My first cruise was leaving from Galveston and going to Key West ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO. When our ship left, Hurricane Katrina was in the gulf. We sailed through the back half of the hurricane in 30' seas. I've never been so sick. You'd have to hang onto the walls to get up out of bed. Since then every other cruise has been a piece of cake...lol. I'll never forget watching on TV the damage Katrina did. We were just praying that our car was still there in Galveston.
@mrpotatohead My husband was a Vice-President of American National Insurance Co., home office in Galveston. The company awarded high earning agents, 1000 of them, a trip to various foreign counties and the next year, sent them to a US location, then back to a foreign one the next year, etc.
They sent 500 one week and another 500 the next week. Husband was in charge of Agent's Financing so he had to be there both weeks for meetings, so we were at the locations for two weeks. One time we were sent to Nassau, Bahamas, by SHIP, had to cross the GULF STREAM.
The ship was not stable going through this water. The rolling, etc., started just as people were going into the ship restaurant to eat. We got nauseated and left the restaurant before the food came. Going to the room, we saw people in the halls throwing up in ash trays attached to walls. We had twin beds and got in them, both with a plastic bag in case one of us threw up. Neither of us threw up but it was a horrible night.
The next morning, the loud speaker came on at 7 am, telling us to go topside for instruction on using life vests. We did not get up, too nauseated still - decided we would just drown if ship wrecked. Actually, husband was part fish as he had been an underwater swimmer at the Water Park at San Marcos, Texas, where he grew up. He was also strong and could save both of us if in the water, plus I could also swim a long way using a side stroke.
So, we make it to Nassau the next morning. Some of the agents bought airline tickets to fly home rather than be on the ship going back - the sickness was that bad. We had our first meal there, a simple breakfast, since getting sick the day before. Going back to Florida, the ship was okay, we did not get sick.
Neither of us would take a ship trip again. You DID take more ship trips - you are brave, to trust your stomach dealing with water currents.