Hurricane Michael Impacts Cruises

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Hurricane Michael

Tropical Storm Michael formed in the Western Caribbean and has already grown to a Hurricane.  It is further predicted to be a major hurricane by midweek.  Florida Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency for 26 counties in the Florida Panhandle and the Big Bend area. The declaration will free up resources for storm preparation.

The Category 4 hurricane, which has maximum sustained wind speeds of 145 miles per hour, forced Norwegian Cruise Line to modify Norwegian Getaway's itinerary and Carnival Cruise Line to modify the itineraries of Carnival Triumph, Carnival Glory, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Victory, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Paradise. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.

Hurricane Michael	300 PM EDT Wed Oct 10 2018 ...EYE OF MICHAEL APPROACHING I-10 IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE... ...LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE AND CATASTROPHIC WINDS CONTINUE...
WIND:	near 150 MPH...240 KM/H
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida to Anclote River Florida A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... * Anclote River Florida to Anna Maria Island Florida, including Tampa Bay * Ocracoke Inlet North Carolina to Duck North Carolina A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Alabama/Florida border to Suwannee River Florida A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Suwanee River Florida to Chassahowitzka Florida * North of Fernandina Beach Florida to Duck North Carolina * Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds

Key Messages:

• Life-threatening storm surge is occurring along portions of the Florida Panhandle, Big Bend, and Nature Coast. The worst storm surge is expected later today and tonight between Tyndall Air Force Base and Keaton Beach, where 9 to 14 feet of inundation is possible.
• Michael will produce potentially catastrophic wind damage where the core of the hurricane moves onshore later today in the Florida Panhandle, with the highest risk between Apalachicola and Panama City.
• Life-threatening hurricane-force winds will occur well inland across portions of the Florida Panhandle, southeast Alabama, and southwestern Georgia as the core of the hurricane moves inland later today and this evening.
• Heavy rainfall from Michael could produce life-threatening flash flooding from the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend region into portions of Georgia, the Carolinas, and southeast Virginia.
• ropical storm conditions will affect portions of the southeast U.S. coast from northeast Florida through North Carolina, and tropical storm warnings are in effect for these areas.

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

• NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Leslie, Hurricane Michael and TS Nadine
• NHC issuing advisories for the Eastern Pacific on TS Sergio
• Local information on Michael: New Orleans/Baton Rouge, Mobile/Pensacola, Tallahassee, Tampa, Jacksonville,Birmingham, Atlanta, Charleston, Wilmington, Newport/Morehead City
• Audio podcasts regarding Michael now available

Click Here to Learn More

Royal Caribbean Itinerary Updates 
(click for latest)   


We are monitoring Hurricane Michael to determine if any itineraries need to be modified.

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

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION
Majesty of the Seas	October 11	Modified	2 hour early departure

Norwegian Cruise Line Weather Alert (click for latest)
Norwegian Getaway: The ship, which departed from Miami on October 7, will now call at Falmouth, Jamaica, in lieu of Roatan, Honduras, on October 9 and Grand Cayman in lieu of Costa Maya on October 10; it is expected to visit Cozumel on October 12, as scheduled.
 

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION
Norwegian Getaway	October 7	Modified	now visiting Falmouth, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel

Carnival Cruise Line Travel Alerts (click for latest)


Our Fleet Operations Center in Miami has been actively monitoring Hurricane Michael in the Atlantic. As the safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority, we will continue to keep an eye on things and provide you with timely updates as more information becomes available.

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION
Carnival Triumph	October 8	Modified	5 day Caribbean - reversing ports
Carnival Glory	October 6	Modified	7 night Caribbean - replaced Grand Cayman with Sea Day
Carnival Freedom	October 8	Modified	7 night Caribbean - replaced Mahogany Bay with Sea Day; Cozumel Oct 9; Belize Oct 10
Carnival Victory	October 8	Modified	4 night Caribbean -  Sea Day Oct 9; Key West Oct 11; Unchanged Cozumel 10th
Carnival Miracle	October 7	Modified	cancelled Cozumel call on Oct 9
Carnival Paradise	October 8	Modified	5 day Caribbean - Cozumel Oct 10; Grand Cayman Oct 11

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.


