4 Things To Help Plan Vacation in Hurricane Season

Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins June 1st

Pacific Hurricane Season Begins May 15th

Does that Mean we Should Not Cruise ?

Of course not !!   You won't find a ship in the middle of a hurricane - so you should be safe.

Updated: June 2024

What You Need To Know Before You Book

So You Want To Cruise or Vacation at a Resort During Hurricane Season ...

What to Expect

Pros & Cons

How to Prepare

Protecting Your Investment

The kids are out of school, you've saved up enough time to take a vacation, but you find out that the only time you have available is right in the middle of Hurricane Season.   Do you throw in the towel and forget your plans?   Or, is there hope after all that you can have a vacation?

What to Expect

That's an easy one to answer.   First of all, Expect the unexpected!!  You might think that sounds a bit ominous.  Well, not really.   If you have a plan in mind for unexpected situations, you can easily adapt to whatever comes your way.  We'll talk about how to prepare a bit later.

Hurricane season runs approximately from June 1 - November 30th.   This year, the first storm came in January way ahead of schedule, helping to make our point about expecting the unexpected. 

Secondly, Expect that your plans might have to change!!  There is only so much that you have control over in your life.  You certainly have no control over the weather, and the impact it may have on your plans.  

Finally, Expect that Safety will take Precedence over your vacation itinerary!!  Regardless of whether you are staying at a vacation resort or about to get on a cruise ship, you can be certain that a tropical storm heading your way can potentially alter your original plans.

Pros & Cons

Let's assume that you have decided to go ahead with a vacation in a tropical region that has the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes.   Knowing differences between the two major categories of vacations can help you select the right vacation for you.

We are making the assumption that you have planned your vacation in advance.  This means that you aren't selecting your destination with prior knowledge of the current weather forecast.   Tropical storms often form quickly with little or no warning and can often change course.

Some of the major differences:

VACATION	PRO	CON
Land - Resort	Can select destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Selecting a location inland may lessen impact of a storm approaching the coast Everyone at the resort has the same experience in a storm (don't have to contend with rough waves for example) If the resort is part of a family of properties, they may be able to offer alternative plans if a storm is approaching Safety is of utmost concern to the resort management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	Activities may be curtailed in advance of the storm Resort might have to evacuate due to the storm, ending your vacation A previous storm may have made reaching your destination impossible, causing cancellation Vacation destination is in a fixed location which can't move to avoid a storm Majority of activities are outdoors (such as water sports) so there is little to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is highly likely that your vacation could be cancelled or terminated early due to weather
Sea - Cruise	Can select cruise destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Ships can adjust their schedule to avoid approaching tropical storms and other severe weather Even if the embarkation port is unreachable or damaged from a prior storm, alternate plans can be made to depart from a different location There are activities indoors  (often including water sports) so there is still plenty to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is unlikely that a cruise will be cancelled or terminated early due to weather  Safety is of utmost concern to the cruise line management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	You may not get to the destination(s) you planned Ports may be skipped and others substituted Embarkation and debarkation ports could be changed causing travel deviations (eg. flights) There could be rough seas causing discomfort for those that have problems with motion sickness  Depending on your cabin location on the ship, you may feel the effects of the sea more than others

Flexibility is a Must

Each of you will look at the table above and draw your own conclusions.  One thing we want to point out is that your plans should be flexible if you are traveling during hurricane season.  If you desire to get away to some tropical destination and aren't set on a particular port, a cruise could be the perfect choice.  For example: it is highly probable that an East Caribbean vacation could instantly become a Western Caribbean cruise if a tropical storm warning is posted for the other region.

In 2016, a rare January Atlantic hurricane, Alex, made landfall in The Azores on January 13th. This was just the second hurricane on record to form in that basin during the month of January. The last hurricane that formed in the Atlantic during January was in 1938, according to NOAA's database.

Meanwhile in the Central Pacific, there was another storm forming about the same time.  Hurricane Pali became the earliest hurricane on record in the Central Pacific Ocean.

The extremely active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most destructive on record. Damage costs exceeded 250 billion dollars in the United States alone, while recovery for the worst hit Caribbean islands such as Dominica may take years. Several hundred people died, and the lives of millions were impacted.  Several cruise itineraries were changed to protect passengers, ships, and crew.  Many ships participated in humanitarian relief efforts as well.

The Rest of the Story ...

