Passing other cruise ships at sea

I would love to see and take pics of other cruise ships while at sea. I’ve been on 3 cruises and I’ve never seen other ships. Is there a way to find out when and where other cruise ships will be at sea when we sail?

Jae[emoji624]

It happens a little by chance when lines have similar itineraries.

I have been on a few cruises where ships pass. They keep something like a mile apart.

I've seen them quote a few times. Not so much passing as riding next to probably due to port arrival times. You'll need a great camera with a long lense because they never pass close to each other. You won't get any real good pics that far away.

If it is a sister ship of the same line, the captains will sometimes close the gap between them and salute each other with their horns.

I have had this happen on Princess and Holland America. The captain will announce the passing over the PA .

When I was on the Horizon this past August heading back to NYC on a sea day, we passed the Vista heading south. Couldn't have been more than a mile apart, it was pretty cool. Unfortunately I didn't have my phone on me so I don't have any pics to share.

Travel out of New Orleans and you will pass within approximately150-200 feet of each other on Mississippi river. We were on the Dream returning and passed by the Triumph departing. It was about midnight and we had just entered the Mississippi. Both ships were lit up. Quite a sight.

I've seen other cruise ships at sea a few times during my cruises. Here are a couple shots from our most recent Alaskan cruise. Both of these shots are not zoomed in so you can get an idea of the distance between our ship and theirs. On both of these, I was standing at the rail on our aft-wrap balcony (you can see the railing in both photos).

This is a Princess cruise ship that we passed on our starboard side during our last sea day. We were heading back to Seattle and they were heading up into the Inner Passage of Alaska.

Here's Carnival Splendor passing us on the port side as we both sailed inside Glacier Bay in Alaska. This was the closest that I have ever seen two cruise ships pass each other, however we were both going very slow and the bay is fairly narrow.

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We see them all the time, especially out of common ports such as Cozumel. t is fun to play guess the ship from a distance. Sailing at night together is pretty with all the lights.

Travel out of New Orleans and you will pass within approximately150-200 feet of each other on Mississippi river. We were on the Dream returning and passed by the Triumph departing. It was about midnight and we had just entered the Mississippi. Both ships were lit up. Quite a sight.

Wow..That’s good to know! Thanks! I just have to figure out what ship to sail since the Dream is coming to Galveston

Jae[emoji624]

I've seen other cruise ships at sea a few times during my cruises. Here are a couple shots from our most recent Alaskan cruise. Both of these shots are not zoomed in so you can get an idea of the distance between our ship and theirs. On both of these, I was standing at the rail on our aft-wrap balcony (you can see the railing in both photos).

 

 

 

 

This is a Princess cruise ship that we passed on our starboard side during our last sea day. We were heading back to Seattle and they were heading up into the Inner Passage of Alaska.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's Carnival Splendor passing us on the port side as we both sailed inside Glacier Bay in Alaska. This was the closest that I have ever seen two cruise ships pass each other, however we were both going very slow and the bay is fairly narrow.

 

 

 

 

 

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Nice pics! Did they announce it on the ship that there were other ships passing?

Jae[emoji624]

I hang on the balcony alot later in the evening, seem to see alot then, and of course easier to spot at night with everything lit up.

This was in the Mississippi as we were going upriver and the Elation was going out

From Hubbard glacier

We have seen other ships, both Carnival's and other lines, many times.

Our last cruise we joked about being stalked by a RCCI ship that was following a couple miles behind us the entire cruise.

As mentioned earlier, the Triumph and the Dream cross paths every other weekend in the Mississippi River. This was taken from the Triumph in November 2017.

We, too, have seen many ships. Some on sea days you can see them on the horizon (and closer) on the open seas, but mostly at night (all lit up) when going in circles after leaving one Caribbean island and sailing to another that is close by. We have seen as many as 3 other ships at night from our balcony. It is a neat sight!!

Many times, you'll be in a line of cruise ships going the same direction!

cruisetimetables.com and whatsinport.com can tell you what ships will be in each port and when they arrive and depart. This might give you an indication of what ships you might sea at sea!!!

Nice pics! Did they announce it on the ship that there were other ships passing?

 

 

Jae[emoji624]

The captain did announce that the Splendor was passing us in Glacier Bay but did not announce the Princess ship passing us. I just happened to be out on the balcony when it passed us. Like many others have said, it is very easy to spot other cruise ships at night by their lights.

Take a cruise to the Bahamas. On our last Bahamas cruise, there always seemed to be another cruise ship around. At one point, there were five ships.

This was passing Cuba on the way back from Cozumel. I liked the mountains in the background.

http://www.shipfinder.com

not super easy to use but we have tracked friends sailing to the Caribbean, fun

Triumph from Dream on the Mississippi a couple weeks ago.

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Sailing from Galveston on a Thursday on the Valor you are likely to see the freedom coming in around 1130-100 on that friday. heading back in on Sunday you could see the freedom heading back out. The captain rarely announces this, but has a couple of times.

Leaving on the freedom on Saturday, I have seen the breeze coming in for Sunday. don't remember around what time but it was late and dark...

Triumph from Dream on the Mississippi a couple weeks ago.

 

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We frequently see other ships, not really close enough to get any decent photos though.