Hurricane Isaias May Force Cruise Itinerary and Port Changes
Dangerous winds and waves, including seas exceeding 30 feet, can extend far beyond a hurricane’s center, while unsafe conditions may halt harbor pilots and tugboats.
As Hurricane Isaias threatens, cruise lines can change sailing schedules and itineraries to keep ships clear of dangerous conditions. If a hurricane threatens a homeport, an operator may bring forward a departure, postpone the ship’s return or keep it at sea until docking is safe.
The hazards extend beyond the storm’s center. Dangerous winds and waves, including seas exceeding 30 feet, can reach well away from it.
Once underway, operators can reorder an itinerary, visiting ports in reverse sequence, or replace a scheduled call with another destination. They can also omit stops and add days at sea to keep the ship at a distance from the storm.
Access to a homeport also depends on whether the port remains open. High winds and storm surge can trigger a closure ahead of a hurricane, as can conditions that make it unsafe for harbor pilots and tugboats to operate.
