Jump to content

Do QV and QE 'rock & roll' excessively?


Runaways
 Share

Recommended Posts

I've picked up on a few comments on various threads alluding to QV and QE's not-so-great seakeeping qualities. Of course QM2 is a completely different design, made for rough and tough conditions, which we've experienced personally. I'm wondering how different the ride will be on our up-coming WC QV ocean sectors. We're mid-ships, but some recent comments have me mildly concerned that this modified Vista class may not be all that stable, generally. I think ocean swell as much as wave height has an affect on my comfort level. How have you found these particular ships? Thank you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The "Baby Queens" have stabilizers so you should not feel rocking and rolling. Now "pitching" - forward up/down - movement will be felt on all ships if there are swells. The smaller the ship the more likely moderate swells will cause pitching. If you are mid-ship you will have the least motion.

Edited by BlueRiband
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was on the QV 2014 Workd Voyage, mid ship, deck 4. I only noticed 2 times that the movement was a little more "roc and roll" than normal. I took over the counter sea sick pills and had no problems.

 

Don

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure this is an easy one to answer, as I really feel very strongly that the same sea conditions can feel very different to different people. We regularly have this situation in my family. I feel every movement of the ship and the rest of my family barely notice it.

 

QE and QV move around rather more than QM2 - as you would expect - but they are still pretty stable ships. There is definitely more pitching than rolling, but a low, midships cabin will help.

 

If you are usually susceptible to the movement, take some over the counter travel sickness tablets with you and you will be fine. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The roughest seas I've experienced on QE have been crossing the Atlantic in 2014 and 2015. Both years we hit a storm and had to detour around the worst parts. Unfortunately, there were a couple of injuries on the 2014 crossing due to the weather. The rest of the 2014 World Voyage was mostly smooth. I always take meds with me in case I need them for motion sickness.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was on a LA to Hawaii and back cruise on QV and in a suite far aft deck 6. We had terrible conditions on two days/nights at sea and the movement was interesting. :eek: I actually got bumped into the headboard one night while sleeping. On QV when a larger wave hits the bow there is a boom and vibration that you can feel throughout most of the ship which I think is a design flaw but I know nothing about ship design. Of course the waves were in a force 10 gale and about 15 to 25 feet high. The captain was able to state when I met her that the ship handles well as far as the crew are concerned and that she had no worries about the ship handling the worse of the weather without problems. I do not get sea sick so nothing really bothered me when walking about the ship. I say just go and have fun with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes that crossing on QE was an interesting one Kathy (Scrapnana.) We thought QE was excellent and rode the waves as well as could be expected. Wouldn't have any worries about any of the Queens, even the smaller ones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was worried too...we had only been on the QM2 and never on the QV or QE when we took our first trip this past year...a 48 day segment of the QV world cruise.

 

We had a very smooth trip until New Zealand when Cyclone Pam was close by. We had two very stormy stretches from the South Island into Wellington and then Wellington to the west coast through the Cook Strait.

 

They were the roughest seas we had ever experienced and we've taken 10 transatlantics. The QV was great! I was surprised how well it took the weather and we were at dinner for both trips across! I will never worry about it again.

 

As others have mentioned, people react differently. We saw one of the head waiters escort an elderly lady out of the restaurant, she looked very frightened. We felt perfectly safe and really isn't that the most important thing?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We generally travel in a forward stateroom. In 2012 we were in 7011 on QV to Hawaii and back. We didn't feel rolling but it was interesting sleeping with all of the pitching. I could feel myself rising and falling against the bed.

 

Perhaps ddbink1 was on the same sailing. I remember the boom and vibration when the bow hits the waves that he mentions.

Edited by Underwatr
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rome to Rome this year on QV awakened by luggage rolling around in the lockers at night. I felt sick and stayed in stateroom , 50 mph at dawn, decreased to 36 in mid day and to 25 around late afternoon. can't say how it compared to other ships. they slowed the ship to 13 knots I think. I took seasick pills and fell asleep 4000 series room.

Edited by edwardh1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scrapnana, Kathy, How will we ever forget the QE crossing in January!!! Not being an experienced cruiser at the beginning of our 75 days WC segments, I didn't know what to expect Southampton to New York, and yes it was very wild for most of the 8 day crossing, but the restaurants were still full every night. I would do it again in winter months if the opportunity comes our way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was worried too...we had only been on the QM2 and never on the QV or QE when we took our first trip this past year...a 48 day segment of the QV world cruise.

 

We had a very smooth trip until New Zealand when Cyclone Pam was close by. We had two very stormy stretches from the South Island into Wellington and then Wellington to the west coast through the Cook Strait.

 

They were the roughest seas we had ever experienced and we've taken 10 transatlantics. The QV was great! I was surprised how well it took the weather and we were at dinner for both trips across! I will never worry about it again.

