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Cruise ships can’t risk operating tender boats in bad weather so if a port is only accessible by tender it’s more likely that the port will be skipped. A last-minute change in itinerary is particularly common in cruise ports where guests have to use a Tender Boat to get to land. Certain travel insurance policies may provide cash lump sums for missed cruise ports but this does depend on the individual travel insurance policy.
Carnival Freedom – December 14 Sailing
Instead, guests were notified at embarkation that the original itinerary was no longer possible. While not common -- but not unheard of -- cruise ships may sometimes be forced to switch entire destinations. From hurricanes to wildfires, catastrophic weather and natural disasters are understandably able to alter and even cancel cruise itineraries. Cruise lines know this and try to place their ships in destinations where the weather is less likely to affect the itinerary, but avoiding inclement weather is never guaranteed.
Nieuw Amsterdam – December 16 Sailing
The line’s Voyager of the Seas was on its way back to Galveston, Texas, as part of a round-trip, five-night sailing that visited Cozumel, Mexico. Meenan said the crew announced that they were heading into some rough weather on Friday afternoon, advising them to hold onto handrails and warning of a potential delay, but did not communicate further until the following morning. Because the ships were heading back to their homeport, they were not able to adjust their route as significantly as if the incidents happened mid-cruise, when a port of call could be rescheduled or cancelled. The 138,194-gross-ton Voyager of the Seas can welcome 3,602 guests onboard at double occupancy, or as many as 4,000 passengers when fully booked with all berths filled.
Bad Weather Causing Multiple Itinerary Changes
Voyager of the Seas had to sail through a severe sudden storm over the weekend, causing flooding and interior damage on the ship. Every day, listen to the captain’s report from the bridge, which includes a description of sea conditions, to decide what preparations you may need to make for the day. If you get seasick, be prepared with over-the-counter motion sickness medications, homeopathic remedies, or a prescription patch from your doctor. If you’re already on a ship and meet rough conditions, listen to the instructions of the captain and crew. It’s common for the crew to put down non-slip mats and add signage reminding you to exercise caution when walking. Van Fleet says part of his job is communicating with the crew when such procedures may be necessary.
Royal Caribbean Ship Impacted by Sudden Storm in Gulf of Mexico
The Spirit-class ship is still scheduled to visit Cozumel, Belize, and Costa Maya during its six-night voyage. The storm was likely the same squall line that Carnival Dream also passed through when guests and crew members were advised to stay in their cabins. “We’ve steered our ships around typhoons, hurricanes, fog, massive storms with rapid intensification—which gets the term ‘bomb cyclones,’” Van Fleet says. I can get you to better weather,” he adds, noting that land-based hotels and resorts don’t have that option. Though some excursions like helicopter rides or kayaking tours might be scrapped, you may still be able to go shopping, visit a museum, or go on a bus tour.
Rather than cruise to The Bahamas, MSC Meraviglia docked in Boston after departing from New York
As is standard procedure, the open decks were closed during the storm and for a period of time afterward while safety checks were performed and the area was cleaned up. Crew members reacted quickly to clean up, including putting towels down to soak up water in flooded areas and to ensure flooring was safe for guests. Security was stationed around the ship to reassure guests and offer guidance as needed. Guests onboard reported that some individuals were injured by slot machines falling, but no severe injuries have been reported.
Bad Weather on West Coast Cancels Port for Carnival Cruise Ship - Cruise Hive
Bad Weather on West Coast Cancels Port for Carnival Cruise Ship.
Posted: Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Safety is a priority for all cruise lines, and even with these on-ship set-ups, many companies add additional layers of precaution. In January 2017, Royal Caribbean hired James Van Fleet as the first-in-the-industry dedicated cruise line meteorologist; he previously worked as a TV meteorologist for more than 20 years. During the hurricane and typhoon season, which is June to November, he’s in the Miami headquarters monitoring a 25-foot wall of weather screens and sharing information with the company’s 26 ships and the executive team.
Construction Begins on New Royal Beach Club in the Bahamas
While there are some regions, like the Antarctic, that are susceptible to weather disruptions year-round, most areas of the world contend with bad weather on a seasonal basis. For instance, Caribbean cruises are most likely to be disrupted during hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Asia can experience cyclones any time, but the most active period is from July to November. The Alaskan low seasons are April to May (small-ship line Alaska Dream Cruises offers Alaska itineraries as early as March) and September because there is a greater chance of rain, cold weather and even snow.
When the weather turns bad during a cruise, seasickness can always be a concern. Be sure you take appropriate steps to control nausea if you are susceptible to seasickness, such as avoiding excessive alcohol or greasy or spicy food that may upset your stomach further. While not a cruise to nowhere, the night before setting sail, passengers onboard MSC Meraviglia's December 16 sailing to The Bahamas were informed that, instead, they'd be cruising to New England. Perhaps one of the most drastic itinerary changes that has resulted from this winter storm was the impact on Carnival Freedom's 4-night cruise to The Bahamas on December 14, as it turned into a cruise to nowhere.
She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer. Instead of investing time and energy into getting upset about your travel plans, spare a thought to those affected. For Escobedo’s part, the experience wasn’t enough to prevent her from taking another cruise – eventually. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. The vessel was listed noticeably, and furniture on the open decks was tossed about, while indoor lounges had broken glassware and other damage. Displays tipped over in retail stores, and in the ship’s casino, slot machines tipped and fell.
Those decisions are made collaboratively with captains, with guest comfort in mind, Van Fleet says. For instance, to avoid heavy rain, he might suggest a ship stay at sea and arrive at a port a few hours later than planned. When seas get rough, modern cruise ships have onboard technology that helps stabilize them. But if it looks like a more serious storm is in their path, cruise ships generally try to outrun or avoid them.
If a cruise line does cancel, it will offer compensation -- usually a full refund of the cruise fare and possibly an additional percentage of your fare paid, given in the form of a future cruise credit. The vessel was sailing in the Bay of Biscay at the time just off the west coast of France when it was caught in bad sea conditions. The good news, cruise ships these days have modern technology which can help them navigate through rough weather.
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