Hurricane Erin is continuing to disrupt cruise plans across the Atlantic and Caribbean, with at least half a dozen major ships adjusting itineraries to keep guests and crew safely out of harm’s way.
The storm, which briefly reached Category 5 strength with sustained winds of 160 miles per hour, has already altered voyages for Carnival, Norwegian, MSC Cruises, Holland America Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean.
Carnival Sunshine Heads South Instead of Bermuda
Carnival Sunshine guests boarding in Norfolk on Sunday 17th August were expecting a 6-night Bermuda sailing.
Instead, the vessel is bound for Celebration Key and Nassau after the Bermuda calls were cancelled.
All Bermuda excursions have been refunded, with new tour options offered for the revised ports.
MSC World America Shifts to Mexico
MSC’s brand-new World America – sailing her inaugural season – was forced to drop calls to Amber Cove and San Juan.
The ship is now calling at Costa Maya and Cozumel, with Ocean Cay still on the schedule before returning to Miami.
Excursion refunds have been provided, and new tours opened for booking.
Norwegian Aqua Swaps Bermuda for Canada
Guests aboard Norwegian Aqua’s 4-night cruise from New York were expecting Bermuda, but instead will head north to Saint John, New Brunswick.
Norwegian is compensating passengers with onboard credit and a 20% Future Cruise Credit, while also warning that docking in Saint John will depend on final weather conditions.
Zuiderdam Cancels St. John’s, Heads to Halifax
Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam, on a transatlantic voyage, has cancelled an overnight call in St. John’s, Newfoundland, citing rough seas.
The ship will now enjoy an extended stop in Halifax before continuing on toward Boston.
Norwegian Jewel Cuts Bermuda Visit Short
From Boston, Norwegian Jewel arrived in Bermuda as planned but departed a full day early to allow ample distance from the approaching storm before her return to New England.
Liberty of the Seas Trades Bermuda for Nova Scotia
Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas was to have enjoyed an overnight in Bermuda, but instead sailed north to Halifax, where guests received onboard credit to compensate for the change.
Disney Treasure Switches to the Western Caribbean
Meanwhile, Disney Cruise Line has rerouted its newest ship, Disney Treasure, away from the Eastern Caribbean entirely, opting for a Western Caribbean itinerary far from Erin’s path.
Across all sailings, cruise lines continue to emphasise that safety remains the top priority.
How Cruise Lines Handle Hurricanes
While the disruptions may be disappointing for travellers, cruise ships are among the safest places to be during a storm.
Ships rarely, if ever, sail into hurricanes. It wouldn’t make sense. Instead, they reroute to calmer waters or adjust itineraries to ensure safety.
With average speeds exceeding 20 knots, cruise ships are faster than most hurricanes and can easily outpace storms.
Captains also receive detailed forecasts from the National Hurricane Center and in-house meteorologists, giving them ample time to avoid dangerous conditions.
Itineraries are often adjusted to substitute different ports, add sea days, or switch to an entirely different region if necessary. Cruises are only cancelled outright when departure or arrival ports are directly affected and cannot operate safely.
While these changes can be frustrating, they underscore the industry’s strict safety-first approach, ensuring guests remain comfortable while still enjoying their vacation.
Travel insurance is also vital for anyone cruising during hurricane season.
Even though cruise lines refund cancelled tours and sometimes offer credits, independent bookings like private excursions, hotels, or flights usually aren’t covered unless you’ve taken out the right policy.
Guests should look for insurance that specifically includes missed port cover so they’re not left out of pocket when itineraries change unexpectedly.
My Recommendation
My recommendation for cruise insurance depends on where you live.
- If you live the UK: Compare Your Cruise Insurance
- If you live the USA: InsureMyTrip
These are trusted price comparison sites that will quickly get you lots of quotes to match your exact needs.
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Princess Cruise to Bermuda from NYC elected to cancel 3 ports. Instead they are staying in NYC for 3 days, Then they delected to head to Bermuda and allow us to stay an extra day, In return they are giving is 50% credit towards another cruise plus $250 on board credit. That seems very generous to me