Things to remember when booking a cruise during hurricane season
 

Many times people post questions about booking during hurricane season.As a Texas cruiser ( and someone who is stocking up on plywood, water, batteries, etc) I would like to offer some words of wisdom to other cruisers who don't live on the Gulf.<BR><BR>I have been on 20+ cruises, but never between the dates of August 10-October 20. This is the height of hurricane season.<BR><BR>In General - remember this September when you are booking a cruise for the future. You may get lucky, but odds are even if you do not have a hurricane, you may have lots more rain. Before Isidora, there were several tropical storms during early September. There are two other storms (Kyle in the Atlantic and another tropical storm that battered Barbados today and will probably hit Puerto Rico as a hurricane later this week).<BR><BR>Two ports - Jamaica and Progresso, were hard hit.<BR><BR>Hurricanes are big. Even if your ship diverts around the storm, you will be affected by rough seas. That is what happened today. I just heard on the news(9-23-02) that Carnival cruise ships that pulled out of Galveston and New Orleans returned to port today because the waters in the Gulf were too rough. <BR><BR>The prices may be good, but I will never book a cruise in September.<BR><BR>

You are so right and I couldn't agree with you more. A lot of people go during this time because they get such a good deal but they don't realize that they will probably be sick the entire vacation. What a waste of vacation time and money.

If the hurricane is near your port of embarcation you will have a problem. It is the luck of the draw. <BR><BR>The ships leaving this week from Eastern Florida had no problem sailing to the Eastern Caribbean. Those that were scheduled to sail to the Western Caribbean sailed also to the Eastern.<BR><BR>I have been sailing more than 20 years in the fall and never ran into rough seas. Last November there was a hurricane in front of us and one in back.<BR><BR>Just lucky, but the odds of not having a cruise with calm seas are very low. This past week has been an exception.<BR><BR>Paul<BR>

Sage, exactly what happens when ships need to come back into their ports? I am also a Texan, (West Texas) and certainly keep up with the hurricanes that threaten the Gulf Coast.....as I have good friends that live on South Padre. Does Carnival and R. Caribbean refund their money....or what?<BR>Stay safe this weekend! M.B.

I totally agree with and have always followed the advice you're giving here. I live in South Florida and have become accustomed to crappy weather from hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical waves, tropical depressions etc during "season", especially from mid August to mid October. I also work in a business that's indirectly connected to the cruise industry. I'm always hearing sob stories about ruined vacations, empty hotel rooms, damaged properties etc due to the congo line of storms that pop up this time of year!

I find that the low fall prices usually extend thru Nov and mid-Dec (with the exception of Thanksgiving). I always try to book for late Nov or early Dec as the chances of a storm/hurricane then are very low.

I think what they do is allow you to sail at another date (rebook) or give you a partial refund. I am not really sure because I have never been in that situation.<BR><BR>Paul, the eastern ships may have sailed, but they are sailing into crummy weather. Lili ( the latest tropical storm) may cause crummy seas for the eastern. Lili hit Barbados directly - probably no significant damage, but lots of ruined vacations.

Sage?<BR> According to other sources, cruise lines have never had to cancel a cruise. They might have to change itineraries or extend days or skip islands or make more days at seas.<BR> Hopefully this holds true. I have 14 cruise days coming up in Oct.I would rather be on a ship than in a hotel that can't move out of the way!!

Exactly. You may not have a vacation at all if you book a land based vacation during hurricane season, but you do have a 99% chance of a cruise if you book one.<BR><BR>If you do plan on a land based vacation in the fall, book one with a vacation guarantee.<BR><BR>If a cruise is cancelled, cruise lines (except for NCL), will refund you the price of the cruise plus a discount off a future cruise. <BR><BR>Paul