Saturday, September 2, 2017

Watching Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma Courtesy NOAA NHC


Due to the volatility of the Cruise Ship Impact, we have switched to a tabular format which can be found by clicking on the image above.  We will continue to monitor the storm as long as it poses a threat to cruises / land.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)


Hurricane Preparedness Mini-Series:


We are in the peak of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season and there is plenty of activity to keep an eye on. With Hurricane Harvey still causing heavy rainfall inland, new storms are developing off of Cabo Verde in the Atlantic. One storm has already become a Category 4 Hurricane and the other is forming right behind. There has already been impacts to scheduled cruises, and more disruption is anticipated.  The exact path of the hurricane isn't known due to changing conditions in the Atlantic.

4 Things To Help Plan Vacation in Hurricane Season
HURRICANE IRMA
Impacting Cruises

This storm is expected to change in strength and direction over the next few days.  Anyone living in the vicinity of the storms current path or traveling on a cruise in the Atlantic should keep an eye on the potential impact to your plans.

Now is the time to prepare - click on our preparedness links for assistance in planning.  Click the image below for the latest updates from NOAA NHC.


Hurricane Irma has already forced cancellations of upcoming cruises.  Monitor the cruise line's websites and social media for up to the minute updates.  We will attempt to update this page frequently as well.

 


HURRICANE IRMA 
800 PM AST Tue Sep 05 2017
...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE IRMA NEARING THE
NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS...
...WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE OVER THE NORTHERN LEEWARD
ISLANDS SOON...
WIND:
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...185 MPH...295 KM/H
Currently Extremely Dangerous Category 5  
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Nevis
* Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
* Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy
* British Virgin Islands
* U.S. Virgin Islands
* Puerto Rico, Vieques, and Culebra
* Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with
Haiti

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Guadeloupe
* Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le
Mole St. Nicholas
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* Southeastern Bahamas
* Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Guadeloupe
* Dominica
* Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the
southern border with Haiti

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince
SHIP IMPACT:
These cruise line links will be active when tracking storms:

Carnival Cruise Line 
Disney Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean
Norwegian Cruise Line
MSC Cruises

Several Itineraries have been modified / cancelled
   
Storm Archive       Graphics Archive


A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area.  A warning is typically issued
36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-
force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.  Preparations to protect life and property should be
rushed to completion.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.  A watch is typically issued 48 hours before
the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds,
conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, along with Haiti,
the Turks and Caicos Islands, Cuba, and the southeastern and central
Bahamas should monitor the progress of Irma.

Royal Caribbean Itinerary Updates  (click for latest update)

September 5, 2017 at 6:00 PM EDT (next update tomorrow at noon EDT)

We are closely monitoring Hurricane Irma’s path and its potential impact to our current and upcoming sailings. Royal Caribbean’s Chief Meteorologist, James Van Fleet, is closely tracking the storm’s progress, and the current forecast is as follows:

Hurricane Irma is a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds around the center at 185 mph and is currently located about 210 miles east of Antigua. The storm continues its westerly track at 15 mph. While it is difficult to predict the path of the storm at this time, it is likely that Irma will impact Florida at some point this weekend.

In an effort to give you advance notice of any changes while also taking into account the most accurate forecast information, we will be providing updates on any impacted sailings no later than 2 days in advance of departure.

The following sailings are departing as scheduled:

Adventure of the Seas: September 9 Southern Caribbean cruise
Grandeur of the Seas: September 7 New England/Canada cruise
Liberty of the Seas: September 10 Western Caribbean cruise
Serenade of the Seas: September 10 New England/Canada cruise
Vision of the Seas: September 7 New England/Canada cruise

The following sailings are canceled:

Enchantment of the Seas: September 8 Bahamas cruise
Majesty of the Seas: September 8 Bahamas cruise

We are very sorry for the impact this storm has had on your vacation and please know that we made the decision with the safety and comfort of our guests and crew in mind. The cruise fare and fees will be 100% refunded to the original form of payment, and we are also offering a 25% future cruise credit, based on the cruise fare, if a new cruise is booked in the next 30 days. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call 1-800-256-6649.

The following sailings are currently being evaluated and we will provide our next update at noon EDT tomorrow:

Allure of the Seas: September 10 Western Caribbean cruise
Anthem of the Seas: September 9 Bermuda cruise
Empress of the Seas: September 9 Cuba cruise
Harmony of the Seas: September 9 Eastern Caribbean cruise
Oasis of the Seas: September 10 Eastern Caribbean cruise

For all guests currently sailing with us, the Captain and team onboard will be providing you specific updates at 1 pm and 615 pm daily, and of course will update you immediately if anything changes.

Should we need to make additional itinerary changes or cancel an additional sailing to avoid the storm, we will reach out to guests directly, as well as update our website and social media feeds immediately. Please know that the safety and comfort of our guests are our top priority and we will continue to provide regular updates throughout the week.

