Cruise lines change itineraries due to Hurricane Matthew

As Hurricane Matthew barreled through the Caribbean on
Monday as a Category 4 storm, cruise lines altered itineraries and airlines began
to cancel flights to Haiti and Jamaica.  

The Carnival Pride departed Baltimore on Saturday and headed
north to New York and Canada instead of south to the Caribbean. Several other
Carnival ships  are heading to Key West and Cozumel this week instead of
to the Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas, Freedom of the
Seas and Majesty of the Seas are skipping Bahamas calls this week, opting for
Cozumel, San Juan and Key West.

Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Disney Cruise
Line also have modified calls this week, skipping the Bahamas for Key West and
Cozumel. The Island Princess is visiting Grand Cayman instead of Aruba.

Aruba, normally out of the hurricane belt, is experiencing
rough seas and high surf and some coastal flooding.

Airlines waived change fees through Oct. 6 for flights
headed to eastern Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

The storm could be catastrophic for Haiti, where there is a
lack of trees due to deforestation.

In Jamaica, the storm could be the most severe since Hurricane
Gilbert killed 40 people in 1988.

Matthew is predicted to dump up to 25 inches of rain in some
areas, producing mudslides, storm surges and flooding.