Tropical Storm Barry Impacts Cruises

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Tropical Storm Barry

Tropical Storm Barry formed in the Gulf and has prompted warnings and port closures.  Reports from Air Force Reserve and NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast before landfall, and Barry is expected to be a hurricane when the center reaches the Louisiana coast. Weakening is expected after Barry moves inland.

The Port of New Orleans said it ceased cargo-loading operations at its Napoleon Avenue container terminal at noon Thursday and Carnival Cruise Line said it had diverted its Carnival Valor cruise ship to Mobile, Alabama, as the region prepared for Tropical Storm Barry's expected arrival this weekend.
 

Tropical Storm Barry	1000 AM CDT Fri Jul 12 2019 ...HURRICANE HUNTERS REPORT BARRY IS STRENGTHENING... ...DANGEROUS STORM SURGE, HEAVY RAINS, AND WIND CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTH-CENTRAL GULF COAST...
WIND:	near 65 MPH...100 KM/H
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:	CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY... A Storm Surge Warning has been issued for Lake Pontchartrain and east of Shell Beach to Biloxi Mississippi. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT... A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Intracoastal City to Grand Isle A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Mouth of the Pearl River to Grand Isle * Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New Orleans * Intracoastal City to Cameron A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * Intracoastal City to Biloxi * Lake Pontchartrain A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... * Biloxi to the Mississippi/Alabama border A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Mouth of the Mississippi River to Grand Isle * Intracoastal City to Cameron A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * East of the Mouth of the Pearl River to the Mississippi/Alabama border

Key Messages for Tropical Storm Barry (Click)  

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

• NHC issuing advisories for the Atlantic on TS Barry
• Key Messages regarding Barry
• Local information on Barry: New Orleans/Baton Rouge LA , Lake Charles LA
• Audio podcasts regarding Barry now available

Click Here to Learn More

Royal Caribbean Itinerary Updates 
(click for latest)   


We are monitoring Tropical Storm Barry to determine if any itineraries need to be modified.

Recent post on Twitter  from their meteorologist:

Update on TS #Barry and #Invest93L: @royalcaribbean Guests Boarding #Enchantment, we have a video playing on Channel 14 in your Staterooms explaining the forecast and our voyage plans safely away from storm. #Liberty Guests arrival Sunday is also far, and safely behind #Barry.

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

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION

Norwegian Cruise Line Weather Alert (click for latest)
There are no NCL ships in the region.
 

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION

Carnival Cruise Line Travel Alerts (click for latest)


Our Fleet Operations Center in Miami has been actively monitoring Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf. 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.

Buses were lined up near the Alabama Cruise Terminal Thursday morning to transport Carnival Valor passengers from Mobile to New Orleans. It left downtown Mobile for another cruise later Thursday afternoon. That voyage, which was initially scheduled to leave the Valor’s homeport of New Orleans, is a four-day voyage to Cozumel.

SHIP	SAIL DATE	STATUS	DESTINATION
Carnival Valor	July 11	Modified	re-routed from New Orleans to Mobile on Thursday, July 11, 2019

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.

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Setting Sail on Celebrity Edge

Introducing Celebrity Edge

We are back from our preview sailing on Celebrity Edge. Hopefully, you were following our adventure on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram during that time, but if not, don't worry, as we finally have some time to summarize our experiences here as well. 

The Celebrity Edge lived up to all the hype prior to its arrival in Fort Lauderdale. Celebrity Cruises has really knocked it out of the park. We didn't mind waiting 6 years for a new class of ship, if this was the result. 

Follow along for complete details. If you have any questions, reach out to us via any of our social accounts.

Get the App Before the Cruise

I'm not a big fan of all the mobile apps that are in use these days. I almost need a second phone just for apps.  However, I did find the new Celebrity Cruises App very easy to use and helpful.  So I recommend you install it in advance.

Once you've signed into your Celebrity Cruises account on the app, you can select your upcoming cruise vacation and all the information you need for planning is now at your fingertips on your phone or other mobile device.

