Do ships stay near land when going from port to port?

[smurd83]

Do the cruise ships tend to stay near land while they're sailing from one destination to another? or will they take the straightest route to their next destination? I was just kind of curious if it there's any difference which side of the ship you book a balcony room on.

 

Also, on this message board, I've heard nothing but "aft aft aft"..what's so great about it? Are all balcony's on the afts great rooms, or is it just that SOME of them are more roomy than others? I just noticed on the Adventure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), they had 9390 available, which is a corner aft room (but the diagram doesn't show the room being any bigger than normal). What are your thoughts on this?

 

Thanks!

[BaumD]

Unless you go to someplace like Alaska, you won't stay near land while at sea. In the Caribbean, there is no land to stay close to. Sometimes they may go by some of the other islands, but most of the time you are out of site of land.

 

The aft cabins on the large RCCL ships are the same as elsewhere, BUT, the balconies tend to be up to three times as large. The views from a corner aft balcony cab be fantastic.

[Greg in GA]

I had a corner aft cabin on the Explorer of the seas last year and the cabins are no larger at all. It is the balcony that is MUCH larger on a corner aft cabin. Our balcony was large enough for two lounge chairs and a couple of regular chairs.

One thing to remember about a Corner aft cabin is that there is hardly any breeze at all. So if you enjoy the nice wind you get on a regular balcony, you won't have hardly any of that on the back.

 

There are some great photos of corner aft cabins and balconies on Voyager class ships on this web site..

http://community.webshots.com/album/48328219CtbGLi

 

Hope this helps

[jlp20]

>>>Do the cruise ships tend to stay near land while they're sailing from one destination to another? or will they take the straightest route to their next destination?

 

Believe it or not, there is a thing called a “sea lane”. East West or North-South (and all other directions) between well-traveled points have set paths of travel. This is a safety issue, head-on collisions can be nasty, and every one going in the same direction is much safer.

[1932Canal]

Do the cruise ships tend to stay near land while they're sailing from one destination to another? or will they take the straightest route to their next destination? I was just kind of curious if it there's any difference which side of the ship you book a balcony room on.

Also bear in mind that, except for "Sea Days", most passages from one Port to another take place at night. After all, Cruise Pasengers have the daylight hours in a Port to partake of the "Pleasures of the Port". Thus, the view 'on passage' at best could be limited to a few distant shore lights.:eek:

[Capt_BJ]

>>>Do the cruise ships tend to stay near land while they're sailing from one destination to another? or will they take the straightest route to their next destination?

 

Believe it or not, there is a thing called a “sea lane”. East West or North-South (and all other directions) between well-traveled points have set paths of travel. This is a safety issue, head-on collisions can be nasty, and every one going in the same direction is much safer.

 

Actually - in the open ocean it IS pretty much a free for all :eek:

 

This is why the International Rules of the Road describe actions in meeting situations which dictate who has the right of way and who does what ... kinda like formal rules for a 4 way stop sign and merging.

 

In any channel, or narrow waterway the general rule is to keep to "the right side" as much as possible. Altho the most important rule - one that doesn't exist in writing - is the rule of gross tonage... The bigger ship is less maneuverable & the prudent mariner always acts accordingly.

 

True, in certain high traffic areas there are designated traffic lanes, but these exist in a very small percentage of the navigable waters of the world. In an even smaller number of areas, vessel movements are even monitored by a Vessel Traffic Service but in all but a few of those, they are advisory rather than compulsary positive control - different than aviation! http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/vts/vts_home.htm

 

Rule 10 of the internation rules covers Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS)

"This Rule applies to traffic separation schemes adopted by the Organization [Intl] and does not relieve any vessel of her obligation under any other rule.

 

A vessel using a traffic separation scheme shall:

1. 1. 
      
   2. Proceed in the appropriate traffic lane in the general direction of traffic flow for that lane.
      
   3. So far as is practicable keep clear of a traffic separation line or separation zone.
      
   4. Normally join or leave a traffic lane at the termination of the lane, but when joining or leaving from either side shall do so at as small an angle to the general direction of traffic flow as practicable.

© A vessel, shall so far as practicable, avoid crossing traffic lanes but if obliged to do so shall cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow. "

 

In most cases a vessel is going to sail the shortest path between two points because miles equals gallons of fuel. It's all about costs. If the cruise ship runs extra miles to improve your sights....you will be paying for the gas. (but to get real technical note that the shortest path between two points is not necessarily a straight line when going on long voyages. That's when one must plot a 'great circle route')

[texas greeneyes]

Do the cruise ships tend to stay near land while they're sailing from one destination to another? or will they take the straightest route to their next destination? I was just kind of curious if it there's any difference which side of the ship you book a balcony room on.

 

Thanks!

 

When deciding on which side to book, take into consideration your view while in port as well as while at sea.

We enjoyed being on the port side so we could see the islands as we approached each port. Also got a kick out of people-watching as the last pax at each port scrambled to make it back to the ship on time. :D

[Seabee]

Yes that is true about the port side but on the starboard side you get to see the stars...and since most of the transits occur at night that is a real benefit!

[MDBOUTTE]

Is it the same if you are cruising Canada/New England? Seems that we would be able to see land. yes?

[jlp20]

>>>Actually - in the open ocean it IS pretty much a free for all…

 

Look at the original post:

Do the cruise ships tend to stay near land while they're sailing from one destination to another? or will they take the straightest route to their next destination?

 

Poster is talking cruise lines not freighters in the South Pacific.

 

Most don’t realize that most modern cruise ships are piloted by computer once they leave port. Computers use information from GPS, radar, wind and current speed to set speed and course. You thought they got down to Cabo with in minutes of printed arrival time by luck?

[Capt_BJ]

>>>Actually - in the open ocean it IS pretty much a free for all…

 

Look at the original post:

Do the cruise ships tend to stay near land while they're sailing from one destination to another? or will they take the straightest route to their next destination?

 

Poster is talking cruise lines not freighters in the South Pacific.

 

Most don’t realize that most modern cruise ships are piloted by computer once they leave port. Computers use information from GPS, radar, wind and current speed to set speed and course. You thought they got down to Cabo with in minutes of printed arrival time by luck?

 

True I enter my way points into my ECDIS & ECS and the GPS signals will get me from point A to point B fairly effeciently. Of course wind and waves may also impact your ability to make your intended speed (the DAWN incident again...) However there are no 'rules' on where you place these way points. Go find an ocean chart. Except for a few areas - those TSS's I mentioned, you just plot "where you feel like." of course, ensuring you will have sufficient depth beneath the keel is always a good idea.

 

For example, in a narrow channel situation a sizable vessel is probably gonna plot his course smack dab down the center of the deepest part of the channel - and a similar ship coming the other direction will have done the the exact same thing. Fortunately the rules of the road cover this situation and establish protocols for who has the right of way (burdened vs priviledged) and who is expected to turn which direction to resolve the conflict.

 

It's called navigation and seamanship. And to quote an instructor i once had 'nagivation is not a contact sport'

 

It is often amazing to discover however just how often two ships on the open ocean manage to appear at the same place at the same time requiring one to deviate from their plotted course... However, they don't like to do that because even a simple turn to give the other guy room costs gas. And increased fuel comsumption is a big deal to a merchie.