Read more about preparation and taking steps to protect your vacation investment in our series of articles this week.  Protecting your investment: Hurricane Preparedness - Insurance

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

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

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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4 Things To Help Plan Vacation in Hurricane Season

2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins June 1st

2018 Pacific Hurricane Season Begins May 15th

Does that Mean we Should Not Cruise ?

Of course not !!   You won't find a ship in the middle of a hurricane - so you should be safe.

What You Need To Know Before You Book

So You Want To Cruise or Vacation at a Resort During Hurricane Season ...

What to Expect

Pros & Cons

How to Prepare

Protecting Your Investment

The kids are out of school, you've saved up enough time to take a vacation, but you find out that the only time you have available is right in the middle of Hurricane Season.   Do you throw in the towel and forget your plans?   Or, is there hope after all that you can have a vacation?

What to Expect

That's an easy one to answer.   First of all, Expect the unexpected!!  You might think that sounds a bit ominous.  Well, not really.   If you have a plan in mind for unexpected situations, you can easily adapt to whatever comes your way.  We'll talk about how to prepare a bit later.

Hurricane season runs approximately from June 1 - November 30th.   This year, the first storm came in January way ahead of schedule, helping to make our point about expecting the unexpected. 

Secondly, Expect that your plans might have to change!!  There is only so much that you have control over in your life.  You certainly have no control over the weather, and the impact it may have on your plans.  

Finally, Expect that Safety will take Precedence over your vacation itinerary!!  Regardless of whether you are staying at a vacation resort or about to get on a cruise ship, you can be certain that a tropical storm heading your way can potentially alter your original plans.

John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, talks about Hurricane Season in this Blog Post.  It is a good read (good information about what to expect, as well as a request of the guests). 

Pros & Cons

Let's assume that you have decided to go ahead with a vacation in a tropical region that has the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes.   Knowing differences between the two major categories of vacations can help you select the right vacation for you.

We are making the assumption that you have planned your vacation in advance.  This means that you aren't selecting your destination with prior knowledge of the current weather forecast.   Tropical storms often form quickly with little or no warning and can often change course.

Some of the major differences:

VACATION	PRO	CON
Land - Resort	Can select destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Selecting a location inland may lessen impact of a storm approaching the coast Everyone at the resort has the same experience in a storm (don't have to contend with rough waves for example) If the resort is part of a family of properties, they may be able to offer alternative plans if a storm is approaching Safety is of utmost concern to the resort management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	Activities may be curtailed in advance of the storm Resort might have to evacuate due to the storm, ending your vacation A previous storm may have made reaching your destination impossible, causing cancellation Vacation destination is in a fixed location which can't move to avoid a storm Majority of activities are outdoors (such as water sports) so there is little to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is highly likely that your vacation could be cancelled or terminated early due to weather
Sea - Cruise	Can select cruise destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Ships can adjust their schedule to avoid approaching tropical storms and other severe weather Even if the embarkation port is unreachable or damaged from a prior storm, alternate plans can be made to depart from a different location There are activities indoors  (often including water sports) so there is still plenty to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is unlikely that a cruise will be cancelled or terminated early due to weather  Safety is of utmost concern to the cruise line management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	You may not get to the destination(s) you planned Ports may be skipped and others substituted Embarkation and debarkation ports could be changed causing travel deviations (eg. flights) There could be rough seas causing discomfort for those that have problems with motion sickness  Depending on your cabin location on the ship, you may feel the effects of the sea more than others

Flexibility is a Must

Each of you will look at the table above and draw your own conclusions.  One thing we want to point out is that your plans should be flexible if you are traveling during hurricane season.  If you desire to get away to some tropical destination and aren't set on a particular port, a cruise could be the perfect choice.  For example: it is highly probable that an East Caribbean vacation could instantly become a Western Caribbean cruise if a tropical storm warning is posted for the other region.

In 2016, a rare January Atlantic hurricane, Alex, made landfall in The Azores on January 13th. This was just the second hurricane on record to form in that basin during the month of January. The last hurricane that formed in the Atlantic during January was in 1938, according to NOAA's database.

Meanwhile in the Central Pacific, there was another storm forming about the same time.  Hurricane Pali became the earliest hurricane on record in the Central Pacific Ocean.

The extremely active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most destructive on record. Damage costs exceeded 250 billion dollars in the United States alone, while recovery for the worst hit Caribbean islands such as Dominica may take years. Several hundred people died, and the lives of millions were impacted.  Several cruise itineraries were changed to protect passengers, ships, and crew.  Many ships participated in humanitarian relief efforts as well.

