece's resort islands are on fire as heat wave intensifies

• Main content

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• JetStream home
• Layers of the Atmosphere
• Air Pressure
• The Transfer of Heat Energy
• Energy Balance
• Hydrologic Cycle
• Precipitation
• Layers of the Ocean
• Ocean Circulations
• The Sea Breeze
• The Marine Layer
• Rip Current Safety
• Global Atmospheric Circulations
• The Jet Stream
• Climate vs. Weather
• Climate Zones
• How clouds form
• The Core Four
• The Basic Ten
• Cloud Chart
• Color of Clouds
• Parcel Theory
• Stability-Instability
• Radiosondes
• Skew-T Log-P Diagrams
• Skew-T Plots
• Skew-T Examples
• Pressure vs. Elevation
• Longwaves and Shortwaves
• Basic Wave Patterns
• Common Features
• Thickness Charts
• Weather Models
• Surface Weather Plots
• Norwegian Cyclone Model
• Types of Weather Phenomena
• Electromagnetic waves
• The Atmospheric Window
• Weather Satellites
• How radar works
• Volume Coverage Patterns (VCP)
• Radar Images: Reflectivity
• Radar Images: Velocity
• Radar Images: Precipitation
• Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone
• Classification
• NHC Forecasts
• Hazards & Safety
• Damage Potential
• ENSO Pacific Impacts
• ENSO Weather Impacts
• Ingredients for a Thunderstorm
• Life Cycle of a Thunderstorm
• Types of Thunderstorms
• Hazard: Hail
• Hazard: Damaging wind
• Hazard: Tornadoes
• Hazard: Flash Floods
• Staying Ahead of the Storms
• How Lightning is Created
• The Positive and Negative Side of Lightning
• The Sound of Thunder
• Lightning Safety
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Types of Derechos
• Where and When
• Notable Derechos
• Keeping Yourself Safe
• Historical Context
• Causes: Earthquakes
• Causes: Landslides
• Causes: Volcanoes
• Causes: Weather
• Propagation
• Detection, Warning, and Forecasting
• Preparedness and Mitigation: Communities
• Preparedness and Mitigation: Individuals (You!)
• Select NOAA Tsunami Resources
• Weather Forecast Offices
• River Forecast Centers
• Center Weather Service Units
• Regional Offices
• National Centers for Environmental Prediction
• NOAA Weather Radio
• NWS Careers: Educational Requirements
• Weather Glossary
• Weather Acronyms
• Learning Lessons
• "A Funny Bath"
• Keeping Current
• Anatomy of a Wave
• Beaufort Wind Scale
• Bay of Fundy

The wind not only produces currents, it creates waves. As wind blows across the smooth water surface, the friction or drag between the air and the water tends to stretch the surface. As waves form, the surface becomes rougher, making it easier for the wind to push the water surface and intensify the waves.

Take it to the MAX!   Anatomy of a Wave

Wind waves are higher frequency waves generated near the wind source (frequency is the number of waves that pass a point in a specific amount of time). How big wind waves get depends on three things:

• Wind strength. The wind must be moving faster than the wave crests for energy to be transferred.
• Wind duration. Strong wind that blows for a long period will generate large waves.
• Fetch. This is the uninterrupted distance over which the wind blows without significant change in direction. (For example, storms of equal size can generate much larger waves in the open Pacific Ocean as compared to the other oceans due to the long open distance of water.)

After the wind has blown for a while, the waves get higher from trough to crest, and both the wavelength and period become longer. As the wind continues or strengthens, the water first forms whitecaps and eventually the waves start to break. This is referred to as a fully developed sea.

Take it to the MAX!   Wind and Sea Scales

In the book  Oceanography and Seamanship , William G. Van Dorn provided an example of what the wave heights would be if a steady 30 knot (33 mph/53 km/h) wind blew for 24 hours over a fetch of 340 miles.

• 10% of all waves will be less than 3.6  ft.  (1  m ).
• The most frequent wave height will be 8½ ft. (2½ m).
• The average wave height will be 11 ft. (3 m).
• The significant wave height will be 17 ft. (5 m).
• 10% of all waves will be higher than 18 ft. (5 m).
• The average wave height of the highest 10% of all waves will be 22 ft. (7 m).
• A 5% chance of encountering a single wave higher than 35 ft. (11 m) among every 200 waves that pass in about 30 minutes.
• A 5% chance of encountering a single wave higher than 40 ft. (12 m) among every 2,600 waves that pass in about five hours.

The waves in a fully developed sea outrun the storm that creates them, traveling great distances from the wind source and lengthening and reducing in height in the process. These lower frequency waves are called swell waves. Swells organize into groups smooth and regular in appearance. They are able to travel thousands of miles unchanged in height and period.

The longer the wave, the faster it travels. As waves leave a storm area, they tend to sort themselves out with the long ones ahead of the short ones, and the energy is simultaneously spread out over an increasingly larger area.

As the waves close in on the coast, they begin to interact with the bottom, and their direction of travel might change due to the contour of the land. Eventually, the waves run ashore, increasing up to 1.5 times their height in deep water, finally breaking up as surf.

Big wave surfing in Hawaii is possible because of swell waves generated from large winter Pacific Ocean storms from November through March.

Rogue Waves

There are many sailor tales of "rogue waves", "freak waves", "three sisters", and other "killer waves". Properly called "extreme storm waves", these tales were ridiculed, and mariners were accused of using them as an excuse to cover their own mistakes in wrecks. Rogue waves are simply unusually large waves appearing in a set of smaller waves.

Some of the characteristics of rogue waves are:

• Their height is greater than twice the size of surrounding waves,
• They often come unexpectedly from directions other than prevailing wind and waves and, most importantly,
• They are unpredictable.

Most reports of extreme storm waves say they look like "walls of water" and are seen as steep-sided with unusually deep troughs. The USS Ramapo reported one such wave with a height of 112 feet in the Pacific in 1933. Another report of a freak wave occurred when it struck the Queen Mary amidships, south of Newfoundland, at the end of World War II, rolling her to within a degree or two of capsizing.

In April 2005, a 70-foot wave crashed down on the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship. The average waves that day were 25 to 30 feet high before this monster wave struck. The wave even damaged the ship's hull.

What causes these enormous waves? Swells traveling across the ocean do so at different speeds and directions. As these swells pass through one another, their crests, troughs, and lengths happen to coincide and reinforce each other, combining to form unusually large waves which reach tremendous heights, then disappear. If the swells are traveling close to the same direction, these mountainous waves may last for several minutes before subsiding.

It is very seldom that huge waves over 65 feet (20 meters) develop, and normally sailors do not even see them because ships nowadays will try to avoid such conditions by altering course before the storm hits. But they do occur.

"Stolt Surf", North Pacific 1977

The following images are from the chemical tanker ship "Stolt Surf", built in 1970, caught in a large storm in the North Pacific Ocean. The largest waves of the storm broke over the Bridge, more than 72 feet (22 meters) high. Images © Karsten Petersen. Used by permission.