Both the Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons have started to have effects on ocean cruises as well as on land-based travelers.
Cruise ship companies try to avoid cancelling trips altogether, usually trying to re-route ships to alternate ports, or to days at sea rather than in port.
In the Atlantic, for example, Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas on a cruise last week skipped port calls in Nassau and Key West to avoid the growing effects of Hurricane Gaston, which has now weakened to a tropical storm.
In the Pacific, Hurricane Madeline (Pacific storms have their own series of names) forced an itinerary shift on Norwegian’s Hawaii-based Pride of America, which returns to Honolulu tomorrow after skipping stops at Kona and Kauai to avoid Madeline’s Category 4 winds of up to 120 mph.
Looking at cruises that might run into hurricane season? Cruise Critic has a checklist of advice for what to do if weather prevents you from getting to the ship. Click HERE