The Rest of the Story ...

Read more about preparation and taking steps to protect your vacation investment in our series of articles this week.  Protecting your investment: 2018 Hurricane Preparedness - Insurance

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

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

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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4 Things To Help Plan Vacation in Hurricane Season

2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins June 1st

2016 Pacific Hurricane Season Began May 15th

Does that Mean we Should Not Cruise ?

Of course not !!   You won't find a ship in the middle of a hurricane - so you should be safe.

What You Need To Know Before You Book

So You Want To Cruise or Vacation at a Resort During Hurricane Season ...

What to Expect

Pros & Cons

How to Prepare

Protecting Your Investment

The kids are out of school, you've saved up enough time to take a vacation, but you find out that the only time you have available is right in the middle of Hurricane Season.   Do you throw in the towel and forget your plans?   Or, is there hope after all that you can have a vacation?

What to Expect

That's an easy one to answer.   First of all, Expect the unexpected!!  You might think that sounds a bit ominous.  Well, not really.   If you have a plan in mind for unexpected situations, you can easily adapt to whatever comes your way.  We'll talk about how to prepare a bit later.

Hurricane season runs approximately from June 1 - November 30th.   This year, the first storm came in January way ahead of schedule, helping to make our point about expecting the unexpected. 

Secondly, Expect that your plans might have to change!!  There is only so much that you have control over in your life.  You certainly have no control over the weather, and the impact it may have on your plans.  

Finally, Expect that Safety will take Precedence over your vacation itinerary!!  Regardless of whether you are staying at a vacation resort or about to get on a cruise ship, you can be certain that a tropical storm heading your way can potentially alter your original plans.

Pros & Cons

Let's assume that you have decided to go ahead with a vacation in a tropical region that has the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes.   Knowing differences between the two major categories of vacations can help you select the right vacation for you.

We are making the assumption that you have planned your vacation in advance.  This means that you aren't selecting your destination with prior knowledge of the current weather forecast.   Tropical storms often form quickly with little or no warning and can often change course.

Some of the major differences:

VACATION	PRO	CON
Land - Resort	Can select destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Selecting a location inland may lessen impact of a storm approaching the coast Everyone at the resort has the same experience in a storm (don't have to contend with rough waves for example) If the resort is part of a family of properties, they may be able to offer alternative plans if a storm is approaching Safety is of utmost concern to the resort management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	Activities may be curtailed in advance of the storm Resort might have to evacuate due to the storm, ending your vacation A previous storm may have made reaching your destination impossible, causing cancellation Vacation destination is in a fixed location which can't move to avoid a storm Majority of activities are outdoors (such as water sports) so there is little to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is highly likely that your vacation could be cancelled or terminated early due to weather
Sea - Cruise	Can select cruise destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Ships can adjust their schedule to avoid approaching tropical storms and other severe weather Even if the embarkation port is unreachable or damaged from a prior storm, alternate plans can be made to depart from a different location There are activities indoors  (often including water sports) so there is still plenty to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is unlikely that a cruise will be cancelled or terminated early due to weather  Safety is of utmost concern to the cruise line management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	You may not get to the destination(s) you planned Ports may be skipped and others substituted Embarkation and debarkation ports could be changed causing travel deviations (eg. flights) There could be rough seas causing discomfort for those that have problems with motion sickness  Depending on your cabin location on the ship, you may feel the effects of the sea more than others

Flexibility is a Must

Each of you will look at the table above and draw your own conclusions.  One thing we want to point out is that your plans should be flexible if you are traveling during hurricane season.  If you desire to get away to some tropical destination and aren't set on a particular port, a cruise could be the perfect choice.  For example: it is highly probable that an East Caribbean vacation could instantly become a Western Caribbean cruise if a tropical storm warning is posted for the other region.

This season, a rare January Atlantic hurricane, Alex, made landfall in The Azores on January 13th. This was just the second hurricane on record to form in that basin during the month of January. The last hurricane that formed in the Atlantic during January was in 1938, according to NOAA's database.

Meanwhile in the Central Pacific, there was another storm forming about the same time.  Hurricane Pali became the earliest hurricane on record in the Central Pacific Ocean.

The Rest of the Story ...

