Hurricane? Late August Cruise

[Cackyschmackers]

We booked a 3/4 night B2B on the Dream in late August right before my girls go back to school because it was what we could afford. I did not even think about it being hurricane season. I know some of you have had bad experiences with hurricanes. Is it more likely for the cruise to be rerouted than cancelled for weather? What is the most likely scenario in the case of a hurricane?

 

[n2mm]

I generally cruise September-November. The most important thing I can recommend is travel insurance. My next cruise is September. I've been lucky so far.....

 

[OKW Lover]

Is it more likely for the cruise to be rerouted than cancelled for weather? What is the most likely scenario in the case of a hurricane?

Cruises will typically not be canceled for weather. A cruise ship is safer at sea rather than in port tied to a pier during a hurricane. The cruise lines will make adjustments to the itinerary if need be to avoid a storm.

 

[LizzyDragon]

Reroutes are the usual way cruise lines avoid storms. This may mean that ports are done in a different order; swapped out with other locations; or cancelled. More rarely, cruises may start late or end early. It is rare that they are cancelled altogether. If this concerns you, get travel insurance.

In many ways, being on a boat is better than a land vacation in this respect. The boat can continue to find nice sunny skies while on land it would be batten down the hatches time.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Hurricane season in the Caribbean and Atlantic runs from June 1st through Nov 30th. Which is pretty much all summer and through most of fall.

 

[mousefan73]

What does travel insurance cover in event of a hurricane? I have never bought as many for other things exclude "weather" acts of God etc.

 

[n2mm]

What does travel insurance cover in event of a hurricane? I have never bought as many for other things exclude "weather" acts of God etc.

Other than cancellation, lost luggage, medical evacuation, it covers missed flights and hotels which is what happened to a cruise last October. We had a cruise then and was watching it. They had a 7 night out at sea and kept it out an extra night and canceled a 3 night cruise. When that cruise came in on Sunday instead of Saturday there were lots of folks who missed flights. Plus some needed to stay longer until airlines could get them on flights. We were on the 4 night after the canceled 3 night, but got out ok and all was good, though we weren't too sure if we would make it to castaway cay, but did and was the first ship there and everything was cleaned up.

 

[Dug720]

And just as a note, pretty much all insurance is invalid if bought after a storm is named.

In other words, you can't decide to hold off on purchasing it "because there might not be a storm" and then have a storm blow up and want to purchase insurance. You need to have bought the insurance in advance.

 

[n2mm]

I use a site to compare policies and prices. You can buy a little or a lot, but either way is better than nothing. But overall, you are buying some peace of mind.

 

[mousefan73]

we fly standby as we are airliners anyways.. and we have travel medical insurance.. need to see if an evacutation is included.. Just curious though if the only real risk is hotel and luggage, if its worth it for us.. I would think 5 people is alot anyways..

 

[CamColt]

The majority of our cruises have been in hurricane season. While we have never had one cancelled we have been rerouted (went to San Juan instead of St Maarten) and even swapped our sea day and CC day once. As previously noted the Captain will do everything possible to keep the ship and passengers safe.

 

[n2mm]

we fly standby as we are airliners anyways.. and we have travel medical insurance.. need to see if an evacutation is included.. Just curious though if the only real risk is hotel and luggage, if its worth it for us.. I would think 5 people is alot anyways..

That's not the only risk! Things happen besides hurricanes. We cruised in February and left a party of 8 behind in Nassau that didn't make it back to the ship in time...we actually waited almost an hour for them. Can't imagine that expense. Our cruise in 2016 we had to stop at another island to evacuate a medical emergency and their family one evening. After events like that, it makes you think. There is a website that does a comparison of policies you can choose from.

 

[Gigi22]

I generally cruise September-November. The most important thing I can recommend is travel insurance. My next cruise is September. I've been lucky so far.....

Agreed. I have been on over 30 cruises with HAL, 5 on DCL. Most of those cruises were in the Caribbean, during hurricane season. The only major disruption was due to damages to a port by an hurricane that gone through about a month previously. We have also had some ports cancelled due to high seas. I always get travel insurance, and I always arrive at my departure port the day before the cruise starts and spend the night before in a hotel, so I arrive well-rested for my first cruise day.

Remember, any day at sea is a good day!

 

[n2mm]

Yes Gigi22, we also arrive a day or two early. Flights are late and canceled. I can't imagine the stress of flying in the day of the cruise, though folks do it. Not me. Heck I even stay a day or two after the cruise in WDW.

 

[Dug720]

Given that you fly standby rather than buying tickets, you need to also consider if something happens before (like a hurricane before) that creates a backlog of paying customers trying to get on a plane that - with 5 people - could prevent you from getting to the port in time to make the ship. You would be out the cost of the cruise.

