Thread: Hurricane Ike forces quick changes to cruise ship itineraries

Hurricane Ike forces quick changes to cruise ship itineraries

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Hurricane Ike still is hundreds of miles away from the nearest cruise port, but it's already forcing lines to make some drastic changes to itineraries for the coming week.
Carnival says the Carnival Liberty, scheduled to depart from Miami this afternoon on a seven-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, will instead head towards the Western Caribbean to avoid the powerful storm as it barrels towards the Turks & Caicos and the southeastern Bahamas.
Instead of visiting such ports as San Juan, Puerto Rico and Grand Turk, the Liberty will stop in Grand Cayman (Monday), Cozumel (Tuesday), Belize (Wednesday) and Roatan (Thursday).
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Another Florida-based Carnival ship, the Carnival Sensation, is calling in Freeport today instead of Nassau. And Royal Caribbean already has announced diversions for three Florida-based ships:
-- Majesty of the Seas, which set sail from Miami on Friday, is skipping today's port call at Coco Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. Instead it will stop in Nassau.
-- Liberty of the Seas, leaving out of Miami this afternoon on a Western Caribbean itinerary, will reverse the order of its stops to give Ike a wide berth. The ship will visit Cozumel, Mexico, Monday; George Town, Cayman Islands, Tuesday; Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Wednesday; and Labadee, Haiti, Thursday.
-- Enchantment of the Seas, scheduled to sail out of Ft. Lauderdale this afternoon on a Western Caribbean itinerary, also will reverse the order of its stops. The ship will visit Cozumel on Monday; and George Town, Cayman Islands on Tuesday.
Also changing course today is Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky, which sailed out of Miami Friday on a three-night cruise. The ship will skip Sunday's port call in Great Stirrup Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas, leaving the cruise without a stop. Norwegian says the ship's next cruise, departing Miami on Monday, may also have to be altered.
As of 8 AM ET Saturday, Hurricane Ike was 210 miles east of Grand Turk Island with maximum sustained winds near 115 miles per hour -- making it a powerful Category 3 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center projects the storm will pass near or over the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Southeastern Bahamas later today and then head towards the northern coast of Cuba.
The big question for cruise lines is where Hurricane Ike goes later this week. The current track projected by the National Hurricane Center takes the storm into the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday, where it could threaten Western Caribbean cruises sailing out of Galveston, Texas; Mobile, Ala.; and Tampa.
Worried about your upcoming sailing? Check back here through the weekend for updates on itinerary changes. And don't be shy about leaving your comments and questions below.
UPDATE, 5:00 PM ET, Saturday: Royal Caribbean has altered the itineraries of two more ships. The Mariner of the Seas, scheduled to depart Port Canaveral Sunday for a week-long Western Caribbean cruise, will switch the order of its ports to avoid Hurricane Ike. The Grandeur of the Seas, in the midst of an eight-night New England cruise out of Norfolk, Va., also is switching the order of ports to avoid the remnants on Tropical Storm Hanna.
Illustration of Hurricane Ike's position as of 8 AM ET Saturday courtesy National Hurricane Center

Was just reading the article linked there about the "mutiny"
What a bunch of pinheads!

Sheila, they were informed at the outset via letter from Carnival, that itinerary changes were possible. Pinheads would best describe them alright.
As in Aviation, in Maritime, the Captain has the sole authority to change course if there is imminent danger to property and life. They were in contact with HQ in Miami, but a Capt. does not even have to go that route if need be.

IMO there is a growing segment of the population that has not learned to behave like civilized human beings, and that segment is making increasing incursions onto cruise ships.

Originally Posted by canarymoon

IMO there is a growing segment of the population that has not learned to behave like civilized human beings, and that segment is making increasing incursions onto cruise ships.

Very true. I often think that, that same segment of people don't intend to behave like civilized humans.

(from Carnival)

SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 – 3:00 PM

We are closely monitoring the progress of Hurricane Ike. All of Carnival’s ships continue to operate at a safe distance from this storm. Our number one priority is the safety of our guests and crew.
Based on all the information available to us now, we do not expect the Port of Galveston to be open on Sunday. We will make itinerary adjustments to our Galveston based ships as follows:
Carnival Conquest September 7, 2008 Departure
The ship will remain in Cozumel through Saturday and is now scheduled to return to Galveston on Monday, September 15.
Carnival Conquest September 14, 2008 Departure
We will now operate a 6 day cruise departing on Monday, September 15. This cruise will visit Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
Guests that elect to sail on this cruise will receive a 15% refund of cruise fare. In addition, we will provide a 25% discount on a future 3 to 7 day cruise departing prior to December 15, 2009.
There is some chance that the Port of Galveston will remain closed on Monday. If that occurs, we will operate a 5 day cruise departing on Tuesday, September 16.


We will send a communication to all guests on this cruise no later than 7:00 PM (CDT) on Sunday to advise any changes to our plans to operate the 6 day cruise on Monday, September 15.
Carnival Ecstasy September 15, 2008 Departure

We are planning to operate this cruise as scheduled with departure on Monday, September 15.

There is some chance that the Port of Galveston will not be open on Monday. If that occurs, we will operate a 4 day cruise departing on Tuesday, September 16.

We will send a communication to all guests on this cruise no later than 7:00 PM (CDT) on Sunday to advise any changes to our plans to operate the scheduled 5 day cruise on Monday, September 15.

We want to thank all of our guests for sailing with us. We look forward to welcoming you aboard the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy on Monday.