For more frequent updates, please follow our meteorologist on Twitter @JamesVanFleet or visit the Royal Caribbean Facebook page.

Allure of the Seas (September 3 sailing) is currently sailing a modified Western Caribbean itinerary.


Norwegian Cruise Line Weather Alert (click for latest)

September 5th at 2:00 PM ET (6:00 PM UTC) 

 At Norwegian Cruise Line, the safety and security of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance. The company is closely monitoring Hurricane Irma, now a major category 5 hurricane, located just east of the Leeward Islands. The storm’s forecasted path includes a potential impact to South Florida this weekend.

 Due to the current forecasted path of the storm, we will be making adjustments to the following cruises to ensure the safety of everyone on board:

Norwegian Escape, Seven-Day Western Caribbean cruise departing September 2 from Miami:

We will be amending the ship’s itinerary to a five-day cruise. Instead of calling in Costa Maya on Wednesday and Cozumel on Thursday, the ship will sail for Miami this evening, arriving in the afternoon on Thursday, September 7. Those guests who are residents of South Florida, who drove to PortMiami or who have travel plans already confirmed that will return them safely home by Friday afternoon may disembark the ship on Thursday if they wish to do so. For those guests who did not drive to PortMiami and are unable to secure a flight back home, we strongly encourage them to stay onboard the ship.

Norwegian Escape will set sail from Miami on Thursday evening on a course away from the storm. While we are unable to confirm at this time when and where the ship will return to port, we welcome all guests to remain onboard to stay safe and secure.

All guests will received a refund for the missed days of their cruise, along with a 25% future cruise credit of the cruise fare paid towards a future sailing on Norwegian. Guests who need to make changes to any flights will be reimbursed for any change fees up to $300 per person.

Norwegian Sky, Four-Day Cuba Cruise departing September 4 from Miami:

We will be amending the ship’s itinerary to a three-day cruise. Instead of calling in Great Stirrup Cay on Thursday, the ship will sail for Miami following her departure from Havana tomorrow, arriving in the morning on Thursday, September 7.

All guests will receive a refund for the missed day of their cruise, along with a 25% future cruise credit of the cruise fare paid towards a future sailing on Norwegian. Guests who need to make changes to any flights will be reimbursed for any change fees up to $300 per person

Norwegian Sky, September 8 from Miami:

The ship’s three-day Bahamas cruise has been cancelled. We will be providing a full refund to all guests, plus a 50% future cruise credit.

Norwegian Escape, September 9 from Miami: The ship’s seven-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise has been cancelled.

We will be providing a full refund to all guests, plus a 50% future cruise credit. All other cruises are currently sailing as scheduled.

We continue to monitor the storm’s projected path and will provide any updates as quickly as they are available. We truly appreciate our guests understanding during these unforeseen itinerary changes and apologize for any inconvenience these unexpected, but necessary, changes may cause our guests. Any further updates will be communicated here and to guests and posted on our social media channels.


Disney Cruise Line Weather Alert (click for latest)

Tropical Weather Update September 5, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.

Based on the projected path of Hurricane Irma, including its expected impact on the Caribbean and Bahamas, Disney Cruise Line is making the following adjustments to itineraries:

Disney Fantasy The September 2 cruise of the Disney Fantasy is currently sailing a modified Western Caribbean itinerary and is expected to return to Port Canaveral two days earlier than planned on Thursday, September 7.

Guests on this sailing will be refunded two nights of their voyage fare and provided a 25 percent discount on a future cruise, which may be booked by calling 1-855-347-2784 or 407-566-7054 from September 18, 2017, through October 18, 2017.

The September 9 sailing of the Disney Fantasy is cancelled. 

Refunds will automatically be processed back to the original form of payment used for the cruise booking. Guests are invited to book a future cruise at a 25 percent discount by calling us at 1-855-347-2784 or 407-566-7054 from September 18, 2017, through October 18, 2017.

While we always strive to deliver magical cruise vacations, nothing is more important to us than providing a safe experience for our guests and crew. We will continue to closely monitor Hurricane Irma and provide updates as necessary.

Disney Dream The September 4 cruise of the Disney Dream is sailing a modified Bahamian cruise itinerary and will return to Port Canaveral one day earlier than planned on Thursday, September 7.

Guests on this sailing will be refunded one night of their voyage fare and provided a 25 percent discount on a future cruise, which may be booked by calling 1-855-347-2784 or 407-566-7054 from September 18, 2017, through October 18, 2017.

The September 8 and September 11 sailings of the Disney Dream are cancelled.

Refunds will automatically be processed back to the original form of payment used for the cruise booking. Guests are invited to book a future cruise at a 25 percent discount by calling us at 1-855-347-2784 or 407-566-7054 from September 18, 2017, through October 18, 2017.

While we always strive to deliver magical cruise vacations, nothing is more important to us than providing a safe experience for our guests and crew. We will continue to closely monitor Hurricane Irma and provide updates as necessary.

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