Friday, August 30, 2019

Hurricane Dorian Impacting Cruise Schedules

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Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian is a dangerous Category 4 storm which poses a significant threat to Florida and the Northwestern Bahamas.   On its current track, the core of Dorian should move over the Atlantic well north of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and tomorrow, be near or over the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday, and be near the Florida peninsula late Monday.

Several Cruise Lines have made changes to their itineraries in anticipation of the approaching hurricane.  Several ports are planning closures, which is part of the reason for the changes.
We have listed several changes below.

If you are sailing this week or next, please consult with your travel agent or the cruise line's website for up to the minute information.  The information below was accurate at the time of publication.
 
Hurricane Dorian
1100 AM AST Fri Aug 30 2019
...DANGEROUS HURRICANE DORIAN POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO
FLORIDA AND THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS...
WIND:
near 110 MPH...175 KM/H
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

None

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Northwestern Bahamas



Click Here to Learn More


Royal Caribbean Itinerary Updates 
(click for latest)
   



In a statement issued by Royal Caribbean,  Coco-Cay was closed as follows:

"We closed CocoCay on Wednesday, August 28th, 2019, and plan to reopen it on Wednesday, September 4th, 2019. Our CocoCay Team is made up of over 400 people, and the majority are locals. So, it’s important that they evacuate to care for their families and secure their homes, as soon as possible. We evaluated all options, and this is the best decision, as there is no room for error when it comes to the safety and security of our guests, crew, and employees. This is our top priority."


Follow @JamesVanFleet or visit the Royal Caribbean Facebook page for frequent updates.


SAILING IMPACT
Navigator 8/26/19 Sailing replaced our visit to CocoCay with Nassau, Bahamas
Navigator 8/30/19 Sailing replaced our visit to CocoCay with a day at sea and this sailing is being extended and will return to Miami on 9/04/19, instead of 9/02/19.
Navigator 9/02/19 Sailing Sailing will depart on 9/04/19, instead of 9/02/19
Mariner 8/26/19 Sailing We’ve replaced our visit to CocoCay with Nassau, Bahamas.
Mariner 8/30/19 Sailing replaced our visit to CocoCay with a day at sea and this sailing is being extended and will return to Port Canaveral on 9/04/19, instead of 9/02/19.
Mariner 9/02/19 Sailing Sailing will depart 9/04/19, instead of 9/02/19
Empress 8/24/19 Sailing extending this sailing and will return on Wednesday, 9/04/19. We have added a visit to Roatan on 8/31/19. We’ll then have two sea days and visit Nassau on 9/03/19, before returning to Miami on 09/04/19.
Empress 9/01/19 Sailing had to shorten this sailing, unfortunately, and will now depart on Wednesday, 9/04/19. We will now cruise to Nassau and arrive there on 9/06/19. Our return will be as scheduled
Harmony 8/25/19 Sailing extending this sailing and will return on Wednesday, 9/04/19. We’ve added an additional visit to Cozumel on 8/31/19 and will stay there until 9/01/19. We will then have two sea days before we return to Port Canaveral on 09/04/19.
Harmony 9/01/19 Sailing had to shorten this sailing, unfortunately, and will now depart on Wednesday, 9/04/19. We will now cruise to Labadee and arrive there on 9/06/19. Our return will be as scheduled.
Allure 8/25/19 Sailing extending this sailing and will return on Wednesday, 9/04/19. We’ve added a visit Roatan on 8/31/19 and Costa Maya on 9/01/19. We will then have two sea days before we return to Fort Lauderdale on 09/04/19.
Allure 9/01/19 Sailing had to shorten this sailing, unfortunately, and will now depart on Wednesday, 9/04/19. The itinerary will remain the same for the days left of the voyage.
Majesty 8/28/19 Sailing extending this sailing and will return on Wednesday, 9/04/19. We will have a sea day on 9/02/19 and added a visit to Nassau on 9/03/19.
Majesty 9/02/19 Sailing had to shorten this sailing, unfortunately, and will now depart on Wednesday, 9/04/19. The itinerary will remain the same for the days left of the voyage.
Symphony 8/24/19 Sailing will be returning to Miami on 8/31, as planned.
Symphony 8/31/19 Sailing extending this sailing and will return on Wednesday, 9/04/19. We will no longer sail to Nassau. We will now have a sea day on 9/01/19, then visit to Costa Maya on 9/02/19. We’ll then have one more sea day on 9/03/19, before returning to Miami.
Symphony 9/03/19 Sailinghad to shorten this sailing, unfortunately, and will now depart on Wednesday, 9/04/19. We will be removing our sea day and will still be visiting the same ports.



