Atlantic storm season coming alive

[Dan23-5]

Looks as if the Atlantic tropical season has awaken. Anybody every have a cruise canceled or shortened due to tropical storms?

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Tropical storm....no. Hurricane Sandy....YES. Cancelled CC. Circled around awhile, then about first seating MDR went full speed ahead into the hurricane. First seating was horrible, second seating was cancelled. Held onto the bed all night as we got bashed and thrown around. Inside of the ship was trashed, everything not bolted down was smashed, hanging pictures, display cases, glasses, liquor bottles, everything.

 

[disruptor32]

I'm sailing 9/21 on the Fantasy's Eastern itinerary. I'm crossing my fingers that all tropical storms take that week off!

 

[CamColt]

We have had a Cozumel day turn into a Sea Day, and a St Maarten Day turn into San Juan because of hurricanes. We have also had to switch up our CC day with the sea day due to a hurricane (we made it but a day late) , but thankfully never had a cruise shortened or cancelled.

 

[mevelandry]

Not cancelled nor shortened but we've experienced a change of itinerary once because of Hurricane Matthew.

 

[clten]

We were on the Magic when Matthew came up the coast. We were doing back to back so the first cruise from NY to Canada was fine; the second cruise was rerouted to -- yep -- Canada. We were given the option to cancel for full refund. Captain delivered the news of the rerouting to the b2b guests himself and gave us our options. Turned out to be a great cruise overall even if the weather wasn't great (we did cross the remnants of Matthew somewhere off the coast of Canada). Only 700 guests onboard. They reorganized to only have one seating for dinner and one show each night. Thought it was great. (We are more go with the flow people on vacation; not everyone on board was thrilled with 7pm dinner!)

So, anything might happen with cruising so if you go in with the right attitude, even severe weather shouldn't keep you from enjoying a great vacation.

 

[SL6827]

Tropical storm....no. Hurricane Sandy....YES. Cancelled CC. Circled around awhile, then about first seating MDR went full speed ahead into the hurricane. First seating was horrible, second seating was cancelled. Held onto the bed all night as we got bashed and thrown around. Inside of the ship was trashed, everything not bolted down was smashed, hanging pictures, display cases, glasses, liquor bottles, everything.

In your opinion, what was the reason they sailed into Sandy? Was it that they had no other choice, it took them by surprise, they underestimated the storm or maybe just their bottom dollar? I remember reading about that storm and there being cast members that had never experienced that level of a hurricane before and was so terrified.

 

[Trera]

Looks as if the Atlantic tropical season has awaken. Anybody every have a cruise canceled or shortened due to tropical storms?

We had a dream cruise cancelled just over 2 years ago due to the hurricane that came up through Florida. Our money was refunded and we were given 25% off a future cruise that needed to be booked within one year. It was a sweet deal because they allowed the discount off of a concierge room which they typically never do on discounts.

 

[jdb in AZ]

In your opinion, what was the reason they sailed into Sandy? Was it that they had no other choice, it took them by surprise, they underestimated the storm or maybe just their bottom dollar? I remember reading about that storm and there being cast members that had never experienced that level of a hurricane before and was so terrified.

Just my opinion, but I figure the captain knew the Fantasy could handle it, and underestimated everyone else's tolerance to seasickness. We were on the cruise right after Sandy and when the Fantasy limped into port several hours late the crew had to adjust our boarding time, cancel a port (I think it was Cancun) because of damage, and make other changes to our itinerary. The crew was exhausted after very little sleep the night before. Our room steward was so tired he was slap happy -- kept laughing at all the changes. I felt like slapping him for his silliness (but I refrained.) Castaway Cay was surprisingly pristine -- the grounds crew there must have really worked hard to get it back in shape for us -- tho seawater had turned all the remaining leaves on the bushes brown. The only "greenery" on the island was a cell tower masquerading as a palm tree.

 

[Jdawson9807]

Hurricane Irma Cancelled our cruise in 2017! It was devastating, I thought no way will they cancel but they sure did and obviously for good reason. They did handle the situation wonderfully and we were fully reimbursed quickly plus they offered discounts on a future cruise. We then left for Disney Land ( I would rather went on a cruise) but I could not imagine sitting at home when I was suppose to be on vacation. Now my husband is insistent that we avoid September-October months to cruise.