 

As others have mentioned, people react differently. We saw one of the head waiters escort an elderly lady out of the restaurant, she looked very frightened. We felt perfectly safe and really isn't that the most important thing?

 

Well done if you could make dinner considering the conditions you describe! I know the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait have 'reputations'. I've had 2 sailings across the Tasman: One many years ago on a non-stabilised, tiny tub in nasty weather, and the next 18 months ago on Celebrity Solstice with flat, beautiful seas. That first experience set me up for 'rough-weather/ sea sickness fear' for ever after I think. I've found all our other cruises on stabilised, modern ships to be fine, except for an aft cabin when crossing the Pacific 7 years ago. The sea sickness tablets were whipped out then. I find the Ginger ones much better than straight travel sickness tablets. The ordinary ones work - but only because they make me unconscious! I remember on QM2 they always gave you a piece of crystallised ginger at the end of the meal. A lovely thought on the only ship that probably doesn't need it! Thanks everyone for your input.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On our QE crossing I remember Captain Clarke saying at his midday address we would be passing very close to where the Titanic went down around 9pm that night. It was one of worst days/nights and just as we were sitting down for 8.30 dinner, teetering around in our high heels, the ship lurched and heaved, a waiter dropped his tray of plates, we all grabbed for our wines glasses/bottles, but nothing moved off the table, then next thing everything was back to the norma rocking and rolling of the Atlantic. We all looked at our watches and said "that's the Titanic letting us know we're crossing over her grave"! It will be a fabulous experience and just remember the Captain won't do anything to endanger his crew and passengers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The QV and QM are extended 'standard' Carnival Group platform and essentially are based on the same hull design as the 4 Holland America line ships Ost/West/Nor/Zuiderdam, the Costa Atlantica, P&O's Arcadia ( which was originally meant to be the Queen Victoria but which was transferred to P&O during build), as well as several carnival Ships. I believe that the 2 Queens have strengthened hulls.

They are comparatively shallow draft for the length and as such will move around more than

older deeper draft ships. They are however very sea worthy and have been well tried and tested in the most challenging conditions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We generally travel in a forward stateroom. In 2012 we were in 7011 on QV to Hawaii and back. We didn't feel rolling but it was interesting sleeping with all of the pitching. I could feel myself rising and falling against the bed.

 

Perhaps ddbink1 was on the same sailing. I remember the boom and vibration when the bow hits the waves that he mentions.

 

We probably were on the same trip. It was great especially the sea days for me. I like sleeping in and doing next to nothing or sitting around the lounges meeting new people and consuming horrible amounts of food and cocktails.

Even if the ship was rocking and rolling it was a good trip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like others, I have travelled on both QV and QE on the Southampton to New York route in January (first sector of the World cruise) and for me the experience is fine. My personal opinion is that I prefer these ships to QM2 from a lay-out point of view and would choose them over the QM2 on any trip.

 

That said, I am on QM2 January 2016 for the WC sector to Fort Lauderdale. Maybe I should have opted for Victoria but the price deal was better on QM2.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi,

 

I did a transatlantic crossing on the Queen Victoria in April 2015 (the final segment of the world cruise) and was assigned to a balcony stateroom (6008) that was far forward. I was a little concerned when I received this stateroom assignment (I booked a balcony guarantee), but I did not have problem with the ship's movement.

 

In late November / early December 2012 I did a 10-day repositioning cruise on the Queen Elizabeth from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Southampton. During this cruise, we crossed the Bay of Biscay. There was no problem with the ship's movement throughout this cruise.

 

Based on my experience, the seakeeping qualities of these ships are fine. I greatly enjoyed both of these ships and would like to sail aboard them again in the future.

 

Chuck

Edited by seacruise9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think a lot depends on the actual direction of the wind and swell in comparison to the ships direction, the height of the waves, the length of the swell etc etc. certainly I found there was more movement on both the QV and the QE than the QM2 even though the weather on the TA (on the QM2) was a lot worse.

The QE definately rolled a bit across the BOB in April - but I hasten to add that none of it bothered me at all.

But Strangely enough , I did suffer with considerable "land sickness" after coming off both the QE &QV - never had that with any other ship.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think a lot depends on the actual direction of the wind and swell in comparison to the ships direction, the height of the waves, the length of the swell etc etc. certainly I found there was more movement on both the QV and the QE than the QM2 even though the weather on the TA (on the QM2) was a lot worse.

The QE definately rolled a bit across the BOB in April - but I hasten to add that none of it bothered me at all.

But Strangely enough , I did suffer with considerable "land sickness" after coming off both the QE &QV - never had that with any other ship.

 

The observation that people are affected differently in the same sea conditions is true I think. My husband is a much better 'sailor' than me. I've rarely been ill, but hate feeling constantly queasy wondering if I will be ill. I've found no way to get around it other than meds. Yes, the 'land-sickness' feeling after being at sea for an extended time is a very strange sensation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...