My wife and I (Caribbean Cruise Bums) set sail on November 26, 2013 out of Baltimore. We arrived early in Baltimore to spend a day in the Inner Harbor, normally a lovely place. We expected cool temperatures but it was cold (low teens). When we departed on Grandeur Of The Seas, it was raining. As we exited the harbor into open seas, I could tell by the white caps that it could be fun (as in rocking & rolling). I am retired from the Navy and spent many months at sea in all types of conditions. As we headed south around the cape on day 2, the seas met our expectations. We had be rocking around a fair amount on the first evening, when we went to the wind jammer for breakfast and it was pretty empty, I knew it would be "easy pickins" around the ship for the day.
During lunch, my wife and I went up to the very front of the wind jammer to eat. Place was pretty empty but those seas were just a rockin & a rollin. Plates flying everywhere, except ours (Navy trick: wet paper towels, place between table and plate to keep your chow in front of you). As we ate, we watched several waves wash over the bow and drench the windows. Not bad considering that the wind jammer is on deck nine. First time for us, on a cruise ship, that the swells were big enough to wash waves over the Bow. Swells were 30 - 45 feet. It was pretty fun if you don't get sea sick.
Remainder of the cruise was pretty normal. Weather coming back in to Baltimore was rainey. Met a whole lot of new friends in the Diamond Lounge, more Pinnicles that I had ever seen or met on one cruise. Found my new travel agents (Louise and Andy from Worldwide Cruises). Met a number of new friends including Mark & Julie, Becky & Dennis, Denny & Kathy, Bob & Sheila, Mike & Donna and many others. Overall, the ship was fun and well managed.