Cape Horn Storm - MS Veendam - Holland America - December 2010

On December 12-14, 2010, while cruising through Patagonia on Holland America's Veendam, we found ourselves right smack in the middle of one of those notorious Cape Horn storms. Swells reached 98ft, temperatures outside fell to 19º F, and constant winds exceeded 70 knots, or category 2 hurricane force winds. Our Captain, Rik Krombeen, revealed to us this had been the worst storm he had ever sailed through in his 27 year career. He also told us that while we were in the storm, none of the forecasters and meteorologist they use to track weather systems and plot routes placed us in the storm. As you can see, the forecasters and meteorologists were wrong. In the end, the cruise ship lost an anchor and part of the aft deck, several panels fell inside and outside the ship, and a few people were injured. Nonetheless, we were all happy to have survived it.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• veendam
• holland
• america
• storm
• patagonia
• cape
• horn
• krombeen

[mstng100mph]

Taking this ship to bermuda in may! Hope the Atlanitc is nice to us and we make it through the triangle!

[blurredsilence]

@mstng100mph The ship is great and so is the crew, so don't worry. In fact, May is a great month to go cruising through the mid-Atlantic. It is known for being the most serene. I should know, I'm from San Juan, bottom tip of the triangle.

[NewYorker366]

98 ft waves?!?! I think someone needs to go back to math class!

[blurredsilence]

@NewYorker366 yeah, i guess the captain and the Holland America weather ppl, cause all the weather info is straight from the official Holland America trip log. Anyhow, look for 100 ft waves on YT, ppl even surf them.

[mrsonemon22]

Well, my husband and I have less than 25 days before we take this trip on the Ms. Veendam...am hoping for fairer weather, lol! Please tell me did you cruise Valparaiso to Rio or reverse? Thank you for the video, excellent job!!!

[blurredsilence]

@mrsonemon22 ours was Buenos Aires to Valparaiso. It didn't stop in Rio. My brother, mom, and I mom took my 86 year-old grandmother on her last great adventure, as she calls it. And, boy, was it ever. Because of the storm we had to forgo a stop, Puerto Mont, and my brother and I are very active travelers, so being cooped-up in a cruise for several days wasn't our cup of tea, but the experience was unforgettable and unique, and made my grandmother happy which was more than enough to compensate.

[mstng100mph]

@blurredsilence Sweet! This will be my 3rd time to bermuda. Look forward to the trip and its good to hear the crew is good!

[ekamahendra4451]

ohh shit i was there

lunch time was 40 feet but at 5 pm was gettin higher ,foods were flying plates r broken,hold old lady ice cream machine was flying too,it was scared but owesome

all da guests sent to their room nwe provide sandwich bc we cant cooked

it just owesome

[leobcs]

@blurredsilence I cruised MS Veendam from Valparaíso to Buenos Aires, before your trip. We also had some bad weather near Falkland Islands. So we couldn't stop there. From Falkland Islands to Montevideo, in the first night, we got a very bad dinner, because of the storm. A lot of glasses falling down at Rotterdam restaurant. I really got scared!

[KarmaCollin]

I sailed around Cape Horn on my Dinggy.