Gabrielle Clark was with her husband, three daughters and mother on the ship, which was stuck outside Sydney Harbour because of the ‘once-in-a-century’ storm that ravaged NSW on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

“The waves were massive, absolutely massive,” she said. 

“When (the ship) would turn from side to side, one minute you’d see (all) sea out the window and one minute you’d see all sky.” 

The ship was stuck out in the rough sea because the Sydney harbour master decided it would be too dangerous to get a pilot onto the ship to guide it in to dock safely. 

Ms Clark said the weather really got intense the night before they were due to reach Sydney. 

“It was like the worst airplane turbulence, but with a roaring noise,” she said. 

“All the (glass) balcony dividers were smashing, and they had to close off deck nine. Deck 10, all the furniture went overboard.” 

The storm wreaked havoc across the state, with four people dead in floodwaters. 

The cruise had earlier had the Vanuatu stop cancelled because of the  clean-up efforts following Cyclone Pam. 

Ms Clark was complimentary of the way staff handled the tricky conditions, with seasickness a major issue and water running through the ship. 

“The captain was very good. I sent him a thank you letter,” she said. 

“With the storm of the century and a cyclone ... what are the chances?” 

Incredibly, her children were not fazed. 

“(They) were never frightened. They saw it as an adventure,” she said. 

After more than 24 hours stuck outside the harbour, calmer conditions finally allowed them to end their South Pacific cruise. 

“At the time it was frightening, but I’d definitely go on a cruise again,” she said.

alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au