Storm at Sea

Days 7 to 9 – 9 to 11 October 2026 – Sea Days

 

We were supposed to have a sea day, then a day in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, followed by another sea day.  However, there has been a tropical weather system growing off the west coast of Baja California, Mexico.  It appears to be building rapidly, and is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane in a day or two.

 

On Thursday, while we were in San Diego, our captain and navigation team, in communication with Holland America, looked at all the weather forecasts and decided it would be safer for all the passengers as well as the ship if we sailed out to sea and stayed west of what is currently Tropical Storm Simon, which is in the process of becoming Hurricane Simon.  The upshot is we are skipping our port stop in Cabo, and will have three sea days.  (Very glad to not be on a sailing vessel like Hendrick Hudson's "Half Moon!")

 

This is at the same time at the southern Gulf of Mexico coastal USA is expecting Hurricane Isiaias, and eastern Mexico is likely going to have bad weather – so it seems as if the storm season has suddenly become way too busy after a rather slow start.  And poor Mexico is getting a one-two punch

 

The crew is putting together extra activities to keep the passengers occupied.  Richard and I, however, are pretty good at keeping ourselves busy.  On top of all this, I’ve caught a cold, so I’d be spending the day in the cabin anyway.  I wore a mask last night and ate dinner solo in the dining room, trying to contain my germs.  Cruise ships are definitely somewhat like petri dishes, a small enclosed environment where germs can spread and multiply easily.  (I’m blaming the tender trips to and from Santa Barbara, there were quite a few people sneezing and coughing as we bounced along the waves between ship and shore.)

 

Eh, I have books to read, photos to edit, blogs to write.  I manage to find plenty to do, even with an unexpected extra day at sea.  I also have an extra box of tissues from our room stewards.  And lots of movies on the TV.  I’m set.

 

9 October 2026 – After dinner, I stopped by the casino to play on the dragon machine I like.  There was some promotion going on, and the person at machine number 1234 won free play.  It turned out that person was across an aisle from me, so she jumped up and the people came over to give her the free play money in her account.  Then they announced the persons immediately to her right and left also won!  Her husband was to her left, and he was given $$ in free play.  Then they came over to me, since I was the person to her right – and voila, I had $50 in free play!  Wow, how crazy!  And exciting!

 

10 October 2026 – We began the day with bright blue skies and seas, plenty of sunshine.  By midafternoon, the sky was overcast, and the ocean a steely blue grey.  I’m not sure if the current or wave direction changed, but the splashing sounds changed dramatically.  Simon has been upgraded to a Category 3 storm, and predicted to become a Cat 4 before landfall.  It looked like he may be dragging some clouds and rain behind him!

 

11 October 2026 – We changed time ahead one hour as we’re beginning to turn east along the coast of Mexico – not that we can see land, we’re still too far out to sea to even spy a faint outline of land.  Our weather has changed and the ocean is rougher, with swells and deep troughs, and the water is a steely grey.  Skies are overcast with dense clouds, and the air is increasingly humid.  No rain, but it does look ominous.  My cold seems worse in the mornings, so at this point I’m staying in our room both to baby my cough and stuffy nose, as well as to not spread this thing throughout the ship.