Have you ever come back from a cruise, taken a look at the paper daily planners, and said "I wish that I knew that was going on, I would have done that?"   Well, now, you can do your planning in advance and be sure to have your list of "to do" events on your phone.   Of course, you can always change your mind or just "go with the flow" - that's what cruising is all about.  But for the planners, this is definitely ideal.

Here's a quick video from Celebrity Cruises that demonstrates the new app's functionality.  The app worked seamlessly for me, but my husband did need to do a reinstall during the cruise when it seemed to get hung up, but all was fine after that.

Expedite Your Check-In

Celebrity Cruises recommends using the phone app to check in for your cruise, but you can also do so online on their website.   We like to have all bases covered, so we had the boarding passes on our mobile phones, and also a printed copy (in case you have network issues at the pier for some reason).
We did use the mobile boarding pass on the day of embarkation, along with our passports.

November 25-27, 2018   Trade & Press Sailing

Click on Celebrity Edge's Magic Carpet to be transported to our Preview Sailing adventure.  Be among the first to see the brand new ship before it is sailing revenue cruises.

Celebrity Edge Shutterfly Share Page

Check out our dedicated Celebrity Edge page on our Shutterfly Share Site.

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Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday night for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat

Carnival Triumph Retun Delayed Again

Carnival introduced a dedicated space where all your questions,
concerns and feedback can be addressed.  (click image)

CARNIVAL TRIUMPH

Carnival Cruise Lines canceled two additional five-day sailings of Carnival Triumph to make repairs caused when the ship was torn away from a shipyard in Mobile earlier this month. The ship will return to service June 13 rather than June 3.

The additional cancellations are the result of damage to the ship when it broke away from the pier earlier this month.  This has delayed the overall repair schedule by 10 days. Attempts to return the ship to the shipyard failed and repairs are being done at the Mobile cruise terminal. Final repairs will be completed in The Bahamas.

Passengers on the latest canceled sailings will receive full refunds, reimbursement for travel expenses and future cruise discounts of 25 percent. 

If you missed what happened earlier this month, we have included Carnival's update from their Facebook page.

Update on Carnival Triumph in Mobile, AL April 3, 2013, 7PM ET  Earlier this afternoon, due to strong winds that reached speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour during a severe storm in Mobile, Ala., Carnival Triumph, which was in wet dock at a Mobile shipyard, broke away from its moorings. The ship drifted, and was secured. With the assistance of tugboats on site, the ship has been moved to the Mobile Cruise Terminal. Lines have moored the ship, and, as a precaution, tugboats will remain alongside the vessel as well. All of the approximately 600 crew and 200 contractors who were onboard the vessel are safe and have been accounted for through a roll call. There are no reports of injuries. While assessment of damage to the ship is ongoing, initial indications suggest the damage is limited. According to reports, two shipyard employees on an adjacent pier fell into the water. One has reportedly been rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and the search continues for the second. Our thoughts and prayers are with the missing shipyard employee and the family.

In Other News....

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES ANNOUNCES FLEETWIDE $300 MILLION PROGRAM TO ENHANCE OPERATING RELIABILITY AND GUEST COMFORT        

[ Read more ] Carnival Fleetwide Reliability Program

Why We Recommend Passports

Don't Leave Home Without It

If you were on Carnival Triumph this week and had to get home from Progresso, Mexico by air - could you?

Do you have a valid U.S. Passport?

If you are unsure of the answer to the first question, then you should read on.   If your answer to the second question is no, you too should read the rest of this article.   Getting home to the United States could depend on this information and your actions in response.

Re-Entry Rules

We have written about this several times, and we have a standing section both here on our blog and our Facebook page, which talks about International Travel.   On June 1, 2009, the rules changed (New Passport Rules Starting June 1st - Are You Ready).

The new rules mandated that "most" U.S. citizens entering the country by land, sea, or air must establish both identity and citizenship and therefore must possess one of the following: passport, passport card or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

There are many caveats contained within the new rules, so it is best to consult the following websites to learn more about your specific circumstance. The final responsibility for proper documentation rests with the traveler not the cruise line, airline, cruise specialist, or any other travel professional. You’ve planned for this trip and want to be sure you aren’t denied boarding nor do you want problems when entering or exiting any country during your trip.

