The safety and comfort of their guests is the top priority of all cruise lines. When bad weather is present, the mobile nature of your floating cruise ship hotel allows it to be moved out of harm’s way.  Try doing that with your all inclusive land vacation in the Caribbean: it does not move.  That fact is nice to think of as a good reason to book a cruise over a land package in the Caribbean when traveling during hurricane season but not of much consolation for those affected by hurricane activity.  Normally, the lion’s share of itinerary changes during a hurricane event involves rerouting ships, extending or shortening itineraries with a rare cancellation.  Hurricane Irma reminds us: that is not always possible as multiple cruise line go directly to full cancellations of itineraries.  It happens.  Not often but it does.  We begin with a list of major cruise lines and their itinerary modifications/cancellations… not to keep up and be your #1 news source in this area (that would be the cruise line) but to document what happens when a killer storm has its sights set on Florida.

Royal Caribbean International- Latest Update
We begin with Royal Caribbean as they now have a meteorologist on staff who calls the shots in this department. In an effort to give you advance notice of any changes while also taking into account the most accurate forecast information, Royal Caribbean provides updates on any impacted sailings no later than 2 days in advance of departure.

Cancelled Royal Caribbean Sailings-
The cruise fare and fees will be 100% refunded to the original form of payment.  Royal Caribbean is also offering a 25% future cruise credit, based on the cruise fare, if a new cruise is booked in the next 30 days. Questions: call 1-800-256-6649.

• Enchantment of the Seas: September 8 – Bahamas cruise
• Majesty of the Seas: September 8 – Bahamas cruise
• Empress of the Seas: September 9 Cuba cruise

Royal Caribbean will reach out to guests directly, as well as update their website and social media feeds immediately when changes are made to any scheduled sailings.

 

Carnival Cruise Line- Latest Update
Carnival Cruise Line has been closely monitoring Hurricane Irma, which is now a category 5 storm in the Caribbean and cancelled the following sailings:

• Carnival Liberty – September 7
• Carnival Victory – September 8

Carnival Cruise Line will automatically process a full refund, including any pre-purchased Carnival Adventures, Fun Shop purchases, and beverage packages. The refund will be processed to your original form of payment within three weeks.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line- Latest Update
Due to the current forecasted path of the storm, we will be making adjustments to the following cruises to ensure the safety of everyone on board:

• Norwegian Escape’s 9-02-17 sailing will be modified to a five-day cruise.
• \Norwegian Sky 9-02-17 sailing will be modified to a three-day cruise.
• Norwegian Sky, 09-08-17 is canceled. Booked guests will receive a full refund plus a 50% future cruise credit.
• Norwegian Escape, 09-0917 is cancelled. Booked guests will receive a full refund plus a 50% future cruise credit.

 

 

Princess Cruises – Notices & Advisories
Nothing listed but this is where to look for itinerary modifications and cancellations

 

Disney Cruise Line- Weather Advisories
Based on the projected path of Hurricane Irma, Disney Cruise Line is making the following adjustments to itineraries:

Disney Fantasy –

• The September 2 cruise of the Disney Fantasy is currently sailing a modified Western Caribbean itinerary and is expected to return to Port Canaveral two days earlier than planned on Thursday, September 7. Guests on this sailing will be refunded two nights of their voyage fare and provided a 25 percent discount on a future cruise.
• The September 9 sailing of the Disney Fantasy is cancelled. Refunds will automatically be processed back to the original form of payment with guests invited to book a future cruise at a 25 percent discount 

Disney Dream-

• The September 4 cruise of the Disney Dream is sailing a modified Bahamian cruise itinerary and will return to Port Canaveral one day earlier than planned on Thursday, September 7.
• The September 8 and September 11 sailings of the Disney Dream are canceled. 

More About Hurricane Irma

Check back:  we will update this list as cruise lines release more information.

Great Source Of Itinerary Updates And Cancellations, All Cruise Lines:  at USAToday’s @CruiseLog