Is it safe to be at sea during a hurricane?

According to NOAA, a hurricane's average forward speed is about 11–12 mph (9.5–10.4 knots). The average speed of a modern cruise ship is about 20 knots (23 mph). So, yes, typically a cruise ship can out-run a hurricane, but cruise ships normally never try to out-race hurricanes.



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In a dire scenario, a cruise ship could sink in a hurricane. But before you cancel all your future cruise plans, know this: it's highly unlikely. Cruise ships are built like fortresses. They boast stability, seaworthiness, and a bucket-load of safety features to help them ride out even the angriest storms.

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In such cases, cruise lines have two options: head to a different port up or down the coast to disembark passengers or remain at sea until the ship's home port reopens.

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“The safest place for a ship is out to sea and as far away from the storm as possible.” Ships are built with hardened steel, but if left tied up to the dock, they can be easily damaged as waves push them against concrete pilings. If a ship were to break loose from the dock, it would turn into a floating wrecking ball.

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Wet season and dry season are both good times to cruise the Caribbean. The worst time for a Caribbean cruise weather-wise is August to September, as it is peak hurricane season.

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Not only do cruise ships avoid the path of a hurricane, they will chart a course with the optimal sea conditions to avoid the worst of any rough seas. Hurricane or not, there can be motion in the ocean, so no cruise is immune from waves.

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Cruise ships are made of heavy steel, making them quite weighty. Add passengers and crew, and the ship is even heavier. With all this weight, the vessel can easily roll through rough waters or a rogue wave. It's more dangerous to be on an empty ship as the additional weight acts as a balancer in rough seas.

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