Working Through Rough Seas on Cruise Ships

seafaring

27 Jun

The first time I experienced rough seas on a cruise ship was probably during one of those seasonal crossings, when it happens every other night. I don’t remember the exact date. I just remember trying to keep myself at the desk while my office chair kept wheeling away, and I was fighting off a headache and nausea, hoping the shift would end soon.

There were no dramatic announcements. Maybe a quiet notice to crew. Unless there’s a storm warning, you just feel it in the floor before anyone says anything. I couldn’t sleep. The ceiling creaked. It wasn’t fear, just discomfort.

That’s what rough seas on cruise ships are usually like for crew. Not terrifying. Just one of those tiring, uncomfortable realities that come with the job. Things slide, sleep gets shallow. You just adjust, and then you keep going.

What to Expect From Rough Seas

How common are rough seas on cruise ships?

I haven’t sailed across every ocean. I’ve never crossed the Atlantic or done a full transpacific route in winter. But I’ve experienced rough seas in the East China Sea and South China Sea, especially during seasonal transitions. It’s not rare, and definitely not surprising.

Some cruise routes are calm most of the year. Others have stretches that get rough regularly, depending on the season and region. If you’ve worked a few contracts, you start to recognise which itineraries are likely to get bumpy. You just expect it.

Rough seas don’t always mean storms. Sometimes it’s just steady swells, stronger winds, and open sea with no land to break the waves. You feel it in your legs and your steps. Walking in a straight line becomes slightly more difficult. Sleeping feels different. Eating feels different.

Newer, larger cruise ships handle movement better. When I worked on a mega ship, I barely felt a thing, even when the sea was choppy. On smaller or older ships, the motion is more noticeable. The creaks are louder. Things shift around more easily.

If you’re wondering what the roughest part of a cruise is, it’s usually the open-water segments – the Pacific, the North Atlantic in winter, or long stretches between ports. In this part of the world, it’s often the South China Sea, especially when the weather is changing.

Rough seas aren’t constant, but they’re not rare either. Over time, you learn to expect them based on the route.

Are rough seas dangerous on cruise ships?

If you're wondering whether rough seas are actually dangerous on cruise ships, the short answer is: usually, no. Most modern cruise ships are equipped with stabilizers and built to handle heavy weather. They’re designed for ocean travel, not just calm coastal routes.

That said, it’s not always comfortable. The ship might pitch or roll, especially if you're sailing through open waters like the Pacific or the North Atlantic. Guests feel it more in the forward areas and upper decks. Crew members feel it everywhere – including on duty.

But real danger? It's rare. Cruise lines take precautions. Itineraries are adjusted for bad weather. Bridge officers are constantly monitoring wave height, wind, and current. Most of the time, rough seas just mean nausea, poor sleep, and extra caution walking down the hallway.

Of course, there have been serious incidents due to rough sea conditions – including accidents, injuries, and in rare cases, structural damage. These are the exception, not the norm. But they’re also a reminder that while cruise ships are designed to handle heavy weather, the sea is still the sea.

Most crew don’t worry about danger. They’re just trying to finish their shift without spilling soup or slipping in the alleyway.

What Happens Onboard During Rough Weather

What happens on a cruise ship during rough seas?

Most ship operations continue as usual, with some adjustments. If the weather forecast shows moderate or rough sea conditions, the bridge might slow the ship down or slightly change course to minimise the impact. If it’s not too serious, passengers may not even be aware of it.

But for crew, the signs are obvious. You start walking with one hand on the handrail. You take corners slower. You avoid certain decks during peak swaying.

On the guest side, pool areas are closed, outdoor activities are cancelled, and sometimes events or shows are rescheduled or moved inside. Restaurants still run, but there are more spills and dropped trays than usual.

In the crew areas, everyone keeps working. Housekeeping still cleans cabins, galley teams still prep food, and service continues. You adjust your pace and balance, but the job doesn’t stop.

