How rough are the seas

[saz25]

Hi,

We have sailed many times but never around South America. We are sailing in a couple weeks on the east coast of South America. Should we be concerned about how rough the seas are?

We have had no problems sailing the Caribbean, Mediterranean, or Baltic seas.

 

How far out to sea (Atlantic Ocean) do ships sail when they go from Rio to various ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina?

 

Comments and suggestions welcome.

thanks,

Steve

[b.allen]

We sailed Buenos Aries to San Antonio December 23 -  Jan 6 and the seas were very calm. Seldom felt the "motion of the ocean". I brought every motion sickness pill, patch, ginger, sea bands  etc etc and never used any of them. Not sure if this is the norm though.

[Lunenburg]

We were hoping for rough seas around the Horn but is was very calm. Our cruise to Rio from Buenos Aires was also very calm. I know sometimes a stop in the Falklands is missed because of rough seas but again, we had no problem there.

 

Off topic but we were surprised when the casino, all shops etc. were closed during our stay in Brazilian waters. That meant for most of the cruise.

Edited January 13, 2019 by Lunenburg

[FredZiffle]

The only rough seas we encountered on a Santiago - BA route was the first night out of Valparaiso (Santiago).  Perfectly calm around the horn and up to BA.  Like any cruise, you have the possibility of bad weather, but as all the posts so far can testify, you can also have good weather.

[carlmm]

If you only go "from Rio to various ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina" it probably will not be bad, even though I experienced a little bit of bumby sea once sailing out of Rio. Yet this was not worse than on a bad day in the Mediterranean.

 

If you actually go "around South America", that is a different story. You might be lucky as some of the previous posters or you might have the worst ride you ever had on a ship. It might even change within minutes.

[Greg4502]

I was down around Cape Horn last February. The water was a little rough, but not rough enough, so we were able to make it around the cape. If the sea is too rough, a smart captain will not take the ship through there. Instead you will pass through the straits that pass Ushuaia. But you never know where you might come across rough seas. I crossed the Atlantic in December, one cruise. It was a very smooth crossing.

[Lunenburg]

Just got an email from friends who were due to visit Punta del Este today from the Celebrity Eclipse but the seas are too rough for tendering so they are not being allowed off. 

We live about an hour from Punta and it is pretty windy here too right now. 

[Dar28]

Just booked a cruise in March 2020 from Buena’s Aries to Santiago de Chile. Since you live in South America,  what is the weather like where you are in March?

 

 

[uktog]

It is very variable our trip 1-23 December was quite rough for a few days, we had one port (Falklands) cancelled, and our captain had some difficulties leaving Ushuaia as the wind was so strong.  We were on a smaller (690 guest) vessel so he was able to cut inland when the bigger ships cannot but it still chopped around a bit which I believe is the norm for that part of the world

[Lunenburg]

6 hours ago, Dar28 said:

Just booked a cruise in March 2020 from Buena’s Aries to Santiago de Chile. Since you live in South America,  what is the weather like where you are in March?

 

 

March is our favourite month.  The kids are back in school, the tourists have gone home but the weather is usually very nice. Not as hot and humid as summer but still sunny and warm.   This summer has been unusual so far, rather wet and not as hot as normal. 

[Dar28]

Thanks Lunenburg for your quick reply:)

[Budget Queen]

I have had some very rough sailing in South America.   Shows have been rescheduled.   There is no "usual".    Every sailing is unique and no way to predict anything.    Best to be well prepared.  :)