Tasman Sea Gale Force Winds, Very Rough!
My fantasies of cruising while enjoying a soak in the hot tub and laying in the sun around the pool have been severely crushed. We’ve spent at least three days so far in high seas, and the ship really battens down the hatches, all the pools and hot tubs are drained and the central elevators are shut down. At night all exterior deck lights are shut off because the light attracts birds and they crash into the ship to die. Along with the predictable problems with walking like a drunken sailor, the sounds of dishes and crystal crashing and breaking are common. I think I’ve grown used to the pitching and rocking and stopped taking sea sick pills.
Of course it is not advertised in the brochures about this trip that the Tasman Sea is one of the most rough in the world, they did finally post it today in the daily news delivered to our room. The high seas have severely impacted activity onboard. Those hearty souls who are able to function are moving about cautiously, and we see very few people anywhere. Last evening I tried to walk the promenade deck 3 where 3 1/2 laps equal a mile, and it was hard enough to navigate with the pitching and rolling but the deck hands chose that time to test the fire hoses and wash out the life boats overhead on deck 4. I managed to get in two miles before giving up, stepping gingerly over fire hoses and dodging unexpected waterfalls from overhead lifeboats.
I have to admit this is not one of my favorite parts of cruising, on board in gale force winds. Tomorrow we cruise the Milford Sound in New Zealand, and hopefully it will me sunny and calm.
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist at sea