Tropical Storm Dorian Forces Cruise Ship Itinerary Changes

(upated 5 p.m. EDT) – Tropical Storm Dorian, brewing in the Caribbean and aiming toward Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic, has prompted several cruise ship itinerary changes.

The storm has prompted a tropical storm warning for the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as islands near Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico itself, as well as the Dominican Republic from Isla Saona to Samana, are under a hurricane watch. National Hurricane Center predict that the storm may reach hurricane strength Wednesday when it reaches Puerto Rico early on August 28, but could possibly weaken as it travels over the island. The eventual path shows the storm could head toward the southeast Bahamas and Turks Caicos on August 30.

Among the lines making changes are Disney Cruise Line, Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Cruise Critic will continue to monitor Tropical Storm Dorian and provide updates.

Below is a breakdown of the affected cruise ships:

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Breeze was able to stop in St. Thomas on August 27, as scheduled. But the ship will now take a sea day on August 28, instead of stopping in San Juan.

Carnival Sunrise is swapping port dates on its August 27 sailing from New York. The ship will now sail to San Juan, Amber Cove and Grand Turk, in that order, on August 30, August 31 and September 1. Previously, the itinerary planned to stop in Grand Turk, San Juan and Amber Cove on those respective dates.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Fantasy, which departed August 24 from Port Canaveral, has switched from an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to a Western Caribbean sailing. The ports of Tortola and St. Thomas have been replaced with Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Royal Caribbean

Allure of the Seas, which departed August 25 from Fort Lauderdale, switched from an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to a Western Caribbean sailing. Labadee, Falmouth and Cozumel will replace stops in Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Kitts.

Symphony of the Seas, which left Miami on August 24, also rerouted to a Western Caribbean itinerary, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said. The new itinerary vists Labadee, San Juan and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island.

Harmony of the Seas, which left August 25 from Port Canaveral, switched to Western Caribbean, and will be going to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, Roatan and Costa Maya.

Other Storms

While Dorian may be the biggest storm currently affecting the Atlantic, there is another tropical depression.

Tropical Depression Six is currently between Bermuda and the U.S. coast moving north; as of Aug. 27, however, it has been forecast to stay away from the East Coast and no watches or warnings have been issued. Cruise Critic has not seen any cruise ship itinerary changes announced.

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