Read more about preparation and taking steps to protect your vacation investment in our series of articles this week.  Protecting your investment: 2016 Hurricane Preparedness - Insurance

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 15 - May 21, 2016

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

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

Insurance Awareness Day 2015

Insurance Awareness Day exists to remind you that things go wrong, and that generally, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan.  If you are like most people, you have health insurance, life insurance, and house or apartment insurance.  We'll talk about Travel Insurance in this post and suggest why it is a good idea to consider it before traveling.

Expect the Unexpected

I'd like to make a few suggestions to anyone planning a cruise vacation.   Similar considerations go for other (land) vacations as well.   As the title suggests, one should plan for the unexpected in advance so that the situations I describe, should they occur to you, would not ruin your vacation or at the very least you would have assistance before, during, and after the vacation.

Situation 1 - Weather Impacting Departure for Cruise

If you've been watching the news lately, I'm sure you've watched in horror as flood waters washed homes away, houses were destroyed in minutes by tornados, and various other disasters that are going on across the world. We always like to think that this can't happen to us and hopefully that is the case. Unfortunately situations like these do occur and no one is exempt from the possibility.

What does this have to do with cruising you might ask? Well, if that were your home, or if you lived in that neighborhood, odds are that you wouldn't be able to depart on schedule for your cruise. Several possibile situations come to mind from roads being blocked, airports being closed, flights delayed, family members injured during the storms. All of these would most likely prevent you from arriving in the cruise departure city prior to the ship sailing.

Suggestion 1 - Leave Early

I've said this many times before, but it bears repeating: Plan to arrive in the embarkation port the day before your cruise (domestic cruises) and at least the day before your cruise (overseas cruises).

Assuming that you are flying to the embarkation city, you can either book airfare with the cruise line or on your own. In most cases, I suggest that my clients book on their own since they have full flexibility and can often save money (perhaps using frequent flier miles, or finding special pricing). I'm more than happy to assist them either way.

That's not to say that you can't use frequent flier miles or get good prices through the cruise line, but you will have to make arrangements through the cruise line's "custom air" department. In some cases, there may be extra fees to tailor your flights to your schedule. The "non-custom" air arrangements typically arrive the day of the cruise which doesn't provide any room for delays.

We've personally had many occasions where we arrived the day before the cruise, so we didn't have any issues. However, our return trip was delayed as many as 4 hours due to weather. Had that been the day of the cruise, we could have missed the ship (assuming it was on the same day as ship departure).

Suggestion 2 - Purchase Trip Insurance

In the above example, depending on the length of the delay and other factors, had you missed the ship your insurance may have provided assistance in rejoining the cruise or reimbursement for unused portion of the trip.

If your house had been damaged or if a family member had ended up in the hospital, due to the storm as described above, the trip cancellation clause of the insurance policy may have come into play providing some financial relief.

Insurance policies vary, so you need to read the policy and compare them to your needs.

Situation 2 - Injury During Cruise

The following situation DID occur to one of the passengers on one of our cruises and we have been on many other cruises where similar situations occured.

The ship sailed on time, we had dinner and had gone to the welcome aboard show. The captain came on the loud speaker system and made an announcement. The ship was turning around and returning to New York because there was a medical emergency onboard. It was necessary to get closer to New York so that the passenger could be transferred to a hospital onshore.

From what we can gather, the injury wasn't life threatening but it required medical attention that could best be provided in a hospital. The passenger was transferred from the ship to a hospital by the U.S. Coast Guard.

A medical evacuation is a very expensive procedure - often costing tens of thousands of dollars. These costs are typically not covered by your personal health insurance policies and could have a very negative impact if you had to bear the cost yourself.

I'm not trying to scare you out of booking a cruise. In fact, these situations I describe could happen any day and on any vacation. I hope that the cruise specialist, or other travel consultant that you work with, recommends insurance to you and that you seriously consider purchasing a policy. Besides the financial protection, there is the intangible benefit of having someone to turn to in the time of crisis. The majority of the policies available offer a 24 hour assistance line.

Top Ten Reasons to travel with the LeisureCare Travel Protection Plan

1. You have to cancel your trip due to an unexpected event such as bad weather, an illness in the family or the financial default of your airline, cruise line or tour operator.
2. You have to return home early due to an unexpected emergency such as an illness or death in the family.
3. Your luggage is lost or delayed, forcing you to purchase necessary essentials, or prescription medications.
4. Your luggage or personal effects are damaged or stolen.
5. You become ill or injured and learn that your health care plan doesn't cover you outside the U.S.
6. You need an emergency medical evacuation due to an accident or sudden illness.
7. You run into flight delays and miss a portion of your trip or cruise.
8. Your trip is interrupted due to an unexpected hurricane or storm.
9. You lose your passport, leaving you stranded abroad.
10. You need assistance with replacing a prescription or an emergency cash transfer.

