Usually, our vessels enter the Gulf of Alaska two or three days after leaving our Seattle dock. After land gets left behind, it takes three or four days of seeing nothing but ocean before you reach your first port.

Here’s when the size of the ocean will really hit you—and where the weather will make all the difference.

Weather obviously plays an important part on any voyage. With clear skies and calm seas, a boat can make good time while her crew gets plenty of maintenance done on deck. With stormy weather and rough seas, a boat can end up behind schedule with a miserable crew.

Even in the summer, rain is fairly typical. As the weather turns cooler, the rain can turn to sleet and snow. In winter, storms roll south and batter the Gulf. Generally speaking, we say there are three types of weather in the Gulf: bad, worse, and awful.

If you’re unused to living on a boat, you’ll discover you’ll need to work to keep your balance as the ship sways around you. Going up stairs, getting out of bed, taking showers, and even eating need to be timed with how the ship rolls with the waves.

If you don’t know if you get seasick or not, you’ll find out in the Gulf. You’re in unprotected waters for the first time, and the ship will really start to move. The bad news is being seasick is just as unpleasant as you suppose. The good news is it’s usually over in a few days. And you’ll have plenty of work to keep your mind off of how awful you feel.

You’ll spend your days working on the ship under the direction of the captain, mate, and chief engineer to make sure everything is in order. You might be tasked with anything from splicing line to cleaning bathrooms. Regardless, you’ll spend your days working.

Even though there’s plenty of maintenance work and always the threat of bad weather, crossing the Gulf isn’t all that bad. It’s a bit of a respite before working cargo in port, and for the most part, you’ll have time after you finish your shift to read, play video games, or watch movies.

And while you’re standing watch, you’ll get to look out and see spectacular views… sunrises and sunsets with nothing around you but the ocean. Sometimes you’ll see whales alongside the vessels or dolphins playing in the ship’s wake. It’s these moments that make the hard work worth it.

As harsh as Crossing the Gulf may be, it's the calm before the storm workwise. Once you reach your first port, you’ll be working cargo all the way until you’re coming back across the Gulf bound for home.