Key Aspects:
- Despite guest inquiries, Carnival Cruise Line will not change itineraries days ahead of a tropical storm or hurricane.
- The cruise line constantly monitors storms and coordinates with authorities for the most accurate, updated information.
- Tropical Storm Erin continues to spin in the Atlantic and may impact the Eastern Caribbean and Bermuda over the next few days.
With Tropical Storm Erin now churning away in the Atlantic Ocean and aiming for the Eastern Caribbean, should cruise guests be concerned about itinerary changes or cancellations?
Carnival Cruise Line is urging guests to be aware of the storm, but also to note that she is several days away and there can be great uncertainty this far away from her impact.
That is why the cruise line has not yet confirmed any itinerary changes, even though vessels like Carnival Celebration and Carnival Sunrise may be sailing toward the storm.
Brand ambassador John Heald offered a detailed explanation in his daily Facebook video, discussing just how Carnival monitors storms.
“Right now, Erin, the first of the tropical disturbances/tropical storms/possible hurricanes is forming,” Heald noted. “Many of you have written to me today and yesterday, four and five days before the cruises are due to leave, asking are we canceling the cruise.”
“Welcome to Hurricane Season,” he quips.
Guests’ concerns are reasonable, given that hurricanes frequently disrupt cruises this time of year. Furthermore, guests traveling to the homeport may want time to adjust their plans if their sailing will be impacted.
While Heald does put his witty spin on his video, he explains how the adjustment process works and when any such announcements may be made.
“We have this brilliant, unique fleet operations center at the Mother Ship in Miami. Brilliant ladies and gentlemen are there 24 hours a day monitoring the path of this storm, working with the different government agencies and weather centers and [the] National Hurricane Center,” he said.
“They will wait until the very last possible moment to look at the track of the storm to see if we can safely – underline that word, safely – bring you the cruise that you booked.”
Heald notes that such changes may be confirmed only the day before the cruise or even on the day the cruise departs.
Hurricane-related changes could range from alternative itineraries, changed ports of call, visiting ports in reverse order, or other adjustments.
Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season – What You Must Know!
“These decisions are never made three or four days ahead of time,” Heald said. “It would be pointless becuase hurricane tracks do of course change all the time.”
What Heald does emphasize is that ships are never put in jeopardy and never sailed into the path of a storm.
“We will never, ever take you toward a storm, never. We will always keep you safe,” he stressed.
Carnival Cruise Line’s hope is always to deliver the scheduled itinerary, though that isn’t always possible. Heald advises patience so guests can get the most updated information as soon as it is confirmed.
Tropical Storm Erin Update
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Erin remains a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour.
The center of the storm is located roughly 1,300 miles east of the easternmost Caribbean cruise ports, and is moving west at 17 mph.
While this path would put the storm heading directly into the heart of the Caribbean, a northward turn is expected in the next 3-4 days.
At this time, the National Hurricane Center forecasts Tropical Storm Erin to strengthen to a hurricane late Friday or early Saturday, possibly becoming a major Category 3 storm by Sunday morning when her northward turn begins.
Further tracks show the storm likely to impact Bermuda most directly. Because of that, Royal Caribbean has already adjusted Vision of the Seas’ next cruise, a Bermuda sailing, to ensure the ship is well away from the storm.
Booked guests sailing in the next week should make sure their contact information, including email addresses and cell phone numbers, is updated with their cruise line. This way, they can receive updates as soon as any changes may be made.