State Department - overview of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - see Travel page
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – see Crossing U.S. Borders page
Canada Border Services Agency - for travel to/from Canada

Closed-Loop Cruises

The image above is the itinerary for the ill-fated Carnival Triumph voyage.   The cruise was scheduled to start and end in Galveston, Texas, constituting what is known as a closed-loop cruise.  If you are following our blog, you know that the ship had a small engine fire and was adrift.   The first plan was to tow the ship to Progresso, Mexico, but fortunately the ship drifted making  Mobile, Alabama a better choice for disembarkation.

U.S. citizens taking “closed-loop” cruises are not required to have a passport but will need proof of citizenship and a government-issued photo ID, such as an original or certified copy of a birth certificate and a driver’s license.  (More information)  It is still highly recommended that you travel with a valid passport.

See the Department of Homeland Security's GetYouHome.gov for more information on the changing travel requirements.

Different Rules if Traveling by Air

Soon after it was reported that Carnival Triumph would be towed to Progresso, the internet chat rooms were abuzz with questions about how passengers without passports would get home.

International air travel requires a passport and not simply a birth certificate and photo id.  That means that 900 passengers currently adrift on the Triumph could have been denied re-entry to the United States at the end of this ordeal.

Explaining the change of plans from Progresso to Mobile, the line indicated:

"Given the strength of the currents, it is preferable to head north to Mobile, rather than attempt to tow against them," the statement explained. Carnival now expects Triumph to arrive in Mobile sometime on Thursday, roughly the same time the ship would have arrived in Progreso. From there, the line said it will provide the necessary transportation to get passengers home. "Mobile also provides simpler re-entry [than Mexico], particularly for the 900 passengers traveling without passports," the line added.

Carnival Cruise Line had claimed that it had the situation under control and would be able to get passengers home from Mexico.   We will never know how complicated, or costly, that would have been since those plans have now been scrubbed.

If you and your family members found yourself in a situation where you had to get home from Mexico (or the Caribbean) without a passport, you would be faced with some challenges that could potentially cost you much more than the price of the initial passport fees.

If you don't have a passport, mark your calendars for March 9th.

Focusing On Family Travel

On Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., U.S. citizens may apply for or renew their passport book or passport card at any one of 25 passport agencies/centers that are open to the general public. No appointment is necessary on March 9 – normally, U.S. citizens would have to make an appointment at passport agencies.  (More details)

Carnival Redeploys Elation and Ecstasy

Carnival Elation

Carnival Cruises Redeploys Carnival Elation 

& Carnival Ecstasy

In a surprise move, Carnival Cruise Lines announced that they are pulling out of Mobile, Alabama in October, 2010.   Carnival Elation has been operating four-, five- and seven-night cruises out of Mobile, and is the only cruise vessel sailing out of the city.

According to the Mobile Press-Register, the news shocked local officials and cruise industry insiders, and leaves the city of Mobile with no direct revenue to pay the millions in debt remaining on the seven-year-old cruise terminal. 

Elation Moving to New Orleans

Carnival Elation will reposition from Mobile, Ala., to New Orleans to operate year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises beginning November 5, 2011. On this route, four-day cruises will depart Thursdays and visit Cozumel, one of the Caribbean’s most popular ports, while five-day voyages will call at both Cozumel and Progreso.

Carnival Elation will join the Carnival Conquest in New Orleans, marking the first time Carnival has operated two ships from New Orleans in six years.  Carnival will be the only cruise line with two ships based year-round in New Orleans, carrying more than 350,000 passengers annually. 
     

Carnival Ecstasy Moving to Port Canaveral

The second part of the double repositioning is the move of the Carnival Ecstasy, which was to have sailed from New Orleans this coming season, to Port Canaveral, Florida.

The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will operate four- and five-day Bahamas cruises from the Space Coast beginning November 7, 2011.  The move further bolsters Carnival’s position as Port Canaveral’s largest cruise operator with three year-round ships carrying approximately 600,000 guests annually.

Carnival Ecstasy will depart Thursdays on four-day ‘long weekend’ cruises visiting Nassau and Half Moon Cay or Freeport. Five-day cruises will depart Mondays and Saturdays and call at Nassau, Freeport and Half Moon Cay or Key West.

