My parents and I have just completed the 4 day Sampler cruise from Sydney>Hobart on "Explorer of the Seas". We crossed the Bass Strait in style - Owners Suite 1298 on Deck 10.

This is our 2nd cruise with RC - last February we sailed on "Voyager" for the 3 night sampler and as these 2 ships are very similar it was much easier for us to navigate. On the 2nd day around lunchtime Captain Gjerstad announced we were coming into some heavy weather with high winds and swells expected and that access to the upper decks will be closed off.

We now know why! Even at an impressive 138,000 tonnes the ship swayed, creaked and "rocked and rolled" until the next morning. During the night there was minor damage to ceilings, and we noticed some of the perspex shields outside the "Flowrider" were smashed. At 8am the captain informed us that during the night we had endured winds up to 200kmh, the ship "listed" at 7 degrees and the waves were up to 30 foot at times - this is Bass Strait for you! He was very apologetic and assured us he was steering away from the storm but thankfully there were no injuries, just a few cases of sea-sickness and Guest Services were handing out free sea sickness pills during the trip. Instead of arriving in Hobart at 8am we arrived at 9.30 so the disruptions were minimal for the shore excursions. We spoke with other passengers who endured the storm and they were on lower decks at the front and back of the ship - so they would of really felt the motions. Read more