 

[Trera]

Hurricane Irma Cancelled our cruise in 2017! It was devastating, I thought no way will they cancel but they sure did and obviously for good reason. They did handle the situation wonderfully and we were fully reimbursed quickly plus they offered discounts on a future cruise. We then left for Disney Land ( I would rather went on a cruise) but I could not imagine sitting at home when I was suppose to be on vacation. Now my husband is insistent that we avoid September-October months to cruise.

its a risk for sure. Buying the insurance for those months would probably not be a bad idea

 

[Cruising Engineer]

In your opinion, what was the reason they sailed into Sandy? Was it that they had no other choice, it took them by surprise, they underestimated the storm or maybe just their bottom dollar? I remember reading about that storm and there being cast members that had never experienced that level of a hurricane before and was so terrified.

In my stateroom, after main seating dinner, I had the ship's information on the TV for speed, position, relative wind. On my laptop I had NHC NOAA and the current information on Sandy. We were northbound going up the coastline heading for PC at a good rate of speed. Sandy was slowing down it's northward track just east of the ship (off the starboard side) and growing in area (getting bigger). Now I could see we were closing in on the west side of the ever growing storm at a greater speed than the storm was moving north, why didn't the captain? Lost internet and held on to the bed all night.

The Dream was circling down in the Key West/Cuba waters.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Just my opinion, but I figure the captain knew the Fantasy could handle it, and underestimated everyone else's tolerance to seasickness. We were on the cruise right after Sandy and when the Fantasy limped into port several hours late the crew had to adjust our boarding time, cancel a port (I think it was Cancun) because of damage, and make other changes to our itinerary. The crew was exhausted after very little sleep the night before. Our room steward was so tired he was slap happy -- kept laughing at all the changes. I felt like slapping him for his silliness (but I refrained.) Castaway Cay was surprisingly pristine -- the grounds crew there must have really worked hard to get it back in shape for us -- tho seawater had turned all the remaining leaves on the bushes brown. The only "greenery" on the island was a cell tower masquerading as a palm tree.

I didn't smell puke at all, not trying to get out of the MDR (it was the dining room that had the stain glass chandelier and wall sconces that opened up into blooming flowers), not meandering the halls (until the captain came on the intercom and told every to get to their rooms and don't come out), and not the next morning seeing the totally trashed ship. I don't remember breakfast being served. Broken glass everywhere. It was far to violent to get sick, we just hung on as the ship would come crashing down between swells and you could hear the ship vibrate and shake within.
Once we got into the port area, I could see a loooong line of flat bed trucks with sea/land containers. Probably to restock the ship.

 

[71 Truck]

Of the 11 Disney cruises my wife and I have been on several have been during hurricane season. We have never had a cruise canceled however we have been on a cruise while hurricanes have formed. Once we could not figure why the captain was going so fast and later found out there was a hurricane behind us. As we went over the north west of Cuba to Cozumel the storm went through the Florida straits and north into the gulf.
We live in central Florida. After having several storms before or after our cruises I said no more cruises during hurricane season.
The problem was not that our cruise would be canceled,it would be that we would not be able to leave our home due to possible storm damage.
We also worried that a storm might hit the area we live while we were on a cruise and would not be able to board up our house for the storm, then be there to take care of any possible damage.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Of the 11 Disney cruises my wife and I have been on several have been during hurricane season. We have never had a cruise canceled however we have been on a cruise while hurricanes have formed. Once we could not figure why the captain was going so fast and later found out there was a hurricane behind us. As we went over the north west of Cuba to Cozumel the storm went through the Florida straits and north into the gulf.
We live in central Florida. After having several storms before or after our cruises I said no more cruises during hurricane season.
The problem was not that our cruise would be canceled,it would be that we would not be able to leave our home due to possible storm damage.
We also worried that a storm might hit the area we live while we were on a cruise and would not be able to board up our house for the storm, then be there to take care of any possible damage.

One of the families on our cruise (the day after Sandy hit Florida) was from the New York area that was impacted by Sandy as she went on up the east coast. The media called it a Frankenstorm. Anyway, the family from New York couldn't get hold of neighbors to check on their home, and figured the worst, but had no way of knowing. They decided to enjoy the cruise as best they could, then deal with the aftermath later.