Cruise Safety During Hurricane Season

Every year I have people ask me about the safety of cruising during the hurricane season. Many of us are all too familiar with tornadoes, and equate the suddenness of a tornado with a hurricane. The idea of a hurricane and a cruise ship can be frightening. However, hurricanes are significantly different than tornados and the likelihood that a cruise ship will be caught by surprise by a hurricane is extremely unlikely. Here's why....

First, a hurricane is that it is a tropical depression – a low pressure area that gradually forms in the ocean and increases in strength. It is completely unlike a tornado, which forms suddenly and unpredictably out of storm. As the ocean is warmed by the summer sun and its surface temperature rises above 80°F, the influence of the earth’s rotation causes a spinning rotation to begin. This spinning creates the low pressure area, which is the formation of the tropical depression. A tropical depression officially becomes a hurricane when the winds around the core area exceed 74 miles per hour. It can take days, if not weeks for a hurricane to form. With today’s technology, forecasters can watch these depressions form and monitor their progress.

Just like low pressure areas that form over the continents, tropical depressions move along paths that can be forecasted and they move relatively slowly. Weather forecasters are able to predict days in advance the approximate path of the hurricane and even the wind speeds.Hurricanes take time, and this is an advantage for ships. Unlike land structures, ships move. With the advantage of the predictability of hurricanes, advance forecasting, and ship-board weather systems ships can and do alter their course to avoid these storms. They don’t run from the storm, they change their course to avoid the storm. If, for example, a hurricane is predicted to be in the western Caribbean area, the ship may sail the eastern Caribbean ports.

Hurricane season
June marks the official start of the hurricane season and it runs until mid-November. This corresponds with the rainy season in the tropics, including the Caribbean. During this time, hurricanes can form in the areas shown in the graphic (click on the graphic to view a larger image). In 2005 we saw a hurricane form as early as June, but th e normal time of highest activity is mid August to mid November. Note: in the western Pacific Ocean these storms are called Typhoons, and in the Indian Ocean, they are called Cyclones.

The cruise industry
The cruise industry is well prepared and CLIA* members make the safety of their guests, crew and vessels their highest priority. Unlike other vacation settings, by virtue of being a completely mobile vacation, cruising allows passengers to continue their vacations by altering itineraries should Mother Nature intervene. The cruise lines are prepared to keep their passengers and ships out of harm’s way. In the event of severe weather, certain operational protocols are in place for cruise lines, including:

• Today’s cruise ships feature the most technologically advanced weather forecasting systems and equipment available. Working with agencies such as the National Hurricane Center (a US agency), officers and company officials can forecast weather-related disturbances in advance. Today's cruise ships are completely mobile and able to alter, cancel, shorten, or extend ship itineraries to keep guests safe in instances of threatening weather.
• In the event that ports of embarkation and debarkation are closed due to severe weather conditions, cruise lines can use a nearby alternative port. In these cases, cruise lines coordinate the logistics of loading food and supplies and getting passengers to and from the original port.

Why consider a Caribbean cruise during this season?
Some people simply chose to take their Caribbean cruise during the summer because they are unable to get away at other times of the year. Honeymooners and families with children in multiple schools where the seasonal breaks don’t match may choose the summer to take a cruise. Also, because cruise lines reposition many of the ships to Europe and Alaska during the summer, the ports are much less crowded in the Caribbean, making it more appealing to people who don’t like crowds.

Others chose the fall because they find that some of the best cruise pricing for areas like the Caribbean occur during September through November after children return to school from their summer vacation. Few people are thinking of vacations at that time. Ships are returning to the Caribbean from their summer schedules. Demand is low, supply is high, and so prices are low.

Recommendations
If you are thinking of a cruise, don’t let the fear of a hurricane deter you. However, there are some things to consider.

1. Be flexible – Understand that the cruise line can change the itinerary in order to keep out of harm’s way. Safety always remains the first priority. If you have your heart set on visiting a particular port and you would consider your vacation ruined if you don’t get there, then this is not the season for you. However, if you are flexible on your ports, go right ahead.
   
   Cruise lines communicate itinerary changes up until the sailing date to their passengers. Travelers can monitor cruise line Web sites and/or contact their travel planner for modifications to itineraries prior to finalizing travel.
   
