Does rain affect cruise ships?

There is absolutely nothing to worry about rain in any cruise ship or for that matter any big ship. You might want to stay indoors to stay dry or to avoid getting struck by lightning in a thunderstorm. Otherwise rain is never an issue. It is generally the seas that accompany a gale that always cause concern.



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Though your itinerary may change, cruises are rarely canceled due to storms. Ships are designed to handle rough seas and can be rerouted to avoid danger. Once you're on board, any port updates will be announced over the ship's intercom or detailed in a notice delivered to your stateroom.

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Cruise ships are designed to be very safe in storms, and the crew is well-trained to handle any situation that may arise. However, it's always a good idea to take extra precautions when on board during inclement weather.

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Because cruise ships can move around bad weather, full cancellations are rare. But they can and do happen. Cruise lines are loath to cancel sailings and try to wait as long as possible before making a decision, while still trying to give passengers enough lead time to make alternate plans if necessary.

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Hurricane Season Storms in August and October have a moderate risk of developing into hurricanes while September has the highest risk of all. For these reasons, September is the worst month of the year to take a cruise.

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In very poor weather, the ship may need to be rerouted, and arrivals and departures at ports of call may be delayed, changed, or even canceled in extreme cases. Read our dedicated post about how Hurricane can impact your cruise.

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General cruise clothing for both Sweaters and jackets are a must, even if you plan to embark on a Carribean cruise. Get a rain jacket and don't forget to pack a set of thermals. Thermals are breathable and great for chilly evenings and essential for cold nights which require several layers.

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Finally, another factor to consider isn't just what happens when cruise ships hit tall waves but also how far it can roll without turning over. The answer to this is that most cruise ships can roll to nearly 60 degrees before running the risk of capsizing.

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Generally speaking though, a large cruise ship is designed to withstand waves that measure as high as 15-meters or nearly 50 foot waves. While Caribbean storms continue to increase in intensity and our measuring gets more accurate, this is enough to withstand up to the worst parts of the worst category 5 hurricanes.

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What's Considered Rough Seas For A Cruise Ship? When waves reach a height of over eight feet (2.4m), the sea is considered to be 'rough'. If waves are over 13 feet (4m) then the sea is classified as 'very rough'. This is based upon the Douglas sea scale, a system for measuring the height of waves.

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Many cruise lines let you bring water onto a cruise with you, but not all do. Some block it completely except for if you need distilled water for medicinal purposes, while some others won't let you bring single-use plastic bottles onboard, but permit cans and cartons which can be recycled.

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The only way that a cruise ship would be able to be flipped over is if it took the wave hit perpendicular on the port or starboard side, along the beam. Most of the time, ships will aim to hit a wave bow-first.

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While it is technically possible that a cruise ship could tip over, it would be extremely unlikely in the modern era. Even during the most severe storms, a modern cruise ship is far more stable than you might assume.

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Over the past 100 years since the RMS Titanic sank in 1912, only 18 cruise ships and some ocean liners have been publicly known to have sunk . And, over the past 50 years, only four cruise ships have sunk while navigating on a cruise.

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However, September and October are peak months for hurricanes. Even though ships try to steer clear of these storms, the weather still might be less than ideal.

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