Celebrity Cruises Weather Alert (click for latest)

We look forward to welcoming you aboard Celebrity Equinox for your 7-Night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing this weekend from, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 
Before you depart, we have some important information to share. 
As you may be aware, Hurricane Dorian is forecast to affect South Florida this weekend. In order to depart Fort Lauderdale ahead of any adverse weather, we will be departing one hour earlier at 2:30 PM on Saturday, August 31st. We will begin boarding at 10:30 AM, so please plan on arriving to the pier early to help expedite our check-in process. 
All guests must be on board 60 minutes prior to our scheduled departure. We’ll continue to keep a close eye on the weather conditions. If we need to make any changes to your itinerary, we will let you know as soon as we can. Your safety and the safety of our crew is our primary concern. 
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and we look forward to providing you an amazing vacation.

Disney Cruise Line Weather Alert (click for latest)

We continue to closely monitor the path and progress of Hurricane Dorian to ensure our guests enjoy safe and comfortable cruises, and to make certain our ships steer clear of the storm. The safety of our guests and crew is always our foremost concern. Since all tropical storms and hurricanes are inherently unpredictable, our plans may change from day to day based on the most current information. Please check this site often for the most up to date information.

Disney Dream – Friday, August 30 - UPDATED 

Disney Dream’s current sailing was scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Wednesday, September 4. However, after careful review of the currently forecasted path, and conversations with port officials in Florida, it does not seem likely that Port Canaveral will be available for our return on Wednesday. Because of this, we will need to further extend this sailing and now expect Disney Dream to return to Port Canaveral one day later, on Thursday, September 5.

Disney Fantasy – Saturday, August 31 

At this time, based on the current predicted storm timing and path, we do not anticipate any changes to the Disney Fantasy sailing on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Disney Dream – Monday, September 2 - NEW 

Based on our most recent conversations with ports in Florida and to help our Guests better finalize their travel plans, we have decided to turn this cruise into a two-night sailing, with an expected departure from Port Canaveral on Wednesday, September 4, and an expected return to Port Canaveral on Friday, September 6.


Norwegian Cruise Line Weather Alert (click for latest)

Hurricane Dorian – UPDATE: September 2, 2019 - 9:00 AM EST (1:00 PM UTC)

 As we continue to monitor Hurricane Dorian in the Caribbean, we are in constant communication with the United States Coast Guard to ensure we are taking all necessary precautions to maintain a safe and secure sailing for all guests and crew on board. While it is our every intention to maintain the original itinerary as much as possible, the security of everyone on board always takes precedence.

Due to the storm, the following itineraries for Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Sun have been modified.

Norwegian BreakawayAugust 25, 2019 Sailing: As scheduled, Norwegian Breakaway will call to Cozumel, Mexico on Friday, August 30, 2019. At this time, we are uncertain if the ship will be able to return to Miami, Florida on Sunday, September 1, as planned. As such, the ship will extend its time and overnight in Cozumel until September 1, departing at 5 p.m.

Due to Hurricane Dorian in the Caribbean, the United States Coast Guard made the final decision to close Port Miami as of 10 p.m. August 31, 2019. As such, Norwegian Breakaway's scheduled return on September 1 was cancelled. We have been in close communication with government and local port authorities as to the earliest Norwegian Breakaway would be able return to Miami, Florida. Due to the uncertainty of when the port will reopen, the cruise will conclude in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 3.

We will be communicating with all guests on board and assisting with necessary travel arrangements to ensure a safe and timely return home.

Norwegian BreakawaySeptember 1, 2019 Sailing: Due to Hurricane Dorian in the Caribbean, the United States Coast Guard made the final decision to close Port Miami as of 10 p.m. August 31, 2019. We have been in close communication with government and local port authorities as to the earliest Norwegian Breakaway would be able return to Miami, Florida. Due to the uncertainty of when the port will reopen, the cruise has been cancelled. All guests will receive a full refund.

Norwegian Sun - August 29, 2019 Sailing: Due to Hurricane Dorian in the Caribbean, the United States Coast Guard are taking all necessary precautions to prepare for the storm. The final decision was made to close Port Canaveral as of August 31, 2019. As such, Norwegian Sun's scheduled return on September 2 has been cancelled.

We have been in close communication with government and local port authorities as to the earliest Norwegian Sun would be able return to Port Canaveral, Florida. Due to the uncertainty of when the port will reopen, the cruise will conclude in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 3.

We will be communicating with all guests on board and assisting with necessary travel arrangements to ensure a safe and timely return home.

