Matthew the "Second"??

[Uncleromulus]

Well--we leave next Saturday the 15th on the Fantasy..or do we??

Still awaiting reports on any damage to the Terminal itself.

CC doesn't matter too much as we usually stay on the ship that day anyway.

But of more concern are the predictions (at least now) that this thing could make a circle and hit Florida or the Caribbean again!!

And maybe next weekend!!

So we just watch and wait---

 

[openwater]

No first hand experience because we evacuated inland from Cape Canaveral and will try to return later today to our place near the Port...
BUT a friend send me a video of A1A this morning and there is power in the area of the cruise hotels (Radisson, etc) and A1A is clear of serious debris. Cars are driving all the way down to Cocoa Beach with no problems.
We are very happy about this - we expected total devastation - and this is the best possible news. Sure, it appears plenty of damage at Fishlips and surrounding restaurants next to the water but hopefully it means things can return to some degree of normality rather soon near the Port!

We are very happy with the limited info we have at this time.

 

[sammykster]

No first hand experience because we evacuated inland from Cape Canaveral and will try to return later today to our place near the Port...
BUT a friend send me a video of A1A this morning and there is power in the area of the cruise hotels (Radisson, etc) and A1A is clear of serious debris. Cars are driving all the way down to Cocoa Beach with no problems.
We are very happy about this - we expected total devastation - and this is the best possible news. Sure, it appears plenty of damage at Fishlips and surrounding restaurants next to the water but hopefully it means things can return to some degree of normality rather soon near the Port!

We are very happy with the limited info we have at this time.

This is good to hear. I hope you can get back to your home today and check out how things are. I'll keep my hopes up for you that the damage is much less than expected!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

ignore this post I don't know what I just did here.....

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Well--we leave next Saturday the 15th on the Fantasy..or do we??

Still awaiting reports on any damage to the Terminal itself.

CC doesn't matter too much as we usually stay on the ship that day anyway.

But of more concern are the predictions (at least now) that this thing could make a circle and hit Florida or the Caribbean again!!

And maybe next weekend!!

So we just watch and wait---

We are on the same cruise (or hope to be) and even though it's only a week away I am trying to stay positive that things will go as planned. My first thoughts are with everyone affected this week, but I realize that we may be in the same boat (no pun intended) next week... We will be at WDW a couple of days before the sailing, I tried to extend our stay there just in case but no availability right now. Let's keep our fingers crossed, if all goes well we should have lots of DRINKS OF THE DAY when we board!

 

[openwater]

My friend just drove out to the Disney terminal 8 and he saw nothing that concerned him except a few portable road signs that were blown over!
So, the main roads A1A and terminal access roads are basically clear with no downed power lines and obstacles! Just some standing water because it is still raining. Traffic lights are working (most anyway).
Many restaurant signs are down (Preacher Bar, etc) and we heard some roofs caved in (Winn-Dixie in Cocoa Beach) but so far we are cautiously optimistic for Cape Canaveral and the cruise terminal areas!

 

[hubbard53]

we're on Monday's Dream departure so watching this closely. From what we've heard, we'll be able to get out of the port and more than likely head west ... but if it comes back around we may be stuck in the gulf.

 

[PlanoNana]

The latest NHC forecasts have Matthew coming back around to the Bahamas as a Tropical Depression (winds less than 39 mph) next Wed or so. If we're lucky it will continue to fall apart and just maybe be a strong thunderstorm.

 

[Sydnerella]

We are on the same cruise (or hope to be) and even though it's only a week away I am trying to stay positive that things will go as planned. My first thoughts are with everyone affected this week, but I realize that we may be in the same boat (no pun intended) next week... We will be at WDW a couple of days before the sailing, I tried to extend our stay there just in case but no availability right now. Let's keep our fingers crossed, if all goes well we should have lots of DRINKS OF THE DAY when we board!

Hi again! We too will be at WDW before the Fantasy on the 15th. Beach Club 13-15th. I hope we can both toast a great sailing with the DOTDay come the end of our trip despite our worries and feelings of guilt worrying about our vacations!!

 

[openwater]

We are back home in Cape Canaveral after the evacuation! Thankfully all's OK in our neighborhood near the Port with just a few downed trees and no power at this time - to be restored soon. We've not heard of any reported fatalities which is the best news ever. It seems the last-minute storm track change made all the difference!

All indications are things near the popular cruise hotels will be back to "normal" by Saturday afternoon or Sunday latest! Once the ships return you should be fine. There were surprisingly little damage to the tourist areas except for destroyed signs. The Beachline 528 from the airport was clear. A few of the neighborhoods including ours look a bit rough with some trees down but the power lines look solid.

I do not speak for the cruise ships or terminals but all look good at the Port - except for Fishlips who took a bit of a beating it seems with part of the roof lying in the parking area. Some visual dock damage at Grills and roof damage at Seafood Atlantis but we will know more by Saturday.

Fishlips at 3pm on Friday

 

[Uncleromulus]

This is all good news--at least for our cruise on the 15th.

Sounds as though it wasn't nearly as bad as was originally predicted..which was good news for everyone in the area!!!

 

[ratt1345]

DW and I are also on the Fantasy for the 15th. I keep checking the cruise line's website for the latest news. So far, no news on our sailing which says to me that we are still a go.

 

[Dug720]

The last report I heard indicated that the landfall seems to have weakened him to the point that he will be a mere depression when he hits and the loop may not happen. Fingers crossed it's so.

 

[redsonja76]

Totally unrelated but every time I read A1A, all I can think is "beach front avenue"!!! Then I sing the entire Vanilla Ice song....

 

[Capt_BJ]

port is open and DREAM arrived at the DCL terminal a couple of hours ago and it is 'business as usual'

FISHLIPS lost the second deck awning, and GRILLS had some unexpected visitors at the tiki bar





two commercial vessels improperly secured broke free and drifted into GRILLS

There are some localized power outages yet but "they" say all should be resolved by Sunday evening .... I never lost power.

Latest NOAA forecast sees the storm turning on the previously forecast south loop then dissipating b4 it gets near land again

"Since Matthew is already embedded in the mid-latitude westerly flow
and the steering pattern is forecast to persist for the next day or
two, the NHC forecast moves the cyclone eastward or east-
southeastward until it becomes absorbed."

in other words the track here does not display beyond Monday as the storm is expected to be a memory by day 3 .....

*******
btw wrt "except for Fishlips who took a bit of a beating it seems with part of the roof lying in the parking area."

As I recall that was a backdrop (looks like a wave) for picture taking on a surfboard ..... SHAME SHAME for who ever owns it leaving it outside and not tied down. If the PREDIDICTED winds had happened (thank goodness for a last minute 20 mile east jog) THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE as it flew ......

 

[SassyTink213]

We are on the 15th fantasy sailing too and have been watching closely to see if it loops which is looking less likely (knock on wood). As for CC, we are mentally prepared not to see it but if by magic we do get to visit it'll feel like a bonus. At least that is the way are mentally preparing lol.

 

[PlanoNana]

Someone posted from the Dream that the captain told everyone that CC had "minimal" damage. Considering the potential that Matthew had, I think the US dodged a HUGE bullet. Unfortunately, places less able to handle problems, like Haiti, got more than their share.

 

[Ariel484]

@openwater glad you're back home and things are looking okay in your area!!

 

[AlternateID]

On the dream right now and the port seems fine to us!

 

[The Sasquatch]

Fishlips probably needed a good washing