Prior to repositioning to Port Canaveral, the Carnival Ecstasy will continue to operate from Galveston, Texas through September 8, 2011 and then from New Orleans September 22 through November 5, 2011, as previously scheduled.     


Guests with Current Reservations
As a result of these deployment changes, Carnival will no longer offer cruises from Mobile, Ala.  Guests booked on those voyages will have the option of re-booking from an alternate homeport and receive a $25 per person onboard credit, or they can elect to receive a full refund.

Guests booked on cruises from New Orleans on the Carnival Ecstasy that will now be operated on the Carnival Elation are being automatically shifted to the Carnival Elation.  Itineraries on the Carnival Elation will be identical to those that were scheduled for the Carnival Ecstasy.  The two vessels are sister ships with largely similar features, amenities and staterooms. (Those guests who were booked in standard balcony staterooms on the Carnival Ecstasy – a cabin category not featured on the Carnival Elation – will be contacted individually to discuss their preferences.) The movement of bookings from Carnival Ecstasy to Carnival Elation will be completed by Friday, March 11, 2011 at which time new bookings can be made.

Ungoing Efforts to Contain Deepwater Horizon/BP Oil Spill

VENICE, La. -- Boom put in place to protect sensitive areas from the oil discharge from the Deepwater Horizon/BP incident, protects the shores of North Breton Island, La., which is a nesting ground for endangered birds, May 20, 2010. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with state and local agencies to protect the Louisiana bird population. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.  View More Photos | Flickr

Cleanup / Containment Continues

President Obama announced that he has signed an executive order establishing the bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling with former two-term Florida Governor and former Senator Bob Graham and former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly serving as co-chairs.  The bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling is tasked with providing recommendations on how we can prevent—and mitigate the impact of—any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

At the direction of the President, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will visit Louisiana on Monday to inspect the ongoing response to the BP oil spill, accompanied by a bipartisan Senate delegation.   The delegation will conduct a flyover of the affected areas, discuss the latest response efforts in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast with federal and BP representatives, and meet with local community and industry leaders.

There are approximately 24,900 personnel currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife utilizing more than 1,100 vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts.  To date more than 1.52 million feet of containment boom and 560,000 feet of sorbent boom have been deployed to contain the spill—and approximately 310,000 feet of containment boom and 1.27 million feet of sorbent boom are available.

Complete details can be found:  The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill

NOAA oceanographers continue to release updated trajectory maps showing the predicted trajectory of the oil slick.  Current Trajectory Maps.     There is growing concern that the oil will spread to the Loop Current (LC) so this situation is being closely monitored.


SUNDAY: EPA Administrator to Return to Gulf Region to oversee ongoing response to the BP oil spill


Many companies, local, and federal agencies are working closely together in response to this event.   For the latest information, consult the Joint Information Centre website.


U.S. EPA:  Federal Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
U.S. Coast Guard:    Gulf of Mexico - Deepwater Horizon Incident
NOOA:  Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico
Offshore Alabama     Update on the Oil Spill (Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce)
BP    Read the latest press release
NASA:  Earth Observatory Images 

Port of New Orleans. LA  
Port of Mobile, AL  
Carnival Cruise Line:  Travel Advisory (Port of Mobile) 
  
  

Drive to Your Next Cruise Vacation

Stretching the Vacation Budget

A recent survey indicated that more and more families are deciding not to fly to their destination this year and instead are taking to the roads.   This makes sense especially for families with two or more children.   The cost of airfare adds up quickly when you travel with the entire family.

You don't have to limit your final destination to the 50 contiguous states if you decide to drive to your vacation spot.  Did you know that there are 23 U.S. ports that you can select from, some of which offer year-round cruising?

These cruise ports also offer parking facilities, some of which are covered parking, that offer prices comparable to airport parking garages.   You can also explore near-by hotels that offer stay and park packages complete with transportation to the pier.

Carnival Fascination Sailing From
Charleston, SC  Year-round

Starting May 18th, Carnival Fascination is sailing year-round five-, six- and seven-day cruises to The Bahamas and Key West, Florida from Charleston, SC.   The ship will also offer six six-day Bermuda cruises from Charleston next year.  Carnival Fantasy is expected to carry 140,000 passengers annually from Charleston.