The bridge team monitors the weather radar and wave height constantly. If there’s a strong system approaching, the captain might make a ship-wide announcement. But if it’s just routine rough seas, there usually isn’t one.

How do crew members prepare for rough seas?

While guests are asked to stay in their cabins, the crew has a very different task – securing the ship’s daily life.

That includes crew cabins, but also the places where we work. Some crew prep galleys or storage rooms, others secure gear on open decks. I work in an office, so my experience might not reflect everyone’s, but the same rule applies across departments: anything loose becomes a problem once the ship starts rolling.

Securing crew cabins (and workspaces)

This is what preparation usually looks like:

Clearing anything off open shelves and desks.
Unplugging electronics so chargers and devices don’t get yanked or fall.
Putting personal items inside drawers instead of leaving them stacked on surfaces.
Drawers, whether in the cabin or office, are taped shut if they don’t stay closed on their own.
Taking down shampoo bottles or toiletries in the bathroom. One spill was enough for me to learn.
Larger items, like luggage, get wedged between furniture. I used a chair to hold mine in place against the wall.
Cupboards that don’t lock properly get blocked with whatever’s handy. We used the same chair at first, then figured out we could loop an umbrella through the handles. Ideally, we should’ve asked for the key from crew personnel or reported it to maintenance.

Some crew don’t bother with any of this. They leave the mess and clean it up after. But I don’t like decluttering very much, so I’d rather prevent the chaos than deal with it afterward.

There’s no official checklist. You just figure it out based on your cabin, your job, and what you’ve learnt the hard way.

What seasickness feels like – and how crew handle it

Some crew get seasick, especially new hires. Others don’t, or get used to it over time. But when the ship starts rolling, especially in rough seas, it affects almost everyone in some way – physically, mentally, or both.

Sleep gets disrupted too. On rough nights, the bed doesn’t just sway side to side. It sometimes feels like a seesaw, tilting head to foot. If your cabin is near the bow or stern, that motion gets amplified. Even if you’re used to sea life, it’s hard to stay asleep when you’re constantly adjusting your body to the movement.

Appetite change as well. Even if the crew mess is open, some people can’t bring themselves to eat much.

Fatigue and seasickness don’t always happen together, but they often overlap. And when both hit, your ability to work, focus, and stay alert goes down fast.

Here’s what crew members do to manage it:

Keep seasickness pills handy. Take them before the ship enters rough waters, not after. Seasick medication is usually available at the onboard clinic if you run out.
Prepare seasickness bags. Keep a few in your pocket or workstation drawer just in case. I’ve seen large rubbish bags placed near the forward corridor and stairwell – areas where crew tend to throw up the most.
Take a bag with you if you’re already feeling unwell. It’s not always possible to run back to your cabin in time.
Try to eat something. An empty stomach can make nausea worse. Comfort food like arroz caldo (if available) helps because it’s warm and easy to digest.
Avoid greasy or heavy meals when the sea is rough.
Stay hydrated, even if you’re not drinking much at once.
Candy or crackers can help settle your stomach.
Take short rest breaks. Close your eyes and sit down for a few minutes to help reset your balance.

Crew still have to work, even when they’re vomiting between tasks. It’s not ideal, but it’s a reality for some.

You might also like: How to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise

It Passes Eventually

Rough seas on cruise ships don’t last forever. The ship moves through it, the waves settle, and things go back to normal.

Guests might remember it as a story to tell. For crew, you might not remember which crossing it was, just the feeling – lying in bed with a headache or checking if the ship was still rocking.

For some, it’s just part of the job. For others, it’s one of the hardest things to get used to. It gets to you physically, sometimes mentally. The interrupted sleep, the seasickness, the fatigue the next day.

Eventually, you adjust. You get through it. The sea calms, and work continues.

By the end of your contract, you won’t remember which night had the biggest waves. But you’ll remember having to lock your cupboard. Or cleaning up spilled shampoo off the bathroom floor. It’s always the small things that stay with you.