Queen Mary 2 Battles Fierce Storms Across the North Atlantic! Review of 8 Days of Potential Terror!

Setting sail from New York City on January 3, 2024, we embarked on what we hoped would be a smooth winter crossing of the North Atlantic, heading to Southampton, England. But instead, the ocean greeted us with three relentless days of pure chaos—snow, sleet, freezing rain, and one of the most violent storms we have ever faced. Over the course of 72 hours. Day 1 – We departed from Brooklyn, New York, on a January evening. The Queen Mary 2, one of the most iconic ocean liners in history, began her transatlantic crossing. Day 2: The Calm Before the Storm –Though the weather remained cold but clear for much of the day, the Captain’s evening report warned of deteriorating conditions ahead. The forecast showed that a developing storm system would meet us head-on within the next 24 hours. That evening, light snow began to fall, and the winds started to gust. The waves were now 10-15 feet high, signaling the onset of rougher seas. Day 3: Beaufort Force 9 – We woke to the ship lurching underfoot, and looking outside, we saw blizzard-like conditions. The wind was howling at around 50 mph (80 km/h). The ship began to sway as the waves surged higher and higher. According to the ship’s weather report, we were experiencing a Beaufort Force 9 storm, with winds between 47-54 knots (about 54-63 mph) and waves reaching 23-32 feet. The conditions rapidly worsened throughout the day. Inside, some of the passengers began to sense the growing danger. Staff and crew remained professional and calm, but there was no ignoring the violent storm that had engulfed us. Day 4: Beaufort Force 10 – Storm Intensifies – Overnight, the storm intensified, and we were officially in a Beaufort Force 10 storm, also known as a violent storm. Winds now reached 63-70 mph (101-113 km/h), and waves towered at 32-41 feet. The ship creaked under the immense pressure of the sea as it was pounded by one wave after another. The Captain’s report described the worst of it: we were caught in the center of a fast-moving low-pressure system, causing these extreme conditions. Passengers were advised to be careful and use handrails as the ship pitched and rolled in the violent seas. The stabilizers, designed to reduce the ship's rolling motion, were pushed to their absolute limits. Every few minutes, the Queen Mary 2 would rise high on a wave, only to drop into a deep trough, sending some passengers stomachs into freefall. You could hear the waves crashing into the ship. Day 5: Beaufort Force 11 – The Worst of the Storm – We were in the grip of a Beaufort Force 11 storm, the second-highest rating on the scale. This storm brought winds exceeding 70 mph (113 km/h), with waves between 37-52 feet. At this point, the storm had reached its peak intensity. It felt as though the entire ocean was working against us. We could feel every wave, every gust of wind, every crash of water against the ship’s hull. Temperatures dropped to a frigid 19°F (-7°C). The ship’s crew worked tirelessly to clear the decks, while the ship battled through massive waves, she handled it quite nicely. All passengers were advised to stay indoors. That evening, the Captain informed us that the storm was expected to continue for several more hours, but that the worst was behind us. As the night went on, the winds slowly began to ease, but the ship was still caught in violent seas. Day 6: The Storm Breaks – The winds decreased to a much more manageable 40 mph, and the waves, though still rough, were no longer the towering monsters of the previous days. The temperature warmed slightly to 32°F (0°C), and the snow gave way to light rain. For some passengers there was a sense of relief mixed with disbelief at what we had all just experienced. We had survived one of the most intense storms of the year to hit the Queen Mary 2, and it had taken every ounce of engineering and skill to get us through it. She is an amazing ship! Days 7-8: Approaching Southampton We will never forget our time aboard the Queen Mary 2, battling the fury of the North Atlantic. Please consider watching our Cunard Playlist. This journey started in NY in January 2024 when we boarded the Queen Mary 2 and sailed to Southampton, England - Tenerife, Spain - Walvis Bay, Namibia - Port Elizabeth, Capetown & Durban, South Africa - Reunion Island - Mauritius Island and then finally Perth, Australia. We stayed in an inside cabin (check out our cabin tour & review video) for 45 days. With many interesting changes in weather, sickness, safety protocols, breaking-news LIVE updates, as well as amazing ports of call with two overnight stops. And as always... Thanks for coming along on our journey! All the best, Michael & Andrea Our Cunard Playlist can be found on our channel here: https://bit.ly/HubbardsJourneyCunardPlaylist Visit Hubbard's Journey to see more videos by destination or cruise line: https://www.youtube.com/@HubbardsJourney/featured