Safe at sea: what its like on a cruise ship when theres a hurricane

Table Of Content

• How to Deal with Delays and Cancellations
• Does standard travel insurance cover costs associated with itineraries changed/canceled by a hurricane?
• Cruising in hurricane season: What you need to know
• Tips for Hurricane Season Cruising
• What happens if I'm at sea and a hurricane hits? Will the cruise ship sail into a hurricane?

One advantage that cruise ships have in severe weather is that, unlike land destinations, ships are mobile. When cruising during hurricane season, you might encounter stormy weather, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that you’ll have to contend with rocking and rolling onboard your ship. The East Pacific hurricane season is oft-overlooked because there are simply more people cruising in Caribbean hurricanes than on the Mexican Riviera.

How to Deal with Delays and Cancellations

Only a very small portion of cruises that sail to the Caribbean during a storm season are actually affected by these storms. When leaving dry land and taking a Caribbean cruise, it's important to understand the times that are historically least and most active for tropical storms. While there is a possibility of severe weather throughout the Atlantic hurricane season, the peak months for hurricanes in the Eastern Caribbean are from August through September. The worst time for hurricanes in the Western Caribbean is from mid-August through early November. That’s the time when hurricanes are most likely, although end of season sees the majority of storms.

Does standard travel insurance cover costs associated with itineraries changed/canceled by a hurricane?

Your flight could be delayed by a storm that is far away from the destination where you are flying. During hurricane season, tropical storms moving through the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico and up the East Coast of the U.S. can sometimes snarl air traffic across a wide swath of North America. Still, even during peak weeks for hurricane formation, the odds of your cruise being affected by a hurricane are relatively small.

Cruising in hurricane season: What you need to know

Something to keep in mind is that due to the fact that this is a cruise ship, it can move around. Contrary to an island, where if a hurricane is coming, you can’t move off that island. Cruise lines work with meteorologists and have technology to predict storm locations and they do their best to avoid being in a hurricane’s path. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips.

Turn to reliable unbiased sources for everything from defining terms used in the world of hurricanes to tracking storms in development, their likely track and more. The National Hurricane Center provides reliable information, the latest satellite imagery and more. But if you run the numbers, you'll see the likelihood of your cruise being affected by a storm is low. To find out if a cruise during hurricane season is worth the risk, we break down the reasons you should and shouldn't, and share our expert tips. In some cases, the ship may need to reroute to avoid the hurricane entirely, resulting in a change of itinerary.

These plans are well-rehearsed by crew and cruise line personnel, not that you’d ever know as you’re tucking into a prime steak or sipping on a cocktail. If you're particularly prone to seasickness, hurricane season might not be the best time for you to cruise. Cruise ships are built with sophisticated stabilizers that tamp down the effects of waves.

As mentioned, Royal Caribbean will do everything that they can to guarantee a safe voyage, even if it means that the port order is swapped or changed altogether. So long as the embarkation port is not closed, your cruise will almost certainly sail. If you are scheduled to visit the Eastern Caribbean but a storm arises, Royal Caribbean may drop a port of call or completely switch your itinerary, turning your Eastern cruise into a Western Caribbean one.

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When it comes to cruising, you can plan around the weather all you want and still be faced with rainy days, rough seas that prevent you from visiting a specific port and storms that change your ship's original course. During the Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 through November 30), your chances of running into the aforementioned buzzkills are greater. It is unlikely that your cruise during Caribbean hurricane season will be canceled, but it is not guaranteed. That’s why it’s a smart move to purchase travel insurance (for any cruise vacation), and most necessary if you choose to cruise during hurricane season. Just remember, this is not the time to book a vacation if you’re set on visiting one particular port or are planning a cruise destination event.

In the event of a missed port due to weather conditions, the cruise line will typically offer compensation. This may include a refund of port fees or a credit towards a future cruise. Cruising during hurricane season can be an exciting adventure, but being well-prepared and aware of the risks is essential.

It’s essential to carefully read the cruise line’s ticket contract and the travel insurance policy’s explanation of benefits before agreeing to the terms and conditions. Cruise ships also have advanced safety technology, including radar, sonar, and satellite communication systems. These tools enable the crew to monitor weather conditions and communicate with other ships and emergency services if necessary. In that case, the cruise line directly will likely email you before embarkation day with details about the trip or ports of call changes. When a ship changes itinerary, they have the opportunity to sail waters far away from the storm. In addition, ships can sail closer to land to find protected waterways that can lessen the effect of the seas.

Before we go one step further, it’s important to note that planning a cruise during hurricane season can be a gamble. It also comes with several risks, which we’ll discuss in the next section. The Atlantic hurricane season typically produces 12 named storms, with six becoming hurricanes and three becoming major hurricanes. However, the number of storms and their intensity can vary yearly, depending on factors like ocean temperatures, wind patterns, and atmospheric conditions. While I think most people understand cruise ships don't sail into hurricanes, the most common question I've received during my cruise is something along the lines of, "how bad are the waves?". As anyone that deals with hurricanes a lot will tell you, the forecasts for tropical storms are quite variable and prone to changes that greatly benefit or penalize your situation.

Great vacations are made up of adventures, memorable moments and ideal weather. What if we told you there’s a vacation you could take and have zero worries about the forecast literally raining on your parade? Wave Season is the time to plan an escape to warmer weather or anywhere with Royal Caribbean—and for a great deal. If you're having trouble getting into your port of embarkation, make sure you contact the cruise line (carry their toll-free emergency number in your wallet or save it in your cell phone). Hurricane season in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean officially runs from June 1 through November 30.