   In the rare instance a cruise is cancelled due to weather-related circumstances, cruise lines, on a company-by-company basis, traditionally offer various solutions that extend to guests the opportunity to enjoy a future cruise vacation within a reasonable time period and with the guest’s convenience in mind.
2. Rain – Because it’s the rainy season on these areas, you need to be aware that you many encounter rain. However, most storms are short and move on. A distant storm over the ocean, while not affecting you can provide a spectacular site at sea. Again, the cruise line will navigate around big storms.
   
   Rain can also means that the Caribbean seas won’t be as smooth in the summer as they are in the winter.
3. Southern Caribbean – Consider a 7-night cruise out of San Juan. The Southern Caribbean is the area from Puerto Rico south. While Puerto Rico has been hit by hurricanes, many of the southern islands have never had a hurricane. Going to the Southern Caribbean can reduce your risk of having your vacation altered by a hurricane. Plus, there are some spectacular islands to visit in the Southern Caribbean, such as Aruba, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, Dominica.
4. Buy travel insurance – The purchase of travel insurance, always an important element of any vacation, assumes additional significance in instances of severe weather. Airline flight delays– covered in policies available from several providers – are most often the critical factor when guests experience problems reaching their ship. ** If the ship extends its itinerary, insurance will cover the added expenses of changing your flight reservations.
   
   But beware – once a hurricane and its path is predicted, you won’t be able to take out insurance to cover any expenses related to that hurricane. Policies do not cover predicted weather events. So, be sure to buy the insurance early in the planning process.
   
   Talk to your travel planner to be sure you purchase insurance to cover these situations and related expenses.

While hurricanes can be devastating events, you can sail with confidence knowing that the cruise industry has the latest technology to help it avoid hurricanes.

_____________________________
* CLIA is the Cruise Line International Association – the world’s largest cruise association. CLIA member cruise lines place the safety and security of its passengers and crew at the highest priority. To learn more about CLIA, go to www.cruising.org.

**While today's cruise guests purchase air transportation in a variety of ways, travelers who buy air transportation from the cruise line receive premium protection and service in comparison with travelers who purchase air separately. Cruise-line air departments invariably stand by guests, working on their behalf to make all arrangements, efficiently reschedule flights and route guests to their ship in instances of travel disruptions caused by extraordinary weather.

First, a hurricane is that it is a tropical depression – a low pressure area that gradually forms in the ocean and increases in strength. It is completely unlike a tornado, which forms suddenly and unpredictably out of storm. As the ocean is warmed by the summer sun and its surface temperature rises above 80°F, the influence of the earth’s rotation causes a spinning rotation to begin. This spinning creates the low pressure area, which is the formation of the tropical depression. A tropical depression officially becomes a hurricane when the winds around the core area exceed 74 miles per hour. It can take days, if not weeks for a hurricane to form. With today’s technology, forecasters can watch these depressions form and monitor their progress.

Just like low pressure areas that form over the continents, tropical depressions move along paths that can be forecasted and they move relatively slowly. Weather forecasters are able to predict days in advance the approximate path of the hurricane and even the wind speeds.Hurricanes take time, and this is an advantage for ships. Unlike land structures, ships move. With the advantage of the predictability of hurricanes, advance forecasting, and ship-board weather systems ships can and do alter their course to avoid these storms. They don’t run from the storm, they change their course to avoid the storm. If, for example, a hurricane is predicted to be in the western Caribbean area, the ship may sail the eastern Caribbean ports.

Hurricane season
June marks the official start of the hurricane season and it runs until mid-November. This corresponds with the rainy season in the tropics, including the Caribbean. During this time, hurricanes can form in the areas shown in the graphic (click on the graphic to view a larger image). In 2005 we saw a hurricane form as early as June, but th e normal time of highest activity is mid August to mid November. Note: in the western Pacific Ocean these storms are called Typhoons, and in the Indian Ocean, they are called Cyclones.