Though thinking about it, I don't know if insurance would cover the cost of a cruise where there was no guaranteed air ticket... That would be something to look into. If you wouldn't be covered because of no actual specific reservation, then you would just need to consider if you want the insurance in case of illness or medical evacuation.

 

[RedSox68]

In 16 cruises, most of them between May and November, we've only "run" into two hurricanes -- in 2004 (Frances) and in 2005 on the west coast on our way to Panama Canal (Hillary). Both times on Disney, both times well taken care of -- with canceled ports being replaced with other ports. The one in 2004 turned our 7-day into a 10-day -- Disney's first 10-day I might add AND first docking at Galveston (to get supplies and pick up flown in entertainment). We were never in danger or felt scared. Disney kept us well informed and both situations have never altered our desire to cruise during those months.

I should add that we didn't file any travel insurance claims as we didn't feel like we didn't get a full cruise experience and in 2004 Disney actually put us up in their hotel and gave us meal vouchers because we missed our flights (we had to dock in Port Everglade and it was a long trip back to Orlando).

 

[mousefan73]

Given that you fly standby rather than buying tickets, you need to also consider if something happens before (like a hurricane before) that creates a backlog of paying customers trying to get on a plane that - with 5 people - could prevent you from getting to the port in time to make the ship. You would be out the cost of the cruise.

Though thinking about it, I don't know if insurance would cover the cost of a cruise where there was no guaranteed air ticket... That would be something to look into. If you wouldn't be covered because of no actual specific reservation, then you would just need to consider if you want the insurance in case of illness or medical evacuation.

Yeah, I Need to dig more and get more Information.... and check the Details.

 

[bbn1122]

We sailed twice late August both times around 23-25th of the month. Both 3 nights, because it is so affordable.
2011, hurricane Irene passed by the Florida coast, we were at WDW before hand. We thought it may be cancelled but basically found out from these boards that almost 95% of the time they sail.

Well, first night rough seas, dinner not so good. We could not stop at Castaway Cay due to the damage and clean up that was going on. So, we dock at Nassau, no one got off because they were cleaning up. We then took a little ride out to sea, if I remember correctly and came back to Nassau the next day. We were planning to stay aboard so we did. Not the best cruise due to missing ️CC but still good.

Now in 2014, we sailed almost the same time and we booked Concierge because it was so affordable. The weather was perfect, no problems. We even got a Cabana. It was a terrific cruise. So, that one made up for 2011.

Like another person mentioned, hurricane season is June to November, so it's a toss up. Fingers crossed for you.
I am sure you will be fine. Travel insurance!

We are cruising this October out of NYC, I am concerned about the weather,storms etc. and I just booked Bermuda for late October 2018, nervous about that one too. But that's cruising off the east coast.

 

[RedSox68]

We sailed twice late August both times around 23-25th of the month. Both 3 nights, because it is so affordable.
2011, hurricane Irene passed by the Florida coast, we were at WDW before hand. We thought it may be cancelled but basically found out from these boards that almost 95% of the time they sail.

Well, first night rough seas, dinner not so good. We could not stop at Castaway Cay due to the damage and clean up that was going on. So, we dock at Nassau, no one got off because they were cleaning up. We then took a little ride out to sea, if I remember correctly and came back to Nassau the next day. We were planning to stay aboard so we did. Not the best cruise due to missing ️CC but still good.

Now in 2014, we sailed almost the same time and we booked Concierge because it was so affordable. The weather was perfect, no problems. We even got a Cabana. It was a terrific cruise. So, that one made up for 2011.

Like another person mentioned, hurricane season is June to November, so it's a toss up. Fingers crossed for you.
I am sure you will be fine. Travel insurance!

We are cruising this October out of NYC, I am concerned about the weather,storms etc. and I just booked Bermuda for late October 2018, nervous about that one too. But that's cruising off the east coast.

We sailed NCL Breakaway last October from NYC to Bermuda. I think it was Hurricane Matthew that was causing all the problems -- our cruise got into Bermuda just fine and we had 2-1/2 wonderful days. We did have to leave 3 hours early on our last day as they were trying to outrun the hurricane -- that hit Bermuda the next week.

We are sailing out of NYC again in September to New England. I'm not worrying about it as I know they are well prepared to handle changes and notifications.

We never experienced any rough seas or problems, but I know there were many reports of cruises being cut short or going to alternate ports that made many very unhappy.

 

[The Hunchback]

We were on the old, tiny Norwegian Crown during hurricane Wilma. What an E ticket ride. I thought it was fun but my husband was sick as a dog. Captain found some stable water off South Carolina and we jogged in place for a day. That was a repositioning cruise thru the canel so did not effect any ports. I would buy travel insurance if possible if I were you.