Have You Ever Cruised Thru a Hurricane

rogue · August 26, 2011

In 1999, Cindy and I were cruising for the 1st time together for our 20th anniversary. We were on the Nordic Empress to Bermuda in October. We were awakened the first day nearly being thrown out of our bed at about 6am. Shortly after, the Captain came on the intercom saying we were just going thru a small squall and would soon be OK. Unfortunately this lasted all day. As it turned out, Hurricane Irene really sped up and took us a bit by surprise (now this was 1999, not 1939). We turned northwest away from the storm, then south and eventually the storm passed us by. We were having 30 foot waves and sometimes as high as 40 feet waves at the height of the storm.

We missed on day in Bermuda due to the storm. We received absolutely nothing as far as compensation was concerned except for a certificate stating we were now members of the Hurricane Society. No one really seemed to care that we received no compensation. Today, there would be revolts and sit-ins on board