The cruise industry
The cruise industry is well prepared and CLIA* members make the safety of their guests, crew and vessels their highest priority. Unlike other vacation settings, by virtue of being a completely mobile vacation, cruising allows passengers to continue their vacations by altering itineraries should Mother Nature intervene. The cruise lines are prepared to keep their passengers and ships out of harm’s way. In the event of severe weather, certain operational protocols are in place for cruise lines, including:

• Today’s cruise ships feature the most technologically advanced weather forecasting systems and equipment available. Working with agencies such as the National Hurricane Center (a US agency), officers and company officials can forecast weather-related disturbances in advance. Today's cruise ships are completely mobile and able to alter, cancel, shorten, or extend ship itineraries to keep guests safe in instances of threatening weather.
• In the event that ports of embarkation and debarkation are closed due to severe weather conditions, cruise lines can use a nearby alternative port. In these cases, cruise lines coordinate the logistics of loading food and supplies and getting passengers to and from the original port.

Why consider a Caribbean cruise during this season?
Some people simply chose to take their Caribbean cruise during the summer because they are unable to get away at other times of the year. Honeymooners and families with children in multiple schools where the seasonal breaks don’t match may choose the summer to take a cruise. Also, because cruise lines reposition many of the ships to Europe and Alaska during the summer, the ports are much less crowded in the Caribbean, making it more appealing to people who don’t like crowds.

Others chose the fall because they find that some of the best cruise pricing for areas like the Caribbean occur during September through November after children return to school from their summer vacation. Few people are thinking of vacations at that time. Ships are returning to the Caribbean from their summer schedules. Demand is low, supply is high, and so prices are low.

Recommendations
If you are thinking of a cruise, don’t let the fear of a hurricane deter you. However, there are some things to consider.

1. Be flexible – Understand that the cruise line can change the itinerary in order to keep out of harm’s way. Safety always remains the first priority. If you have your heart set on visiting a particular port and you would consider your vacation ruined if you don’t get there, then this is not the season for you. However, if you are flexible on your ports, go right ahead.
   
   Cruise lines communicate itinerary changes up until the sailing date to their passengers. Travelers can monitor cruise line Web sites and/or contact their travel planner for modifications to itineraries prior to finalizing travel.
   
   In the rare instance a cruise is cancelled due to weather-related circumstances, cruise lines, on a company-by-company basis, traditionally offer various solutions that extend to guests the opportunity to enjoy a future cruise vacation within a reasonable time period and with the guest’s convenience in mind.
2. Rain – Because it’s the rainy season on these areas, you need to be aware that you many encounter rain. However, most storms are short and move on. A distant storm over the ocean, while not affecting you can provide a spectacular site at sea. Again, the cruise line will navigate around big storms.
   
   Rain can also means that the Caribbean seas won’t be as smooth in the summer as they are in the winter.
3. Southern Caribbean – Consider a 7-night cruise out of San Juan. The Southern Caribbean is the area from Puerto Rico south. While Puerto Rico has been hit by hurricanes, many of the southern islands have never had a hurricane. Going to the Southern Caribbean can reduce your risk of having your vacation altered by a hurricane. Plus, there are some spectacular islands to visit in the Southern Caribbean, such as Aruba, Barbados, Grenada, Curacao, Dominica.
4. Buy travel insurance – The purchase of travel insurance, always an important element of any vacation, assumes additional significance in instances of severe weather. Airline flight delays– covered in policies available from several providers – are most often the critical factor when guests experience problems reaching their ship. ** If the ship extends its itinerary, insurance will cover the added expenses of changing your flight reservations.
   
   But beware – once a hurricane and its path is predicted, you won’t be able to take out insurance to cover any expenses related to that hurricane. Policies do not cover predicted weather events. So, be sure to buy the insurance early in the planning process.
   
   Talk to your travel planner to be sure you purchase insurance to cover these situations and related expenses.

While hurricanes can be devastating events, you can sail with confidence knowing that the cruise industry has the latest technology to help it avoid hurricanes.

_____________________________
* CLIA is the Cruise Line International Association – the world’s largest cruise association. CLIA member cruise lines place the safety and security of its passengers and crew at the highest priority. To learn more about CLIA, go to www.cruising.org.

**While today's cruise guests purchase air transportation in a variety of ways, travelers who buy air transportation from the cruise line receive premium protection and service in comparison with travelers who purchase air separately. Cruise-line air departments invariably stand by guests, working on their behalf to make all arrangements, efficiently reschedule flights and route guests to their ship in instances of travel disruptions caused by extraordinary weather.