Hurricane Preparedness Week:   
May 6-12, 2018

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Major Hurricane Florence Approaching Carolinas

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Hurricane Florence

Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft investigating Florence this morning has found no change in the hurricane's peak intensity of 115 kt, even though the central pressure had decreased a few millibars down to 943 mb. However, the aircraft data do indicate that Florence's inner-core wind field has expanded, with the 50-kt wind radii now extending outward up to 100 n mi to the northeast.

Key Messages:

• A life-threatening storm surge is now highly likely along portions of the coastlines of South Carolina and North Carolina 
• Life-threatening, catastrophic flash flooding and significant river flooding is likely over portions of the Carolinas late this week into early next week 
• Damaging hurricane-force winds are likely along portions of the coasts of South Carolina and North Carolina 
• Large swells affecting Bermuda and portions of the U.S. East Coast will continue this week, resulting in life-threatening surf and rip currents.

• NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Helene and TS Isaac
• Last NHC advisory issued on Paul
• CPHC issuing advisories for the Central Pacific on Olivia
• Local information on Florence: Charleston, Wilmington, Newport/Morehead City, Raleigh, and Wakefield
• Audio podcasts regarding Florence now available

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Full coverage of this, and all tropical storms, can be found on our Hurricane Zone page.   There are RSS feeds from the National Hurricane Center posted there giving you up to the minute information.   For storms that impact cruises, we will bring you information on those details as well.  Please bookmark that page for further reference during the Hurricane Season which runs now through November 30th.

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

Hurricane Florence	1100 AM EDT Wed Sep 12 2018 ...AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT FINDS FLORENCE HAS CHANGED LITTLE WHILE MOVING TOWARD THE U.S. SOUTHEAST COAST... ...LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND RAINFALL EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CAROLINAS...
WIND:	near 130 MPH...215 KM/H
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina * Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... * Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina * North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina * Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * North of Duck North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * North of the North Carolina/Virginia border to Cape Charles Light Virginia * Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort Interests elsewhere in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states should monitor the progress of Florence.
SHIP IMPACT:	Hurricane Florence Impacts Cruises

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline,
in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please
see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic,
available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation.
Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions
to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for
other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other
instructions from local officials.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area. Preparations to protect life
and property should be rushed to completion.

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

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.  The water has the
potential to reach the following heights above ground if peak surge
occurs at the time of high tide...

Cape Fear NC to Cape Lookout NC, including the Neuse, Pamlico,
Pungo, and Bay Rivers...9-13 ft
North Myrtle Beach SC to Cape Fear NC...6-9 ft
Cape Lookout NC to Ocracoke Inlet NC...6-9 ft
South Santee River SC to North Myrtle Beach SC...4-6 ft
Ocracoke Inlet NC to Salvo NC...4-6 ft
Salvo NC to North Carolina/Virginia Border...2-4 ft
Edisto Beach SC to South Santee River SC...2-4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves.  Surge-related flooding depends on the relative
timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over
short distances.  For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.

RAINFALL:  Florence is expected to produce heavy and excessive
rainfall in the following areas...

Coastal North Carolina...20 to 30 inches, isolated 40 inches. This
rainfall would produce catastrophic flash flooding and significant
river flooding.

South Carolina, western and northern North Carolina...5 to 10
inches, isolated 20 inches.
Elsewhere in the Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic states...3 to 6
inches, isolated 12 inches.

WIND:  Hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast within
the hurricane warning area late Thursday or Friday.  Winds are
expected to first reach tropical storm strength on Thursday, making
outside preparations difficult or dangerous.  Preparations to
protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

TORNADOES:  A few tornadoes are possible in eastern North Carolina
beginning late Thursday morning.

SURF:  Swells generated by Florence are affecting Bermuda and
portions of the U.S. East Coast.  These swells are likely to cause
life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.  Please consult
products from your local weather office.

Hurricane Florence Impacts Cruises

Graphics | Archive

Hurricane Florence

Strengthening Hurricane Florence has begun impacting cruise itineraries as it approaches the East Coast of the United States as a major hurricane.  Passengers on Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas and Norwegian Escape find themselves on the way to the Bahamas instead of Bermuda as the vessels steers clear of the storm.

Watches and warnings are likely to be issued on Tuesday, September 11th.

On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas Tuesday and Wednesday, and approach the coast of North Carolina or South Carolina on Thursday.