Plan for Unexpected - Leave Early, Purchase Travel Insurance, Enjoy Your Cruise

4 Things To Help Plan Vacation in Hurricane Season

2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season Began Today

2014 Pacific Hurricane Season Began May 15th

Does that Mean we Should Not Cruise ?

Of course not !!   You won't find a ship in the middle of a hurricane - so you should be safe.

What You Need To Know Before You Book

So You Want To Cruise or Vacation at a Resort During Hurricane Season ...

What to Expect

Pros & Cons

How to Prepare

Protecting Your Investment

The kids are out of school, you've saved up enough time to take a vacation, but you find out that the only time you have available is right in the middle of Hurricane Season.   Do you throw in the towel and forget your plans?   Or, is there hope after all that you can have a vacation?

What to Expect

That's an easy one to answer.   First of all, Expect the unexpected!!  You might think that sounds a bit ominous.  Well, not really.   If you have a plan in mind for unexpected situations, you can easily adapt to whatever comes your way.  We'll talk about how to prepare a bit later.

Hurricane season runs approximately from June 1 - November 30th.   This year, the first storm came a few days ahead of schedule, helping to make our point about expecting the unexpected. 

Secondly, Expect that your plans might have to change!!  There is only so much that you have control over in your life.  You certainly have no control over the weather, and the impact it may have on your plans.  

Finally, Expect that Safety will take Precedence over your vacation itinerary!!  Regardless of whether you are staying at a vacation resort or about to get on a cruise ship, you can be certain that a tropical storm heading your way can potentially alter your original plans.

Pros & Cons

Let's assume that you have decided to go ahead with a vacation in a tropical region that has the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes.   Knowing differences between the two major categories of vacations can help you select the right vacation for you.

We are making the assumption that you have planned your vacation in advance.  This means that you aren't selecting your destination with prior knowledge of the current weather forecast.   Tropical storms often form quickly with little or no warning and can often change course.

Some of the major differences:

VACATION	PRO	CON
Land - Resort	Can select destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Selecting a location inland may lessen impact of a storm approaching the coast Everyone at the resort has the same experience in a storm (don't have to contend with rough waves for example) If the resort is part of a family of properties, they may be able to offer alternative plans if a storm is approaching Safety is of utmost concern to the resort management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	Activities may be curtailed in advance of the storm Resort might have to evacuate due to the storm, ending your vacation A previous storm may have made reaching your destination impossible, causing cancellation Vacation destination is in a fixed location which can't move to avoid a storm Majority of activities are outdoors (such as water sports) so there is little to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is highly likely that your vacation could be cancelled or terminated early due to weather
Sea - Cruise	Can select cruise destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Ships can adjust their schedule to avoid approaching tropical storms and other severe weather Even if the embarkation port is unreachable or damaged from a prior storm, alternate plans can be made to depart from a different location There are activities indoors  (often including water sports) so there is still plenty to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is unlikely that a cruise will be cancelled or terminated early due to weather  Safety is of utmost concern to the cruise line management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	You may not get to the destination(s) you planned Ports may be skipped and others substituted Embarkation and debarkation ports could be changed causing travel deviations (eg. flights) There could be rough seas causing discomfort for those that have problems with motion sickness  Depending on your cabin location on the ship, you may feel the effects of the sea more than others

Flexibility is a Must

Each of you will look at the table above and draw your own conclusions.  One thing we want to point out is that your plans should be flexible if you are traveling during hurricane season.  If you desire to get away to some tropical destination and aren't set on a particular port, a cruise could be the perfect choice.  For example: it is highly probable that an East Caribbean vacation could instantly become a Western Caribbean cruise if a tropical storm warning is posted for the other region.

In the Atlantic this season, there have been six named storms to date.  Of those, only two of them impacted cruises at all.  The most recent storm, Ernesto, was the most disruptive impacting several ships in the region.  In all those cases, there were changes to destination ports and the cruise continued providing a tropical vacation.   Resorts in the area, were drenched by heavy rains.

The Rest of the Story ...
 