Norwegian Sun – September 2, 2019 Sailing: Due to Hurricane Dorian in the Caribbean, the United States Coast Guard are taking all necessary precautions to prepare for the storm. The final decision was made to close Port Canaveral as of August 31, 2019. We have been in close communication with government and local port authorities as to the earliest Norwegian Sun would be able return to Port Canaveral, Florida. Due to the uncertainty of when the port will reopen, the cruise has been cancelled. All guests will receive a full refund.

Guests who booked shore excursions for any of the original ports of call through our shore excursion team, will receive a refund credited to their onboard account.

We are closely monitoring the storm and will communicate any additional itinerary modifications as needed.

If you have any questions, please contact your dedicated travel professional, or call us at (800) 327-7030 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to midnight, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST Saturday and Sunday. Those who booked outside of the U.S. or Canada, please contact (866) 234-5613 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Carnival Cruise Line Travel Alerts (click for latest)

Weather Update – August 30, 2019 | 1:00 PM (ET)

 SEE CHANGES TO CARNVAL VICTORY AND CARNIVAL LIBERTY

Our Fleet Operations Center in Miami is actively monitoring Hurricane Dorian’s potential impact on the departures listed below. Given that storms can be so uncertain, this information reflects our plan for these sailings based on the current forecast. As the safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority, we will continue to keep an eye on the storm, factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard and the local port authorities to provide timely updates as more information becomes available.

The following homeports and ships remain under watch:

CHARLESTON

Carnival Sunshine 09/02/19 – Still evaluating. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL3 to CRUISE (278473). There is a possibility that Carnival Sunshine may not be able to return to Charleston on Monday. If the port is closed, the ship will be in position to dock as soon as the authorities have reopened the port.

FORT LAUDERDALE (PORT EVERGLADES)

Carnival Magic 08/31/19 – No change to itinerary; we plan to operate as scheduled. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL9 to CRUISE (278473).

JACKSONVILLE

Carnival Ecstasy 08/31/19 – No change to itinerary; we plan to operate as scheduled. Carnival Ecstasy 09/05/19 - Still evaluating. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL12 to CRUISE (278473). There is a possibility that Carnival Ecstasy may not be able to return to Jacksonville on Thursday. If the port is closed, the ship will be in position to dock as soon as the authorities have reopened the port.

PORT CANAVERAL

Port Canaveral is expected to be closed on Sunday through the middle of next week. We are optimistic the port will reopen by Thursday. Consequently, we have made changes to the following Carnival Liberty departures.

Carnival Liberty 08/30/19 - This cruise is now expected to return on Thursday, 9/5. In addition to Nassau, we have added visits to Cozumel and Costa Maya. Guests with air reservations on Carnival’s Fly2Fun program, will have their reservations automatically adjusted to the new return date. New flight information will be sent to your stateroom. Guests with independent air are encouraged to contact the airlines directly as they are being flexible with change fees. In the event you incur change fees, please send us your airline receipt and we will reimburse up to $200, per person. Guests who elect not to sail will receive a future cruise credit for the full amount of your cruise fare and any pre-purchased Carnival Adventures, Fun Shop purchases and beverage packages. The refund will be processed to your original form of payment within three weeks.

Carnival Liberty 09/02/19 – This cruise is cancelled. Guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items. More details to follow in our email. Carnival Elation 09/02/19 – We are finalizing our plans and will provide more information later today. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL1 to CRUISE (27843).

Carnival Breeze 08/31/19 – No change to itinerary; we plan to operate as scheduled. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL10 to CRUISE (278473).

PORTMIAMI

Carnival Conquest 08/31/19 – No change to itinerary; we plan to operate as scheduled. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL8 to CRUISE (278473).

Carnival Sensation 08/31/19 – We will now visit Grand Turk on 9/2, Half Moon Cay on 9/3 and Nassau on 9/4. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL7 to CRUISE (278473).

Carnival Victory 08/30/19 and Carnival Victory 09/02/19

PortMiami is expected to be closed on Sunday through the early part of the week. Consequently, we have made changes to the following Miami departures.

Carnival Victory 8/30/19 – This cruise will now return on Wednesday, 9/4. In addition to Key West, we have added a visit to Cozumel on Monday. Guests with air reservations on Carnival’s Fly2Fun program, will have their reservations automatically adjusted to the new return date. New flight information will be sent to your stateroom. Guests with independent air are encouraged to contact the airlines directly as they are being flexible with change fees. In the event you incur change fees, please send us your airline receipt and we will reimburse up to $200, per person. Guests who elect not to sail will receive a future cruise credit for the full amount of your cruise fare* and any pre-purchased Carnival Adventures, Fun Shop purchases and beverage packages. The refund will be processed to your original form of payment within three weeks.