This past week, Carnival Cruises and Charleston officials participated in several events commemorating the new sailing program including: Carnival’s Launch of Year-Round Service from Charleston Highlighted by City’s First-Ever Water Slide Races

The recent addition of the awesome aquatic amenities of Carnival WaterWorks, Serenity Adult-only Retreat, and a tropical resort-style pool make this 70,367 ton, 2,056 passenger vessel the perfect vacation destination.

Elation Arrival, Courtesy Carnival

Carnival Elation Sailing From

Mobile, AL Year-round

Starting May 15th, Carnival Elation replaced Carnival Fascination sailing four-, five- and seven-day Western Caribbean cruises from Mobile, Alabama.  Carnival Elation is scheduled to operate 74 voyages annually from Mobile, carrying an estimated 170,000 passengers each year.

This past week, Carnival Cruises and Mobile officials participated in a traditional maritime plaque ceremony to commemorate launch of the year-round program. Carnival Elation is a sister ship of Carnival Fascination, so the same on-board amenities await you and your family.

These are just a couple examples of recent announcements for cruise vacation options from ports of call within driving distance.   So pack up the family and drive to one of the U.S. ports of call to begin your cruise.

Update on Horizon Oil Spill

Graphic Courtesy of NOOA

This is an ongoing event - search for later blog posts or see links for updates

On April 20th a fire and explosion occurred in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico involving a Transocean drilling Rig Deep Water Horizon.    The Horizon was engaged in drilling activity on behalf of BP at Mississippi Canyon Block 252, about 52 miles southeast of Venice, La.  Of the 126-member crew, 115 were safely evacuated. Despite exhaustive rescue efforts, eleven crew members lost their lives, nine of which were Transocean employees.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those families and to the entire community which is engaged in the response to this event.

Since that time, the world has watched as the equivalent of 5,000 barrels of oil a day continues to gush out into the Gulf.  Indications are that this could be the worst environmental disaster to date.  The difference between this incident and other oil spills is that the source of the oil flow comes from the ocean floor and will continue until it can be plugged.  In previous incidents, the source of oil was a container which would eventually be empty.

Many companies, local, and federal agencies are working closely together in response to this event.   For the latest information, consult the Joint Information Centre website.

We will continue to provide updates on this developing story and inform you of any impact to the cruise industry as well as the environmental impact.  

Resources & Updated News

U.S. EPA:  Federal Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
U.S. Coast Guard:    Gulf of Mexico - Deepwater Horizon Incident
NOOA:  Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico
Offshore Alabama     Update on the Oil Spill (Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce)
BP    Read the latest press release
NASA:  Earth Observatory Images

Updates for Cruise Ship Passengers 

So far, the ports of New Orleans and Mobile have not been impacted by the oil spill.  The Carnival Triumph is scheduled to arrive in the Port of New Orleans today and sail out again for their next cruise.  Carnival Cruise Line will continue to monitor this situation over the weekend to assess if there will be any disruption to the Carnival Fantasy cruise departing on Monday, May 3rd from Mobile, AL.

Port of New Orleans. LA    Mississippi River Ship Traffic Not Affected by Oil Spill

Carnival Cruise Line:  Travel Advisory (Port of Mobile)

Port of Mobile, AL    Press Release: Port of Mobile Open to Vessel Traffic

Hurricane Ida Heads for Gulf of Mexico

Chart Courtesy of NOAA: 1200 PM EST (Ida) Wed Nov 8, 2009 (click for udated chart)

<more details>

Hurricane Ida

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

900 AM CST MON NOV 09 2009... IDA WEAKENS TO A TROPICAL STORM...

900 AM CST TUE NOV 10 2009... IDA BECOMES EXTRATROPICAL... ALL WARNINGS DISCONTINUED...

Mobile and New Orleans Port Closures

Impacts Carnival Cruises

Tropical Storm IDA, which at one point was a Category Two Hurricane, entered the Gulf of Mexico Sunday afternoon. This is the first storm of the season to track into this region. Tropical Storm watches are warnings are posted for the Gulf Coast region.