Read more about preparation and taking steps to protect your vacation investment:  Preparing for Vacation During Hurricane Season

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

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

Thinking About Vacation During Hurricane Season

So You Want To Cruise or Vacation at a Resort During Hurricane Season ...

What to Expect

Pros & Cons

How to Prepare

Protecting Your Investment

The kids are out of school, you've saved up enough time to take a vacation, but you find out that the only time you have available is right in the middle of Hurricane Season.   Do you throw in the towel and forget your plans?   Or, is there hope after all that you can have a vacation?

What to Expect

That's an easy one to answer.   First of all, Expect the unexpected!!  You might think that sounds a bit ominous.  Well, not really.   If you have a plan in mind for unexpected situations, you can easily adapt to whatever comes your way.  We'll talk about how to prepare a bit later.

Hurricane season runs approximately from June 1 - November 30th.   This year, the first storm came a few days ahead of schedule, helping to make our point about expecting the unexpected. 

Secondly, Expect that your plans might have to change!!  There is only so much that you have control over in your life.  You certainly have no control over the weather, and the impact it may have on your plans.  

Finally, Expect that Safety will take Precedence over your vacation itinerary!!  Regardless of whether you are staying at a vacation resort or about to get on a cruise ship, you can be certain that a tropical storm heading your way can potentially alter your original plans.

Pros & Cons

Let's assume that you have decided to go ahead with a vacation in a tropical region that has the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes.   Knowing differences between the two major categories of vacations can help you select the right vacation for you.

We are making the assumption that you have planned your vacation in advance.  This means that you aren't selecting your destination with prior knowledge of the current weather forecast.   Tropical storms often form quickly with little or no warning and can often change course.

Some of the major differences:

VACATION	PRO	CON
Land - Resort	Can select destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Selecting a location inland may lessen impact of a storm approaching the coast Everyone at the resort has the same experience in a storm (don't have to contend with rough waves for example) If the resort is part of a family of properties, they may be able to offer alternative plans if a storm is approaching Safety is of utmost concern to the resort management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	Activities may be curtailed in advance of the storm Resort might have to evacuate due to the storm, ending your vacation A previous storm may have made reaching your destination impossible, causing cancellation Vacation destination is in a fixed location which can't move to avoid a storm Majority of activities are outdoors (such as water sports) so there is little to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is highly likely that your vacation could be cancelled or terminated early due to weather
Sea - Cruise	Can select cruise destination based on past history of tropical storm activity impacting the region. Ships can adjust their schedule to avoid approaching tropical storms and other severe weather Even if the embarkation port is unreachable or damaged from a prior storm, alternate plans can be made to depart from a different location There are activities indoors  (often including water sports) so there is still plenty to do during heavy rains of a tropical storm It is unlikely that a cruise will be cancelled or terminated early due to weather  Safety is of utmost concern to the cruise line management - they will enforce measures to protect guests, staff, and property	You may not get to the destination(s) you planned Ports may be skipped and others substituted Embarkation and debarkation ports could be changed causing travel deviations (eg. flights) There could be rough seas causing discomfort for those that have problems with motion sickness  Depending on your cabin location on the ship, you may feel the effects of the sea more than others

Flexibility is a Must

Each of you will look at the table above and draw your own conclusions.  One thing we want to point out is that your plans should be flexible if you are traveling during hurricane season.  If you desire to get away to some tropical destination and aren't set on a particular port, a cruise could be the perfect choice.  For example: it is highly probable that an East Caribbean vacation could instantly become a Western Caribbean cruise if a tropical storm warning is posted for the other region.

In the Atlantic this season, there have been six named storms to date.  Of those, only two of them impacted cruises at all.  The most recent storm, Ernesto, was the most disruptive impacting several ships in the region.  In all those cases, there were changes to destination ports and the cruise continued providing a tropical vacation.   Resorts in the area, were drenched by heavy rains.

To be Continued ...

In our next installment, we'll look at preparation and tell you how to take steps to protect your investment in a vacation.  Preparing for Vacation During Hurricane Season

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

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

MSC Opera Loses Power

MSC Opera Bridge View                Credit: MSC Cruises

Electrical Power Problem 

Disrupts MSC Opera's Baltic Cruise

UPDATE: May 17th - Guests Disembark and Return Home from Stockholm, Sweden
MSC Opera will resume service next week, on Friday May 27^th, cruising from Southampton on a beautiful 8 night Norwegian Fjords cruise.  

