Here’s how Celebrity Cruises deals with rough seas
It is not unusual to experience rough seas at any time of the year. Sometimes cruise itineraries will be redirected to other ports or add sea days instead.
You'd be surprised by how little your cruise changes when seas are rough.
Mostly everything is status quo during rough seas, however some precautions are made for safety. Cruise ships are engineered to help you not feel the ship moving most of the time. For example, stabilizers are used to help avoid feeling the ship tilt. During high seas, you will inevitably feel some movement of the ship.
Related: U.S. issues new, serious travel advisory for the Bahamas
On the Celebrity Equinox, which currently sails out of Port Canaveral, Florida, passengers were advised to keep their balconies closed on a March 2025 sailing to Key West, Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and the Port of Plata, Dominican Republic.
On one day when winds were up to 48 knots, the pool on the forward of the ship in the adults-only Solarium was closed due to a lot of movement and sloshing of the pool water. But this did not stop passengers from enjoying lying by the pool as they read, slept, or enjoyed a drink. Lounge chairs that were not being used on the upper decks were tied down.
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Celebrity Cruises takes some precautions
Celebrity Cruise line, for the safety of the performers, canceled one of their acrobatic theater shows and replaced it with a cabaret show.
On Royal Caribbean Oasis class ships, the Aqua Theater shows have been canceled due to weather. These shows feature divers who jump off 60-foot platforms on the aft of the ship. Some passengers get upset when the shows are canceled, but the cruise line does its best to reschedule for another day.
Other precautions are taken, such as securing plates and glassware in the dining rooms. Safety is their biggest concern.
Passengers are directed to take general precautions when walking around on the ship. People will look nearly drunk as they attempt to navigate a rocking ship.
For some people, it could be a good idea to avoid the stairs, for example, or to avoid carrying glassware. If you go to the fitness facility, make sure you do not leave free weights on the floor as they can roll back and forth with the ship’s movement.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line begs passengers to follow key cabin rule
Other experiences during unsteady conditions are noises and creaks. For example, hangers with no clothing can create noise. Bathroom doors or drawers, if not shut all the way, can cause a nuisance.
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Why rough seas don’t mean a rough cruise with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise lines.
It is not uncommon for anyone to get seasick at some point on a cruise. Emesis bags (motion sickness bags) are placed around public areas of the ship such as in the restrooms and in the stairway corridors.
Bartenders will recommend drinking ginger ale as ginger is a known remedy for nausea and seasickness. A lot of passengers wear seasickness patches to avoid feeling unwell on a moving ship.
On the Celebrity Cruises blog there are recommendations regarding the prevention of seasickness.
Cabin location can make a difference. Booking a cabin in the forward and the aft can make you feel more movement. The advice is to book a cabin in the middle of the ship and on a lower deck. Booking a room with a veranda to get fresh air can be important to help reduce feeling unwell. Oceanview rooms (with a window) also suggested to be able to look at the horizon to help reduce or prevent seasickness.
Solutions to avoid seasickness can vary.
My suggestion is to figure out what works best for you and stick with it. Many people will also gain their “sea legs” and experience less discomfort the more they are at sea. There are some itineraries that are recommended if you are particularly prone to or worried about seasickness.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line begs passengers to follow key cabin rule
Avoid cruises with many sea days such as a transatlantic cruise because there are more days in the open water. Larger cruise ships are also recommended as their design is better for stabilization.
Some of the most popular cruise ports have the choppiest waters. If it is your first cruise or your 100th cruise, a little preparation can help you ride out even the roughest seas.
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