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

• NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Helene and TS Isaac
• NHC issuing advisories for the Eastern Pacific on TD Paul
• CPHC issuing advisories for the Central Pacific on Olivia

Click Here to Learn More

Royal Caribbean Itinerary Updates 
(click for latest)   
Latest Update - September 10, 2018 at 6:40 pm

We are modifying the itinerary of Grandeur of the Seas September 8th & September 13th cruise to avoid the path of Hurricane Florence. Our #1 priority is the safety of our guests and crew. We will closely monitor the storm, and provide our guests with daily updates. The current changes are outlined below.

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

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION
Grandeur of the Seas	September 8	Modified	9/11 – Nassau, Bahamas 9/12 – Port Canaveral, Florida 9/13 – Port Canaveral, Florida 9/16 - Baltimore, Maryland
Grandeur of the Seas	September 13	Modified	9/16 - Baltimore, Maryland tentative departure date

Norwegian Cruise Line Weather Alert (click for latest) In a preemptive move, the 2,340-passenger Norwegian Dawn sailed for Canada and New England on Friday instead of Bermuda and is in the midst of unexpected stops in Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; St. John, New Brunswick; and Bar Harbor, Maine.

 Meanwhile, Norwegian Escape which departed on Sunday for what was supposed to be a three-day visit to Bermuda's King's Wharf will call at Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas as well as Port Canaveral, FL instead.
 

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION
Norwegian Escape	September 9	Modified	3 day Bahamas instead of Bermuda
Norwegian Dawn	September 7	Modified	Canada & New England instead of Bermuda

Carnival Cruise Line Travel Alerts (click for latest)
Weather Update – 09/11/18 – 6:00 PM (EDT)

Our Fleet Operations Center in Miami has been actively monitoring Hurricane Florence in the Atlantic and the tropical low near the Yucatan Peninsula. As the safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority, we will continue to keep an eye on things and provide you with timely updates as more information becomes available.

In the meantime, please opt-in for text alerts by texting the codes below to CRUISE (278473): Carnival Pride – 09/16/18 – CCL1
Carnival Ecstasy – 09/16/18 – CCL2
Carnival Valor –09/13/18 – CCL3
Carnival Freedom – 09/15/18 – CCL4
Carnival Breeze – 09/16/18 – CCL5

Carnival Horizon cancelled a Sunday call at San Juan, Puerto Rico and has shifted the date of a call in the Dominican Republic as it alters its route to stay out of the storm's way. It's due back in New York on Thursday. Carnival Pride modified its itinerary to the Bahamas from Bermuda.

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION
Carnival Pride	September 9	Modified	3 day Bahamas instead of Bermuda
Carnival Horizon	September 5	Modified	Cancelled San Juan, Changed Dominican Republic date

Oceania Cruises

Finally, Oceania's 684-passenger Sirena is bypassing Bermuda as it nears the end of a repositioning cruise from Europe to Miami while sister ship Insignia is shifting several port calls.

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.


Hurricane Preparedness Week:   
May 6-12, 2018

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Hurricanes: Perception vs Reality

Storm surge inundation (feet above ground level) based on Irma’s
actual track versus forecasted track. The wiggle to the east
spared the coastline from Naples northward to the
Cape Coral area from storm surge inundation
 greater than 9 feet above ground level. Image Credit: NOAA

• NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on TS Florence, TD Eight and TD Nine
• NHC issuing advisories for the Eastern Pacific on Hurricane Olivia
• WPC is issuing advisories on Gordon
• CPHC issuing advisories for the Central Pacific on Norman

There are a couple times each year that a fair amount of our Blog articles are focused on tropical storms and hurricanes.   Before the start of the Hurricane Season, we devote a series of articles to the education on Hurricane Preparedness.   This year's series can be found here: Hurricane Preparedness Week 2018.  The next concentration of articles occurs when the season gets into full swing, which normally happens September through late October.   Both the Atlantic and Pacific basins are active at the present time.

Hurricane Gordon made landfall with only minor impact on cruise itineraries.  It did however dump heavy rain on the Gulf Coast region.  Several storms of varying intensity are currently making their way westward in the Atlantic Ocean.   TS Florence is predicted to regain strength and become a major hurricane again before engaging with the East Coast of the United States.

While checking out the current storms on the NHC, we noticed the following article: NOAA NWS: Hurricanes: Common Misperceptions.   The graphic above was taken from that article.