As a service to my clients and my blog readers, we'll provided continual updates on tropical storms and any cruise line advisories that are posted. For convenience, RSS feeds are also added so that you can get up-to-date information between posts. <NHC Active Storms>

The NHC has issued its final advisory on this system. Public Advisories from the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center will provide updates as long as the system remains a flood threat.
PublicAdvisory #39 1000 AM EST Friday, November 13, 2009

UPDATE: 900 AM CST TUE NOV 10 2009... IDA BECOMES EXTRATROPICAL... ALL WARNINGS DISCONTINUED... MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 35 MPH... 55KM/HR... WITH HIGHER GUSTS. IDA HAS LOST TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ITS WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SLOWLY DIMINISH DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

IDA TURNS NORTHWARD... SHOULD MAKE LANDFALL OVERNIGHT... MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. WEAKENING IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING AS IDA MOVES OVER COOLER WATERS PRIOR TO MAKING LANDFALL... AND IS EXPECTED TO MERGE WITH A FRONTAL ZONE ON WEDNESDAY.

IDA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM STORM TOTALS OF 8 INCHES... THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FROM THE EASTERN GULF COAST ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES INTO THE SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC STATES.

WATER LEVELS ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST SHOULD GRADUALLY BEGIN TO SUBSIDE DURING THE DAY.

THIS IS THE LAST PUBLIC ADVISORY ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON THIS SYSTEM. This also ends our coverage of this tropical storm.

Local Weather Statements

404 PM CST MON NOV 9 2009

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED

<more details> <click for updated chart>

<NWS - Local Weather>

<NASA Hurricane Tracking>

Cruise Ship Tropical Storm

Updates / Itinerary Changes

The following are links to the most recent advisory posted by the respective cruise line. As we learn of changes, this post will be updated.

This storm isn't as predictable as others so far this hurricane season. As you can see from the real-time tracking link below, there are a number of ships in the area that could be affected by Ida depending on the track it takes over the next few days.

<CARNIVAL> <Norwegian Cruise Line> <Royal Caribbean>

CARNIVAL TROPICAL UPDATE - November 9, 2009
We are closely monitoring the progress of Hurricane IDA. All of our ships are currently operating at a safe distance from the storm. Our number one priority is the safety of our guests and crew.
Due to the impact from the storm and the related port closures in New Orleans and Mobile, we will modify the following itineraries:

Carnival Triumph – November 10, 2009 Departure
The 4 day cruise scheduled to depart on Tuesday, November 10 will be changed to a 3 day cruise departing on Wednesday, November 11. The scheduled call in Cozumel will be cancelled. Guests that sail on the 3 day cruise will receive a 50% refund of the cruise fare paid for the 4 day cruise.

Carnival Fantasy - November 10, 2009 Departure
The 6 day cruise scheduled to depart on Tuesday, November 10 will be changed to a 5 day cruise departing on Wednesday, November 11. The scheduled call in Progresso will be cancelled and the calls in Cozumel and Costa Maya will be operated as scheduled. Guests that sail on the 5 day cruise will receive a one day pro-rated refund of the cruise fare paid for the 6 day cruise.
Additional updates will be provided if any new information becomes available.

PRINCESS CRUISES: Crown Princess (Nov 6, 2009)

Crown Princess will be rearranging the port calls on its November 7 itinerary to avoid Tropical Storm Ida. The ship will depart Fort Lauderdale as scheduled, and the new cruise itinerary will be as follows: Princess Cays; sea day; Grand Cayman; Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; sea day; return to Fort Lauderdale.

Live Cruise Ship and Ocean Liner Tracking:

<Interactive tracking map> See where ships are relative to tropical storms.

Cruise lines will do everything to keep passengers and crew safe. A cruise is rarely cancelled because of weather, even hurricanes. The cruise lines monitor progress of any storms both in their main offices and onboard the vessels. They work closely with the various weather services, such as NOAA and NHC, to make determinations about itinerary deviations.

Continue to watch this post, I will provide updates as conditions change. If you are on a cruise this week in the area, be sure to monitor the storm closely.