20,000 stuck at sea in cruise ships as Galveston hunkers down for Hurricane Harvey

[mfcorey1]

With 20,000 vacationers waiting at sea on cruise ships and beach parks shuttered for the weekend, Galveston is hunkering down for the storm. But city officials were confident Friday that the island is ready for Hurricane Harvey's wrath, even as the National Weather Service announced a tornado warning Friday afternoon for Galveston, Texas City and La Marque.

"We have a lot of experience in dealing with these issues," Mayor James Yarbrough told reporters Friday. "Galveston's official position is we are prepared. We're not panicking."

But for the thousands of passengers stuck at sea on four cruise ships set to dock over the weekend - three Carnival cruises and one Royal Caribbean boat - the incoming storm could throw a wrench in the week's plans. With the port shut down to ship traffic, cruise-goers are forced to wait offshore - possibly all the way until Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Roger Quiroga, the Port of Galveston's external affairs director.

The city issued a voluntary evacuation Thursday for the west end of the island in anticipation of flooding and possible utility outages. But Friday the mayor cautioned residents against trying to leave town too late.

"Evacuation won't be much an option after 5:30 to 6 this afternoon," he said. "The old adage, hunker from wind, run from water is still the gospel and we're at the point where we're going to hunker down."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/20000-stuck-at-sea-in-cruise-ships-as-galveston-hunkers-down-for-hurricane-harvey/ar-AAqHJGr?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

[kimbutgar]

1. Nothing worst than being on a cruise ship in a regular storm

I can only imagine it would be a nightmare in hurricane winds.

Hubby and I were on cruise ship on our honeymoon the last night we encountered a bad storm. My hubby, myself and another man at our table who was also in the navy stayed ok. One guy at our table came to our table and he was green in the face. I looked at him and had to return to our stateroom because looking at him made me seasick.

[TheBlackAdder]

8. It's bad enough chumming for fish over the side of a boat, but when locked in your cabin, P. U.!

[haveahart]

12. Just pray they don't run out of food and clean water and fuel. Those ships are deadly when generato

are cut and refrigeration and other stuff spoils. Sanitation becomes the biggest worry.

[herding cats]

2. I have 3 inlaws stuck out there.

They got an extra unplanned day at Cozumel today, and then they're headed up to the gulf to wait until who knows how long.

[LeftInTX]

3. They should let them stay in Cozumel longer

Going to be rough seas. It does not sound like fun.

[herding cats]

7. I know, I feel for them. Carnival has been punting this ball for days.

They seem to be hoping for a miracle to bring their ship into port, or something.

The people who were to depart Saturday and Sunday on these stranded ships weren't notified until today that there would be a delay and not to travel to Galveston. Luckily people started to figure it out when their flights were being canceled.

[trof]

4. Possibly they could come in to the Port of Mobile?

They have a cruise terminal.

[herding cats]

9. Eventually they'll have to port someplace.

Then they'll have to get back to Galveston where they left their car. Which I'm worried will have been flooded.

[Lokilooney]

15. According to NOAA Harvey will stall out, from the web site:

"Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding is expected across the
middle and upper Texas coast from heavy rainfall of 15 to 30 inches,
with isolated amounts as high as 40 inches, through Wednesday."

Unless they left their car in an above ground parking lot there might be an influx of "flood cars" on the market.

[herding cats]

17. That's what I'm expecting, too.

It happened during Ike, too.

[samnsara]

5. oh maaaaaan i hope they are safe! And if they are in NO danger...LUCKY THEM!!!!

.. I would love to be stuck on a cruise ship.....

[Turbineguy]

6. The ships have stabilizers.

They may have to ration food and booze if Galveston is their turnaround port.

[mcar]

10. 20,000?

Holy crap!

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

11. Oh god the parking lot

A lot of people leave their cars parked out there, naturally expecting them to be there when they come back from the cruise.

[Warpy]

13. 5 days offshore near a hurricane

It's not going to take a norovirus outbreak to send people hanging over the side.

[Happyhippychick]

14. This is reason 4,832 why I

HATE CRUISES!

[malaise]

16. Including a DUer

Hope they're all OK