Major Cruise Lines Change Itineraries Due to Hurricane Ian
Despite Hurricane Ian’s threat, some cruise lines have changed their itineraries and cancelled some sailings. The theme parks in Florida have also responded. The MSC Divina has swapped its Western Caribbean itinerary with an Eastern Caribbean itinerary, and Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled some Caribbean sailings.
Norwegian Cruise Line cancels Caribbean sailings
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Norwegian Cruise Line has rerouted and cancelled sailings to and from the Caribbean. The Norwegian Sky, which left Miami on Sunday, is now calling at San Juan, Puerto Rico instead of the originally planned ports of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Cozumel and Nassau. The passengers who were scheduled to take the ship will receive a full refund on their onboard accounts.
MSC Cruises has also made major changes to its Saturday sailing out of Miami, swapping its original itinerary with a more eastern one. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes MSC’s private island Ocean Cay, Nassau in the Bahamas, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Norwegian’s Bermuda cruise has also been disrupted.
Currently, the Carnival Paradise is south of the storm in Roatan, and is scheduled to return to Tampa on September 29. If the storm stalls in the Gulf, the ship’s itinerary could be extended. Carnival Horizon, meanwhile, is currently sailing around Cuba and will call at Grand Cayman and Jamaica.
Carnival Cruise Lines changes itineraries
Because Hurricane Ian is making landfall in the Eastern Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines has decided to alter several itineraries for some of its ships. The MSC Seashore, which is currently on a seven-day cruise from New Orleans to the Eastern Caribbean, will now call at Mahogany Bay, Belize, Cozumel, and Freeport, Mexico, instead of Nassau and Key West, Fla. In addition, the MSC Seashore will now visit Nassau, Bahamas, on Tuesday. It will then return to Miami on Oct. 3.
While the U.S. Coast Guard has set port X-Ray conditions for Tampa, Florida, the cruise lines are prepared for such an occurrence and will make the necessary changes. However, the forecast for Hurricane Ian suggests that the storm will follow a course that is north or northeast. If it takes a northern route, Ian would make landfall in the vicinity of Mobile, Alabama, and Tampa, Florida, which is why the companies are waiting to make any changes until the storm is further south.
MSC Divina swaps Western Caribbean itinerary for Eastern Caribbean
Following Hurricane Ian’s impact in the western Caribbean, MSC Cruises is changing its Caribbean itineraries. The seven-night round-trip MSC Divina will no longer visit St. Maarten, Montego Bay, St. Thomas, or St. Maarten, but will instead visit the Dominican Republic’s Puerto Plata, and MSC’s private island, Ocean Cay. The change is effective immediately, and guests will be informed when they board the ship today.
MSC Cruises has also altered the itinerary of their MSC Seashore and MSC Divina to include more Eastern Caribbean destinations. The MSC Divina, which had originally scheduled stops in Nassau and Ocean City Marine Reserve, may be delayed due to Hurricane Ian’s predicted path. Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line has rearranged the itinerary for their Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Glory, which will now call at Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel.
Several major cruise lines are already rerouting and canceling sailings due to Hurricane Ian. The MSC Divina will remain in Miami, but will no longer visit St Thomas, Tortola, or St. John. It will instead make calls in Cozumel, Mexico on 20SEP, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 21SEP.