MSC Cruises would like to once again thank the Stockholm Port Authorities for their efficient cooperation in assisting both the company and its guests and would like to apologize for any inconvenience experienced. 

UPDATE:  May 16th - MSC Opera's May 17th Cruise Cancelled

Despite having the majority of power restored, MSC Cruises has cancelled the next scheduled cruise so that technicians from STX Europe and the cruise line can examine the electrical system and determine the cause of the failure.   Impacted passengers will be contacted and offered compensation.

Read More:  UPDATE MSC OPERA TECHNICAL ISSUE

MSC Opera lost power Saturday following problems with one of its electrical panels.  The ship was in the midst of  a 10-night Baltic sailing out of Southampton, England when trouble began.

According to a statement from the line, tugboats will assist the 58,600-ton, 1,756-passenger ship, which has been diverted to the port of Nynamshamn, Sweden.  The photo above, from MSC's website, shows  a view from the bridge with tug boat guiding the ship.


Details are sketchy at this time, but it appears that the electrical problem has knocked out at least half of the ship's power, causing a disruption in toilet facilities and hot food service.  The situation sounds very similar to the incident that left Carnival Splendor without power last fall, however in that case, there was a fire.  There is no indication that a fire occurred on MSC Opera.

The statement indicated that passengers onboard the Baltic cruise would be issued a future cruise credit, in the same amount, that could be applied to another sailing through December, 2012.   There is no word yet about MSC Opera's next sailing, which is scheduled to depart next Tuesday.


We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as new information is made available.

Travel With Protection Against Unexpected

Purchase Travel Insurance 

for Peace of Mind

Since mid-April the volcanic eruption in Iceland has dominated the travel news as passengers became stranded across the globe.   For those with travel plans within or to Europe, all they could do was wait and see if they would be able to fly to their destination.  Many travelers were stranded for days. 

Unlike some other natural disasters, there was no advance warning that an ash cloud would develop and blow over the UK.   Because of that, travelers were caught off guard and unable to make alternate plans.  This is the perfect example of "the unexpected".

Along with unexpected events, come unexpected expenses.   In the case of the flight groundings due to the ash cloud, passengers were forced to stay at their current location and in many cases incur expenses for lodging, meals, local transportation, phone calls, and other unanticipated expenses.  We heard stories of passengers running out of money because they had already exhausted their vacation budgets.

For those that were just beginning their vacation, it would be cut short at the very least.  In other cases, they were able to join the vacation in progress if alternate transportation could be obtained at a premium price.   In still other cases, the vacation wouldn't occur at all.  All of these situations have a financial impact.   For the uninsured traveler, they had to bear the burden of costs completely alone.

The flight groundings had a ripple affect.  Cruise passengers were unable to get to the embarkation ports and those returning from cruises were unable to return home.   The cruise lines and airlines worked hard to try to assist travelers.    Their hands were tied by regulations that prevented flights from departing.

A logistical nightmare had unfolded on a scale not seen since the grounding of flights after the 911 attacks. The unsung heroes were customer service agents who were working with affected travelers providing assistance.  These included the agents manning the phones of the various travel insurance providers.

If you were to ask one of the stranded passengers that had travel insurance if they felt the premium was worth paying, I'd bet they would say that just the ability to get assistance during this crisis was worth the cost alone.   Of course, the real benefit is reimbursement for the unexpected expenses up to and including the trip cost.

For the uninsured traveler, they not only have a lost vacation, but they very well might not be able to reschedule the trip since they no longer have the funds that they had saved for the trip (due to the extra unplanned expenses).

Those that read my blog on a regular basis know that I always encourage the purchase of travel insurance.   I have had personal experience with needing to interrupt a cruise and fortunately had travel insurance.   We've also been on many cruises where passengers were evacuated to obtain additional medical attention.   The cost of medical transportation can be thousands of dollars. 

Read more about Travel Insurance and the coverages provided.

I'll leave you with these parting thoughts ....  Always purchase Travel Insurance and Purchase the Insurance Policy at the Same Time as Booking Your Trip.

The reason for the last statement is that effective dates of the policy determine if an event is covered.    Once an event has been declared,  policies purchased after that date are not covered until a new event were to occur.    Again, the ash cloud is the perfect example of how this clause could impact your coverage.

For peace of mind and so that you can truly relax and enjoy your vacation, budget for travel insurance when saving for your vacation.