Hurricane Isabel, What does DCL do?

[mbaker]

From the Associated Press... 9/08/03

(Miami-AP) -- The Atlantic storm season has its ninth hurricane.
Hurricane Isabel, with 105-mile-an-hour winds, is still well out at
sea. Forecasters say it's too early to tell if it poses a threat to
the Caribbean or U-S mainland.

We are on the Wonder Sun., 9/14.
What will DCL do about dear sweet Isabel if she comes near the Bahamas?

I will keep updates on this board throughout the week. I work for NBC news.

 

[HundredAcreWoods]

The Wonder & Magic have a very sophisticated radar tracking system. It can track a 90 mile radius around the ship at all times.

In most cases DCL will steer around any potential hazards, but to my knowledge they have never had a hurricane related incident.


I wouldn't be too concerned, they have been cruising the Caribbean for 5 years now (not counting Premiere's Big Red Boat) and have a pretty good handle on what to do.

 

[floridaminnie]

Might be going to a "Mystery" port of call.

 

[TnRobin]

DCL will adjust its itinerary to avoid any possible conflicts with hurricanes and other storms. If a hurricane is headed for your destination, well you will get to take a "mystery" cruise. On our first cruise we went to Key West instead of Castaway Cay and delayed our arrival to Nassua because of Hurrican Floyd. I believe two years ago cruisers got to sample the Western Carribean ports before Disney even had a western itinerary because they were avoiding a hurricane.

 

[jrabbit]

I have heard that the Magic once headed towards a hurricane. When h. Floyd was approaching the Bahamas, the Magic went out to Castaway Cay to pick up the islanders there and bring them to safety.

Other than that all cruise ships will try to stay clear of any hurricanes.

You may have a "mystery" cruise. If so, be flexible and go with the flow (well once you are on board you have no choice ) and enjoy wherever you end up.

 

[Cindyluwho]

From what I've heard and read from past cruisers, the "mystery" ports are the most fun. Since you're not prepared you get to fly by the seat of your pants so to speak and you have a lot more freedom to just enjoy and go with the flow.

 

[mbaker]

From the Associated Press...

Miami-AP) -- Forecasters say Hurricane "Isabel" is becoming
more dangerous.
It's been upgraded to category three status, making it a major
hurricane.
Isabel is just one of four systems churning in the Atlantic.
National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield says Isabel is
now packing 115 mile-per-hour winds, and could pose a threat to the
Eastern Caribbean in a few days. And it's forecast to keep getting
stronger, possible reaching category-four status later today.
Mayfield says it's clear the U-S is now "in the absolute peak
of the hurricane season," adding it's not unusual to be tracking
multiple systems at the same time.
At eleven a-m, Eastern time, Isabel was still far out at sea --
about 13-hundred miles from the Leeward Islands, heading
west-northwest at 14 miles-per-hour.

 

[crainbow]

It should be noted that *all* ships avoid hurricanes. The wind and the seas make shiphandling difficult at best. With the sail area of the modern cruise ships I would not like to be the skipper of that ship anywhere near a storm.

That being said some of the best sleeping I did was on an aircraft carrier in the 80's that caught the tail of a hurricane Send me a PM and I will be glad to tell you a sea story.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

As a veteran of a mystery cruise I can say that it netted us an extra day at Castaway Cay. I of course now will forever and ever want to visit Castaway Cay first. It also meant that I got to rebook the Western cruise that we didn't get to sail on. Thank you DH!

 

[mbaker]

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10 7:00 AM EST
(Miami-AP) -- Hurricane Isabel remains a powerful Category Four
storm as it churns across the Atlantic, but forecasters now are
expecting it track just north of the Leeward Islands in the
Caribbean.
At five p-m Eastern Time, Isabel was packing 135 mile-per-hour
winds, and was located 930 miles east-northeast of the northern
Leeward Islands. It's heading west-northwest at 13 miles-per-hour.
Forecasters say Isabel is likely to strengthen even more, and
it's possible it could become a rare Category Five hurricane.
Even though forecasters now think the system will track north of
the islands, they caution that forecast errors are large and that
Caribbean residents aren't out of the woods yet.
As for the U-S, experts say its still too early to know if
Isabel will be a threat next week.

 

[mac_tlc]

We were also the beneficiaries of a "mystery cruise", as TnRobin indicated, in August 2000. We visited Cozumel, Freeport , and had two days at Castaway Cay. This was indeed before DCL had a Western Caribbean itinerary. It was actually fun to not know where you were going. They had multiple updates from the Captain every day, and even had a map of the Caribbean and Eastern US posted in the atrium lobby with the path of the Hurricane plotted on it .....

Weather was absolutely fantastic .. very calm seas... even though our friends and family thought we were headed for a hurricane !!

mac_tlc

 

[alexandrew]

we are starting to get a little concerned here in S. Fla....the projected path is turning more toward west...there is no front coming down from the north to steer it away....

 

[CarolAnnC]

I had 17 family members on a Boston to Bermuda cruise last week. They had absolutely gorgeous weather right up till the ship pulled out of Bermuda a day early and headed for sea. It avoided the devastating hurricane Fabian that struck last Thursday. So I would not worry as the cruise lines all have contingency plans in place.

 

[disneystyle]

We are leaving today to drive to Central Fl. to go on the 3 day Wonder cruise tomorrow the 11th.
For those out there following the storm and knowing DCL's past with hurricanes, What are our chances for a mystery cruise?
I would love to visit a different port than Nassau, but will be disappointed if they need to skip Cataway Cay.
Even if the cruise is on schedule I would imagine both ports would be in crises mode preparing for the storm.
I hope it stays off land and disappears.
Our neighborhood is on the Gulf of Mexico in the Panhandle of FL. and we are all to familiar with preparation.

Cruise #3 Sept. 3, 2003
Cruise #4 Jan. 3 2004 Western
Cruise #5 June QM2
Cruise #6 Sept 4, 2004 Puerto Rico

 

[kcatoir]

Any chance this Hurricane will affect the port???
What does DCL do if this happens???
We are on the 18th Wonder.

 

[jlawall]

Imagine 3 or 4 days of straight sea days!!!!!!!

 

[PMelhorn]

BUT on our first cruise we were unable to dock at Castaway Cay so on our second I really want to get on that island. I would love to be on Castaway Cay for 3 or 4 days!!!!! So "Isabel" STAY AWAY FROM CASAWAY CAY! That is my island to See.

 

[jott3]

Ditto here, PMelhorn. I also missed CC on my first cruise!

 

[TexasGirl]

Is there a way to know ahead of time what they will do? We sail on Sunday. Also, what happens if your flight is canceled due to weather if we booked our own air? I'm getting concerned.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi mbaker.

Hurricane Isabel, What does DCL do?

All the cruise lines use Carnival as the "sacrifical lamb." The passengers and crew are so drunk, they don't even realize they're sailing into a hurricane. If they make it, everything's ok. If they don't, everything's not ok...