The Cruise Director: Wild weather, ocean swells and missed itineraries

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This was published 7 years ago

The Cruise Director: Wild weather, ocean swells and missed itineraries

By Sally Macmillan
Unexpected weather is part and parcel of ocean cruising.

Unexpected weather is part and parcel of ocean cruising.

Several cruise ships have been in the news lately because, for various reasons, they had to change course and some planned ports of call were missed or itineraries were cut short. Of course, it's a huge disappointment for all the passengers as well as crew members and the cruise line when this happens – but it's worth recalling, amid the hysteria and hype, that ships are AT SEA.

Despite all the technology available to us, nobody has perfected the science of weather forecasting to the sort of 100 per cent clairvoyant accuracy that some people seem to expect. Take the flash floods and massive storms that swept through Sydney the other week – it happened so quickly that the Bureau of Meteorology didn't have time to broadcast warnings.

Ships' captains have to take into account weather forecasts for upcoming ports and destinations as well as checking that day's local conditions. However, any ship can be beset by sudden fog, winds gusting at much higher speeds than forecasted or unpredicted ocean swells; the captain's ultimate responsibility is to take the route that is safest for all on board his or her ship. And sometimes that means it is more dangerous to enter a port than remain on the open ocean.

Kenai Fjords National park, Alaska.

Kenai Fjords National park, Alaska.Credit: iStock

Having experienced sailing through a Category 2 hurricane while on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises cruise to New Zealand a few years ago, I was incredibly grateful to be on a vessel that was solidly built and clearly well-run. The captain kept us updated while winds gusted above 95 knots (about 175 kilometres per hour) and 12-metre waves lashed the ship. Yes, we missed out on a day's scenic cruising in Milford Sound but the unexpected adventure reminded us all of the power of Mother Nature and why we had chosen a sea voyage over a holiday ashore.

Rescuing people in distress is an age-old maritime convention (and a legal requirement) that can mean a ship has to divert from its itinerary. Earlier this month, the German cruise ship Albatros sailed 300 kilometres off its course for New Zealand's Bay of Islands to rescue six Tongan fishermen whose boat was sinking. The passengers missed a port call but instead of demanding compensation for themselves they raised US$16,000 for the fishermen to replace their lost boat.

Onboard medical emergencies can also cause delays and re-routing. A Seabourn ship recently had to leave Antarctica a day early because a passenger needed an air ambulance that could only land in the South Shetland Islands.

Regent Seven Seas Cruise.

Regent Seven Seas Cruise.

These sort of events are uncommon, considering the number of ships cruising the world at any one time and the vast areas they navigate. Of course, you can insure against costs incurred by missing port calls and connecting flights, but as an old saying goes, "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails."

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MEET THE CREW

NAME Christian Martena, from Italy

Christian Martena, from Italy

Christian Martena, from Italy

POSITION Executive chef, The Strand Hotel and Cruise, Myanmar

MY JOB I'm responsible for menu development for both the hotel and the ship. I've travelled around Myanmar visiting suppliers and remote farming communities to source the best produce and spices to create unique gastronomic experiences.

The twice-yearly culinary river cruise is a highlight for me. I take guests to my favourite markets along the riverbanks, teach them how to shuck oysters and lead blind tasting contests of local ingredients.

FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Sourcing distinctive local products to use in my menus. On the culinary cruise we use ingredients such as the tea leaf to make Laphet, a traditional Myanmar salad of fermented green tea, and make fish dishes such as Mohinga, a fish and noodle broth from the Shan region. Delicious!

FAVOURITE CRUISE PORT The magical port of Ava was an imperial capital of successive Burmese kingdoms from the 14th to 19th centuries. Guests enjoy horse and cart rides through the naturally-preserved ruins and remains of an abandoned kingdom. It's beautifully serene.

INSIDER TIPS Be adventurous! There's no point travelling to such a colourful and culturally diverse destination without trying new foods. Myanmar offers such delicious, fresh and interesting dishes that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world. And don't forget to sample The Strand's specialty cocktails – The Strand Sour and the Bagan Breeze are two of my favourites.

TIP

Don't forget to check that your travel insurance covers you for any adventurous activities you'll be doing on your next cruise – you might need extra cover for scuba diving or para-sailing.

NEWS

All-inclusive luxury

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is renowned for being the most inclusive in the luxury cruise business – everything from shore excursions to free Wi-Fi and specialty dining and drinks is included in the fare – and the line is now offering optional business class air packages for all voyages departing from April 2017 onwards. The packages include the cruise, return business class flights from all major Australian gateways with preferred airline partners Emirates, Qantas or Singapore Airlines, one night's pre-cruise hotel accommodation and transfers between the airport, hotel and the ship. "This is the ultimate way to extend the indulgent Regent experience, ensuring an elite end-to-end experience with personalised attention," said Steve Odell, SVP and managing director Asia Pacific at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. See RSSC.com

Alaska less-travelled

Looking for an alternative to big-ship cruises in Alaska? Award-winning boutique cruise line Windstar Cruises is sending its 212-passenger Star Legend to Alaska for the 2018 season. The ship will sail longer itineraries of 11 to 14 days that allow more time for exploring areas off the main tourist routes; and because it's small, it will sail right into Misty Fjords and Kenai Fjords, destinations that are usually reached on shore excursions. Passengers can take kayak and Zodiac trips for up-close photo opportunities and scenic cruising, and there will be naturalists and expedition leaders onboard all voyages along with speakers from Native American tribes. Star Legend will sail eight cruises between May and August 2018 and Windstar will also offer pre- and post-cruise land excursions. See http://www.traveltheworld.com.au

Fun Times app

Carnival Cruise Line has launched a free mobile app, Carnival Hub, for passengers cruising on Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit from Australia. The app features the line's Fun Times daily activities schedule as well as a "favourites" function that bookmarks the day's best events. It has a reminder to attend chosen events, searchable deck plans with attractions highlighted, itinerary details including port visits and a real-time shipboard account balance. For $9 you can sign up for a chat function to connect with other users onboard. The ships' printed Fun Times newsletter will still be available but in a smaller format, so app users will help reduce the amount of paper used by 50 per cent. You can download the app pre-cruise or on the ship.

DEAL OF THE WEEK

Cruise Traveller's 20-night fly/cruise/tour package with a Riviera Travel river cruise from Prague to Budapest is packed with fascinating excursions and side trips in Eastern Europe. A 10-night Back Roads land tour starts in Prague and ends with two nights in Budapest, before you embark on MS Charles Dickens for the seven-night Budapest round-trip cruise. Fares start from $10,785 for the July 18, 2017, departure, when booked by March 31; other dates are available. Phone 1800 507 777, see www.cruisetraveller.com.au

MORE DEALS

APT Pre-release bookings have opened for APT's 2018 Europe River Cruising program, with free international return flights for guests who book a Europe river cruise of 14 nights or more by April 30, 2017. Business-class flights for $1995 are available for certain cabin categories and 15-day Magnificent Europe cruises in March, October, November and December will be held at 2017 prices. Phone1300 196 420, see aptouring.com.au

OCEANIA CRUISES' Best of Europe 2017 campaign introduces an array of special offers on 36 itineraries in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Baltic. Book by March 31 for a combination of OLife Choice packages such as free internet, shore excursions and beverage packages; US$250 onboard credits and 50 per cent reduced deposits are also on offer for European cruises departing from March to December 2017. Phone1300 355 200, see www.oceaniacruises.com

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