After we sailed from Palmero, the ship’s master (captain) notified us that our next port of call, Salerno, Italy, was being canceled, and we were heading to Roma for protection from a storm with strong winds. Roma was our port of call after Salerno, which was a little disappointing to us and Giddy. Giddy had promised to take us on a tour of the Amalfi Coast with his cousin Lugeo.
We sailed safely into Roma’s protected port as the gale-force northern winds approached and whipped the waves into hills and valleys.
We spent the next day and a half in windy, cold rain with temperatures in the 50s. So, there was no trip to the Trivia fountain this time, which is always one of my favorite locations in Roma. The port is approximately an hour from Roma, and with the weather, we opted to stay on board the ship. Also, the Trivia fountain is under renovation and is surrounded by scaffolding. The pictures were taken during our trip two years ago to Roma.
Over half the ship’s guests disembarked the next day after arriving in port and were replaced by almost the same number heading to the New World, with Miami as the next disembarkation point.
The storm persisted throughout the day into the evening. However, we had to leave port to reach our next stop on time: Valencia, Spain. The wind was howling, and several guests felt the motion in the protected port. We wondered how they would make it through the night. At 8 p.m., the captain notified the crew, and we set sail out of the Roma port.
The grand ship Vista began sailing across the vast expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, consisting of a seasoned crew and many passengers who had previously weathered storms.
Some passengers felt nausea; however, this storm was nothing compared to the storm the three of us experienced off the coast of Bermuda one fall day in October some years ago.
The sky darkened, and the winds howled as the waves rose higher and higher around the ship. The captain and crew worked tirelessly to secure the ships, batten the hatches, and steer the ship through the tumultuous waters. As the hurricane storm raged on, the powerful waves tossed and turned the ship. Lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder echoed in the distance. The crew and passengers held on tightly as they descended the steps, their faces etched with determination and fear. Due to the ship’s severe movements, the elevators were out of service. As we went to dinner in the main dining room on deck four, we witnessed waves crashing against the windows, and we requested to sit in the middle of the dining room. The dining room was sparse since many passengers and crew stayed in their cabins. At one point, Giddy was sitting in his seat and was violently catapulted onto the floor as a large wave crashed against the ship.
Hours passed after we returned to our cabin from having a light dinner, and just when it seemed that all hope was lost, the storm began to subside in the early morning hours. The winds gradually died down, and the waves calmed. The next morning, as the clouds parted, a ray of sunlight broke through, illuminating the weary but relieved faces of the passengers and crew. We sailed into Bermuda Port and were surprised by how many passengers had decided to leave and fly back to New York.
After we left Bermuda, the Empress of the Seas sailed on, the remaining passengers and crew united by the shared experience of navigating through the storm’s chaos. The weather after the hurricane was beautiful, with calm seas from Hamilton, Bermuda, to Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, where we docked.
As we sailed across the vast expanse of the Mediterranean Sea, the grand ship Vista rocked and swayed as the sea boiled and spouted water over the ship’s deck throughout the night. There was a loud clanging metallic noise at one point, and then a crash sound was heard several times as the waves hit the ship. We rolled as we lay in bed watching a movie about a wannabe late 70’s band called the “Wild Olives” on our big screen TV. Several times, it felt like we hit some speed bumps as the ship sailed forth. The next morning, the sky was less ominous, and the seas began to calm. However, the temperature was still too chilly for shorts to walk on deck.
Today (Nov 21st) is a sea day, so I am spending my time writing this post. I am looking forward to our arrival in Valencia tomorrow.