The Latest Caribbean Cruise Changes From Hurricane Maria, Irma

With Hurricane Maria causing historic damage to Puerto Rico, and destinations like St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Key West still recovering from Hurricane Irma, we’ve rounded up the latest Caribbean cruise changes as a result of the storms.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald reports that Carnival Sensation’s September 21 itinerary out of PortMiami has been updated to include a sea day September 22 and 24, a call at Cozumel with a 10:00 p.m. departure September 23, and a return to Miami September 25.

In a separate post Heald also said that the cruise line is awaiting reports and advice from the port of San Juan and other government agencies before issuing an update regarding this Saturday’s cruise out of San Juan on Carnival Fascination. For updates, guests on that sailing can text CCL1 to CRUISE (278473).

As we reported yesterday, Carnival has also modified the following itineraries due to the damage caused by Hurricane Irma:

Carnival Ecstasy – September 20: Departing Charleston on a five-day cruise to Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas.
Carnival Sensation – September 21: Departing Miami on a four-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.
Carnival Splendor – September 23: Departing Port Everglades on a seven-day cruise to Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay and Grand Cayman.
Carnival Vista – September 23: Departing Miami on an eight-day cruise to La Romana, Dominican Republic, Aruba and Curacao.
Carnival Conquest – September 24: Departing Port Everglades on a six-day cruise to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
Carnival Magic – September 24: Departing Port Canaveral on a six-day cruise to Cozumel, Belize and Costa Maya.
Carnival Pride – September 24: Departing Baltimore on a seven-day cruise to Half Moon Cay, Nassau and Freeport.
Carnival Paradise – September 25: Departing Tampa on a five-day cruise for an overnight stay in Havana.
Carnival Victory – September 25: Departing Miami on a four-day cruise to Cozumel.
Carnival Glory – September 30: Departing Miami on a seven-day cruise to Half Moon Cay, Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
Carnival Sensation – September 30: Departing Miami on a five-day cruise to Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Freeport.
Carnival Splendor – September 30: Departing Port Everglades on an eight-day cruise to Princess Cays, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
Carnival Pride – October 1: Departing Baltimore on a seven-day cruise to Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Freeport.

Pre-purchased shore excursions, as well as any taxes, fees and port expenses, for canceled ports will be refunded to guests’ onboard Sail Sign accounts. At this time, all other future cruises are still set to depart as scheduled, Carnival said.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean reports that it is continuing to modify both Adventure of the Seas’ and Allure of the Seas’ current itineraries to keep them out of the path of the storm. The line will inform guests of any future itinerary changes a minimum of 48 hours prior to departure.

Because the timing of the reopening of the port in San Juan remains “uncertain,” according to the cruise line, it is modifying the September 23 sailing of Adventure of the Seas. The ship will now depart Wednesday, September 27, on a three-night itinerary to Antigua and St. Kitts. Guests who choose to sail will receive a 60 percent refund of the cruise fare in the form of a refundable onboard credit, as well as an additional 50 percent future cruise credit on bookings within the next year. Guests who wish to cancel will receive a 100 percent future cruise credit on bookings within the next year.

Royal Caribbean is also modifying Anthem of the Seas’ September 23 itinerary, replacing a planned call in Bermuda with calls in Portland, Maine, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Guests on this sailing will receive a 50 percent refund of the cruise fare in the form of a refundable onboard credit.

Pre-booked shore excursions will be refunded to guests’ original form of payment, and guests will have the ability to book excursions in the new ports of call once onboard.

Additionally, the cruise line reports that it has received confirmation that its ships can return to Key West starting this weekend. The first ship will call in the destination Sunday, September 24.

As a result, Empress of the Seas’ September 23 and 27, as well as its October 2, 7 and 11 cruises to Cuba are no longer modified. Havana welcomed a call from Empress of the Seas on September 20. The terminal, port and transportation were ready and all tours ran as scheduled, Royal Caribbean said.

Because both destinations are ready to welcome cruise guests, Royal Caribbean’s offer for guests to cancel and receive a future cruise credit will end by close of business Sunday, September 24. All cancellations to receive a cruise credit must be completed by this time so the line can offer the stateroom to another traveler, Royal Caribbean said.

According to the latest update, as previously reported the island chain’s official targeted reopening date remains October 20, the beginning of Key West’s Fantastic Fest. However, that date may be advanced.

Royal Caribbean is also continuing to modify some itineraries to incorporate alternative ports to St. Maarten and St. Thomas in addition to Key West:

Adventure of the Seas:

9/16, 10/7 – St. Maarten to St. Croix
9/23 – St. Thomas to Bonaire
9/30 – St. Maarten to St. Kitts
10/14 – St. Thomas to St. Croix

Allure of the Seas:

10/1 – St. Thomas to Labadee
10/15 – St. Maarten to Labadee

Enchantment of the Seas:

9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9 – Key West to Freeport

Harmony of the Seas:

9/23 – St. Thomas to St. Kitts
10/7 – St. Maarten to St. Kitts

Oasis of the Seas:

9/24 – St. Maarten to St. Kitts
10/8 – St. Maarten to Nassau

MSC Cruises

This morning MSC Cruises announced that, at this time, itineraries on MSC Divina out of Miami remain as planned. The cruise line will make further announcements if it needs to make changes. Guests can stay tuned to www.msccruisesusa.com for further details.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line reports that Norwegian Breakaway is sailing a longer route back to New York on its cruise that departed September 17 in order to avoid the path of Tropical Storm Jose. Norwegian Breakaway will now spend two days in port in Bermuda, departing 6 p.m. Thursday to arrive back in New York Sunday, September 24 as scheduled.

Norwegian Dawn will sail as scheduled and return to Boston Friday, September 22.

Norwegian is working with partners on the ground to assist destinations impacted by Hurricane Irma. In the interim, the cruise line has altered Norwegian Escape’s eastern Caribbean for the remainder of 2017. The cruise line will issue updated itinerary information shortly.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises reports that it will have no ships in the Caribbean until Caribbean Princess’ departure from Fort Lauderdale on October 7. That sailing will be modified to replace its call at St Thomas with a call at San Juan. Additionally, Regal Princess’ October 26 Caribbean cruise will replace a call at St Maarten with a call at St Kitts, and will also reschedule the planned Antigua call to October 30.

Since both San Juan and St Kitts are in the path of Hurricane Maria, Princess said it would provide additional updates once that storm passes. Guests with shore excursions for the two cancelled ports will receive a refund to the original form of payment. Shore excursions for the new destinations will be available within the next two weeks, or they may be booked onboard.

Princess is still assessing any itinerary impacts for its remaining 2017 eastern Caribbean ports of call, and plans to provide an update by the end of the week.

We’ll continue updating this page with the latest itinerary changes as they become available. Stay tuned for further details.