Past Experience - Current Behavior

Although the science of hurricane / tropical storm tracking and predictions has significantly improved over the years, there is always a degree of uncertainty as the graphic demonstrates.   Just a small shift in the trajectory of a storm can alter which area is at risk. 

The article talks about how based on your experiences in the past hurricane season, you may make some decisions about hurricane preparation which could become a huge mistake.   Just because you've never flooded before for example, doesn't mean that you can't this year.   Perhaps you survived a Category 4 hurricane last year so you think you can survive again.  You need to ask yourself if you felt the full furry of that storm or if you were perhaps on the outer reaches and really only had winds that were tropical storm or Category 1 strength.   Don't risk it - please heed all advisories.

It's easy to get a false sense of security about storms or other natural disasters.  We had a personal experience where my husband was in Los Angeles on a business trip when a major earthquake struck the region.  My son and I still came out for the weekend and we all vacationed in Disneyland.  One of the aftershocks woke us, and my husband remarked "Go back to sleep, it's only an earthquake."  He said this because it wasn't as severe as the original shaking he had a couple days before, so he figured it couldn't be bad.  In hindsight, we should never have gone to the park.  Fortunately everything worked out just fine.  The article has additional examples of misconceptions.

Click Here to Learn More

Now is the Time To Have a Plan  

Don't wait for the NHC to issue a warning for your area.  Review our preparedness series and make plans for evacuation, safe keeping of your house, family, pets, and belongings.

If you are traveling to an area where tropical weather is forecast, be sure to keep close tabs on the updates.  We aren't necessarily saying you need to change your vacation plans, but be aware that you may need to alter your arrival / departure plans.  Click on the image to the left for some additional tips.

...FLORENCE POISED TO STRENGTHEN... ...THIS WEEKEND IS A GOOD TIME FOR INTERESTS ALONG THE U.S. EAST COAST TO REVIEW THEIR HURRICANE PLAN...

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Atlantic Basin Still Active

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

• Latest Cruise Itinerary Updates

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

 


Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Tropical Storm Jose

The center of newly upgraded Hurricane Jose, at Sep 07/2100 UTC was near 13.9N 45.8W, or about 905 NM E of the Lesser Antilles. Jose was moving WNW, 285 degrees, at 15 knots. The estimated minimum central pressure was 994 mb. The maximum sustained wind speeds were 65 kt with gusts to 80 kt.  Today almost 10 days later, it is still a powerful Hurricane with its sights on the East Coast of the United States.  Life-threatening rip-currents are forecast along the coast.

JOSE AT A GLANCE

(click link for current advisory)

Storm Archive       Graphics Archive 

 

UPDATE	CAT	WIND / MB	COMMENTS
8:00 AM AST Wed Sep 20 2017	TS	65 MPH 100 KM/H 976 MB	...JOSE CONTINUES TO PRODUCE DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENTS ALONG A LARGE PORTION OF THE U.S. EAST COAST...

Hurricane Lee

At 500 PM AST (Sep 16 2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Lee was located near latitude 12.6 North, longitude 34.2 West. Lee is moving toward the west near 10 mph (17 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue through Sunday. A west-northwestward motion is expected Sunday night and Monday.

LEE AT A GLANCE

(click link for current advisory)

Storm Archive       Graphics Archive 

UPDATE	CAT	WIND / MB	COMMENTS
5:00 PM AST Tue Sep 26 2017	2	110 MPH 175 KM/H 971 MB	...LEE STILL INTENSIFYING, FORECAST TO BECOME A MAJOR HURRICANE BY EARLY WEDNESDAY...

Tropical Storm Maria 

For the second weekend in a row, we have three named storms in the Atlantic Basin. Tropical (5:00 PM AST Sat Sep 16) Depression 15 was just promoted to Tropical Storm Maria as it attained a wind speed of 50 MPH.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* Ocracoke Inlet to Cape Hatteras

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Bogue Inlet to the North Carolina/Virginia border
* Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Cape Lookout to west of Ocracoke Inlet
* North of Cape Hatteras to Duck

MARIA AT A GLANCE

(click link for current advisory)

   Storm Archive       Graphics Archive   

UPDATE	CAT	WIND / MB	COMMENTS
8:00 PM AST Tue Sep 26 2017	TS	150 MPH 240 KM/H 921 MB	...MARIA PRODUCING GUSTY WINDS OVER THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA...

Hurricane Preparedness Mini-Series:

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