What Happens To Cruise Ships During Hurricanes

Or too many passengers will get sick or slam against a wall in a hurricane.

What happens to cruise ships during hurricanes. Cruise lines cancelling upcoming sailings are reimbursing. In fact with just a few precautions youll not only have peace of mind but a few insider tips on how to enjoy cruising during late summer and early fall which in my opinion is the very best time for sailing the Caribbean with Norwegian Cruise Line. Unlike resorts and hotels a cruise ship can adjust its course to avoid a storm headed in its direction.

A surprising number of travelers actually opt to cruise during hurricane season when extensions such as these are not unheard of. People can be killed if they venture to go on deck to see the storm. Cruise ships play an important role in disaster recovery after tropical storms and hurricanes sweep through the Caribbean and other parts of the world.

Typically its still safe for cruise ships to depart the home port while a hurricane is occurring in the Caribbean as long as the hurricane is not impacting the embarkation home port and if the home port is impacted a cruise departure may only be delayed by a day or two rather than being canceled. While hurricanes should always be taken seriously the odds that youll ever encounter one on your cruise are exceptionally slim. If a big storm is present in the Caribbean or Bahamas theres a chance youll feel some motion on your vessel even if its far from the center of the storm.

People who are new to cruising often ask this question concerned about the safety of booking a cruise during hurricane season. Royal Caribbean understands how weather can affect your cruise vacation with us and thats why weve turned to James Van Fleet the first chief meteorologist in the cruise industry. What can happen if a hurricane occurs during your cruise.

Virgin Islands it caused 92 billion dollars in damage and claimed more than 3000 lives. Cruising during hurricane season means having a certain level of flexibility with your plans. Cruise lines will reroute ships by hundreds of miles to avoid tropical storms and hurricanes.

Cruise ships can typically outrun a hurricane -- storms tend to move about 8 to 10 knots while ships can attain speeds of up to 22 knots and beyond. But that doesnt mean you always can expect smooth sailing during hurricane season. However while a ship can outrun a storm or change course to avoid one you may still experience some rough water during your travels so you may want to pack seasickness remedies.