Epic unable to dock in Civitavecchia today

High winds meant Epic could not enter harbour. Very disappointing for everyone who wanted to visit Rome.

What happened with those that were embarking or disembarking today?

Civi is not an embarkation point at this time.

Do we know if the port was closed as it didn't look like Epic went anywhere near the port, was it just above its limits ?

Not much to see in Rome mind you..

I was just curious about limitations, as it looks quite windy in Barcelona at the weekend.

Generally speaking, ships with traditional shafts and rudders have a considerably lower maximum wind speed for safe maneuvering in port. Pods provide so much more power and control. Epic is also severely underpowered in terms of stern thrusters too, which doesn't help.

Occasionally there might be a situation in which Epic might not be able to dock due to high winds, but other podded ships could. Understandably, that would be very upsetting for passengers who don't understand that different ships have different operating envelopes.

Civi is not an embarkation point at this time.

Interesting. We're scheduled on this cruise for Sept and that's where where' embarking/disembarking.

Interesting. We're scheduled on this cruise for Sept and that's where where' embarking/disembarking.

On the 7 day Western Med round trip which you are on, Rome (and sometimes Marseilles) are embarkation ports. However, the Epic is doing different itineraries at the moment and Barcelona is the only embarkation port for most (if not all) of these.

High winds meant Epic could not enter harbour. Very disappointing for everyone who wanted to visit Rome.

Strange - weather underground is reporting that the wind speed in Civitavecchia from midnight until 10am never went above 3 km/h. Presumably there was some gusting that the ship couldn't handle.

On the 7 day Western Med round trip which you are on, Rome (and sometimes Marseilles) are embarkation ports. However, the Epic is doing different itineraries at the moment and Barcelona is the only embarkation port for most (if not all) of these.

Sorry, I was thinking interesting more from the standpoint of it would be interesting if similar conditions came up on our cruise. Once more around the park? :)

Sorry, I was thinking interesting more from the standpoint of it would be interesting if similar conditions came up on our cruise. Once more around the park? :)

Yes, that would be interesting.

To be honest, this is the first time I recall hearing of Civitavecchia being missed, although we missed Livorno a few years ago on the Epic, so it does happen.

Not much to see in Rome mind you..

You have got to be kidding!!

Not much to see in Rome mind you..

Ha. You must not be Catholic!

Interesting. We're scheduled on this cruise for Sept and that's where where' embarking/disembarking.

I'm not sure why they stopped for almost two months, something to do with the new itinerary and adding Marseille. Rome is an embarkation point again starting April 20, 2016.

We missed Palma Majorca due to high winds in late November, so I feel it's not uncommon with this ship. Missing Rome is a bummer, that's why I embarked there.

Ha. You must not be Catholic!

or human :D

Ha. You must not be Catholic!

Take the heathen to the Coliseum and feed-em to the lions !

If that doesn't work then have them walk a straight line across

a traffic circle to the other side. Caution don't stop or change pace

do not change direction - you will not survive this if you do !

Surviving this you will have made a leap of faith and what better

place to be converted.

Or you could take a NCL cruise and attempt to dock at Civitavecchia

under the terms provided by Neptune. If successful have a new found faith !

Take the heathen to the Coliseum and feed-em to the lions !

Lol! Thanks for the laugh. :)

Not much to see in Rome mind you..

What planet are you from?

Ha. You must not be Catholic!

[emoji23] Right?!? I'm looking forward to all the Churches that I'll see in the various ports.

All part of the challenges of cruising.

Keith

I'm not sure why they stopped for almost two months, something to do with the new itinerary and adding Marseille.

I have been on that cruise. I won't judge what exactly the reason was but already the evening before they did an announcement that we will arrive in civitavecchia an hour late due to delayed departure the day before and they even mentioned that there will be high winds in the port so we might not be able to dock as safety is our highest priority bla.

I thought that was a very early speculative announcement and was 100% certain then that we will miss the port.

Additional note: no port fees or anything refunded

I do remember an announcement that the forecast for the next day was not good. Watching the TV track of the ship it did spend quite a time just outside the port before heading out again. The winds were rated at 40+ knots.

Our tour guide reckoned the ship had a fault....

I was so disappointed about this missed port and I think the ship dealt with it in an appalling way. We all got up at 6am, ready for a day in Rome, only for it to take the captain until gone 8am to explain we wouldn't be stopping. The machines in the casino had gone back on by 7.15, a clear indication of a missed port, before he even had the decency to tell us.

As for making the unexpected sea day a good one, they didn't even try. It was our worst day on the whole cruise. There was nothing to do, people everywhere, and nothing extra being provided. The least they could do was make the bowling alley free, the video arcades.. or something. I feel like NCL just want to make more and more money out of you.

The Captain had no intention of even trying to dock. He gave us a 'warning' the night before, which we all took as meaning that we would not be docking. We really didn't even try to enter the port.

I appreciate our safety is paramount, like The Captain explained, and I wouldn't have even wanted to try if our lives were at risk, but NCL didn't deal with it in a good way in any way, shape or form. It was really disgusting.