Carnival Victory 9/02/19 – This cruise will now operate as a 2 day cruise with one port of call, to be determined. Guests who sail will receive a pro-rated refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased beverage and Wi-Fi packages. Guests who wish to cancel will receive a future cruise credit for the full amount of their cruise fare. An email with additional details will follow. Carnival Horizon 09/01/19 – Still evaluating. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL5 to CRUISE (278473).

TAMPA

Carnival Paradise 08/31/19 – Please disregard your arrival appointment and make plans to arrive at the cruise terminal between 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM. All guests must be on board by 1:30 PM. We will sail shortly after on our scheduled itinerary. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL11 to CRUISE (278473).

Carnival Miracle 09/01/19 – In anticipation of a potential port closure on Sunday, this sailing will now operate as an 8-day sailing, departing on Saturday evening. Please disregard your arrival appointments and make plans to arrive at the cruise terminal between 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. We will sail shortly after on our scheduled itinerary. Guests who cannot travel on the extended duration, may cancel and receive a future cruise credit. Please sign up for text alerts by texting CCL4 to CRUISE (278473). Pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions for cancelled ports will be automatically refunded to your onboard Sail & Sign® account.

We thank our guests for their patience and understanding while we navigate through the uncertainty the storm is causing. We will post another update by 6PM (ET) Friday.



Hurricane Season Dates 

Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins June 1st and ends November 30th. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15th and also ends November 30th.
Make a Plan (FEMA) 




Read entire series (click here)

More links and information about tropical storms and other weather conditions can be found in the Weather & Hurricane Zone tabs above.


If you live in, or plan to vacation in, an area where hurricanes are prevalent, please prepare in advance by reading our series.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

More to See at Sea Than Ports

Click images to enlarge
Look Beyond the Destination
Seeing Cruising in a New Light

Exploring the world by cruise ship is a passion that we've had for more than 30 years.  On our first cruises, each destination was a new adventure.  We had not been to the ports of call before, so everything was brand new.

After all those years, we still do have some new ports to explore, but more often than not, we find ourselves visiting some of the same destinations.

Keeping Cruising Exciting

How does one keep cruise vacations exciting? Several ways come to mind, such as cruising to new destinations, booking brand new ships, or trying different shore excursions.

Learning to See at Sea

The image above is the view that the captain has on Caribbean Princess.  What a marvelous view it is, especially on a beautiful day.  In this image, there are some beautiful clouds above the horizon just off the bow of the ship.   There isn't any island in sight - you can look for miles, but all that you'll see is ocean and clouds.   You can become one with nature in these peaceful surroundings.

Give Yourself a Photo Assignment

Looking at the image to the left, several themes come to mind:  sky, clouds, water, relaxation.   What did you see when you looked at this picture taken at sea?

You don't have to be in a port city to find interesting subject matter for your photography.  When you get back, share your images with others.  Encourage them to see the world.

Stormy Skies

Sea days are a favorite time during a cruise for us.  It gives us time to really relax and unwind.  When in ports, we tend to be "on" since we have easy access to the internet and our always-connected life style (checking on our guests needs for example).

It is a little more difficult when at sea, we'd have to bring our phones or tablet along to get connected.   Even on stormy days, one can enjoy the view - especially if the storm is in the distance.

Painting the Sky With Color

Our favorite time of day is dusk when Mother Nature puts on a light show for all to see.   This image, captured off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has the sky on fire.

We highly recommend being on your balcony or up on the open decks when the evening is approaching so that you can experience this magical light and, if you want to, capture your own memorable images.


So Much More Than Ports


Hopefully this shows you that even if your ship is sailing to familiar ports, there is so much more to See at Sea.   Make some time during your cruise to lay out on deck and watch the clouds go by.

Do you remember trying to figure out what shapes could be seen in the clouds when you were young?  Why not do that again now, or even share that experience with other family members or friends?



@ChrisPappinMCC
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Saturday, August 3, 2019

Coast Guard Celebrates Birthday


Happy 229th Birthday
United States Coast Guard

Each August 4 the U.S. Coast Guard celebrates its birthday. The Coast Guard is one of America's five armed forces and traces its founding to Aug. 4, 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of 10 vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of federal revenue.




Thank you for your contributions to the safety of the industry we love so dearly, cruising.


@ChrisPappinMCC
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