I know it's a bit early, but...

[ChrizJen]

I know it's a bit early to begin talking about the dreaded "H" word , but I was thinking about last year , and since we have a cruise booked for September, I decided to check for some predictions.

What I found seems a little hopeful for cruisers. They say that 2005 will most likely be an active hurricane season, BUT it looks like the outlook is better for the east coast of Florida. Looks like the predicted action is mostly on the Western part of Florida and Texas. I know that this isn't good news by any means. An active hurricane season is an active hurricane season no matter how you slice it. It's not a pleasant thing. But it may be a less bleak outlook for Sept cruisers this year than it was last year. (it still doesn't look good for the Bahamas, though)

And if this report is wrong, (which it very well could be since it's still so early) then we'll just roll with the punches come September just like folks did last year.

Here's what I found from the Weather Research Center's website:


"Below is the forecast for the 2005 Hurricane Season. The table not only gives the OCSI percent risk of landfalling storms along the North America Coast but also gives the percent risk based on the average number of landfalls years for a particular section using the entire record 1871 to 1995."


"2005 OCSI FORECAST FOR THE ATLANTIC

COAST OCSI CLIMATOLOGY

Mexico 40% 40%

Texas 70% 51%

Louisiana to Alabama 50% 59%

West Florida 70% 71%

East Florida 30% 41%

Georgia to N. Carolina 60% 56%

East Coast of US 20% 36%

Gulf Oil Blocks 81% 88%

Bahamas 70%"

 

[kcashner]

What I can tell you for sure is that we've cruised the last 5 hurricane seasons (end of Sept. is a birthday for us), and only 2004 with Jeane did it mess up our vacation.

In the other years, 3 of 4 did exactly what we booked. One year, the ship took a different course (we went to Key West before the Western existed.) On each cruise, the captain did what he could to give us sunshine and smooth waters. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

 

[ChrizJen]

What I can tell you for sure is that we've cruised the last 5 hurricane seasons (end of Sept. is a birthday for us), and only 2004 with Jeane did it mess up our vacation.

In the other years, 3 of 4 did exactly what we booked. One year, the ship took a different course (we went to Key West before the Western existed.) On each cruise, the captain did what he could to give us sunshine and smooth waters. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

That's what's somewhat encouraging. Our first cruise was a 4-night on the Wonder in late Sept of 2003. The weather could not have been more beautiful.
And as long as there are no hurricanes pounding the east coast of Florida and keeping people from getting to Port , then the cruises won't be affected too much. Like you said, the captain can steer the ship clear of hurricanes. We may end up on a slightly different course than expected, but as long as I get 7 nights on a beautiful ship , I'll go wherever that ship takes me!!!

 

[scrapperjill]

May look good for leaving port at Port Canaveral...but what about all those Western cruises...that go to Key West, Couzumel, Grand Cayman...and Costa Maya? Those all seem to be on the Western side....withTexas and Western Flordia? ....and what about the 70% in the Bahamas?

 

[ChrizJen]

May look good for leaving port at Port Canaveral...but what about all those Western cruises...that go to Key West, Couzumel, Grand Cayman...and Costa Maya? Those all seem to be on the Western side....withTexas and Western Flordia? ....and what about the 70% in the Bahamas?

I know there are a lot of people who are very particular about the ports of call, and consider them the main attraction for booking a cruise. For those people, you're right. It may not be great. But for those of us who view it as a relaxing vacation at sea on the most beautiful ships around (in my opinion), it's just nice to be onboard. Like my last post said, as long as I'm on the ship, I'll go wherever they take me!

 

[daisy112878]

My DH and I will be on the Sept 10th Magic cruise. We're not worrying about hurricanes. If something happens there's nothing we can do about it. And if I get on the Magic and can't go to any of the islands I plan to go on oh well. I will still enjoy the boat and whatever islands I make it too. I've been planning this since Aug 04 and there is nothing that will keep me from having a great time that week.

 

[mommyz]

I am nutty b/c we booked our 1st cruise 9/03 3nt and left the day Hurricane Isabel hit the DC area..the 1st night of the cruise was somewhat rough seas but we had a super blast.

Booked our 2nd cruise 7nt for Sept 04 and Hurricane Francis messed that up pretty bad couldn't go...we rebooked that one for March 05 (only b/c we were given a 25% voucher) had a blast and we are so crazy while onboard we booked another 7nt for Sept 06....again during hurricane season!!!!!!!!!!

All I can say is I like the off season (not as crowded) and the temperature is pretty good on the islands, but of course those damn hurricanes. Unfortunately we work very close w/ the top insurance companies in Florida and they are already preparing for this hurricane season to be bad.

My husband and I just make sure we have traveller's insurance and some flexibility....you can never predict what can happen.

When we went on the March cruise right before we got on the cruise the entire "terminal" was evacuated b/c of a possible bomb (dogs smelled something). We were outside for 3 hours???? You just can't plan for some things!

Good luck and I'll be praying for no hurricanes!

 

[allears]

Keep in mind that this past year was very, very unusual. And the first time in the DCL history that they had to make so many changes and alterrations due to hurricanes. It is hopefully unlikely that this year will be quite so weird.

However, I can't stress two things enough, (1) Flexibility and (2) Travel Insurance!

 

[gshoemate]

We are planning on going in September and aren't going to worry to much about the hurricanes. Living in Florida, the thought will always be in the back our our mind but not enough to make us not take a cruise.

And it's a good suggestion to get the trip insurance, you never know when something is going to happen.

 

[Talking Hands]

My philosophy since I live in So Florida is that I would rather be on a cruise ship than on land. It least on a cruise ship they try to go around the storm. Going to have hurricane season any which way.

 

[scrapperjill]

I know there are a lot of people who are very particular about the ports of call, and consider them the main attraction for booking a cruise. For those people, you're right. It may not be great. But for those of us who view it as a relaxing vacation at sea on the most beautiful ships around (in my opinion), it's just nice to be onboard. Like my last post said, as long as I'm on the ship, I'll go wherever they take me!

I was just saying...that this year season for hurricanes doesn't look much better than last years season... We did our first Disney Cruise this past Sept...9/11/04..and we had a blast...We were scheduled to go on the Western..but ended up having a modifyed Eastern...with stops in San Juan, Nassau and Castaway Cay. Even though I spent MONTHS planning and learning all I could about the places we were scheduled to stop....I wouldn't trade the trip we ended up going on for anything. It was real touch and go on if we would be sailing or not...and what port we would even be leaving out of. Up until the morning of our cruise...Port Canaveral was CLOSED to ALL ships...

But again...I was just saying be prepaired for a wild Hurrican season... again...you never know what this year will bring.

 

[nrk]

Does the insurance cover Hurricane??? As far as I know most, or at least mine do not cover so called " acts of god "...
Has anyone ever had to claim a cruise cancellation due to a hurricane

 

[allears]

If the cruise is cancelled the cruise line will refund you. However, if you're delayed due to changes in the cruise due to a hurricane, the insurance will cover that. We were on the delayed Hurricane Jeanne cruise this past September. We didn't sail until Monday night, but we were already in Florida. We had three nights at a hotel (we flew in the day before), taxi fare, food and some phone calls. The trip insurance covered everything but cell phone bills to anyone other than the cruise line.

From reading lots of posts from that period, I don't recall anyone having trouble with the claims they filed during that very unusuall season.

In January we couldn't fly home as planned due to a major snow storm in the northeast. The travel insurance covered our night at a hotel, cab fare and food.

Bottom line, always get travel insurance!