Offical Hurricane Frances thread!

[CPM]

Originally posted by mostyn17
Out to Sea...Out to Sea
Is that better? When I said go North, that is what I meant. Who would ever want or wish a hurricane on anyone Charley wasn't even a BIG one and look at the damage it did! Soo sad
I hope and pray this one does not go where charley did. That would just be awful!
Travis

Charley wasn't a big one??? A cat. 4 here in Ft. Myers seemed pretty big to me
Now I'm
heading to the Bahamas next weekend..........

 

[Doctor P]

5 am EDT update indicates that the storm has not strengthened further, but the tracking now has it near Puerto Rico by 2 am Tuesday and continuing on a more westerly track. Probabilities of passing within 65 nautical miles of San Juan by 2 am or earlier on Tuesday are 7 percent and same probabilities for St. Thomas are 10 percent.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Worst case scenario--if it were to "hit" on Saturday on the East Coast of Florida--the Western cruisers might get an extra day at sea--and your cruise be shortened by a day. And I am most certain DCL would do something to make it up to you (monetarily AND special moments on the cruise--you pay for a 7 day and if you don't get SEVEN days, they do oh you something). This is provided that the hurricane makes it impossible for the ship to return to PC and it has to linger out to sea a bit longer. Or as a previous poster said, you might have to go to another port (which is why it is important to keep tabs with DCL).

And yes, travel insurance should cover any troubles incurred due to Frances when you are heading to or have started your cruise--trip interruption--I believe would be the term.

I concur--Charlie was BIG--HUGE--Cat 4 at landfall--Cat 2/1 when it hit Orlando after 5 hours on land--that is MAJOR. Now it wasn't supposed to be a big one--it became a BIG ONE in a short 2 hour window and stayed that way for 1 or 2 hours before it hit land. Perhaps that was what mostyn17 meant--that it really wasn't TOO big initially.

Hurricanes are fickle and we will pray for the best for all land, life, and cruise vacations .

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

I don't know what I should do. We are taking the 9/5 Wonder (next Sunday). We have a flight scheduled for next Sat. getting in at 6pm. Should I change it to Friday getting in at 11am?? I just don't know what I should do. Maybe I should wait later in the week. Who knows. I did not grow up with hurricanes. We just get tornados and snow!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by Miss Jasmine
Hmm how about, please don't hit land? Go out to sea.

I'm on the 9/4 - 9/11 cruise and I'd have to agree with you Miss Jasmine! Stay out at sea! I'm not worried about where the cruise will take us -- mystery cruise sounds like fun! BUT, what I'm afraid most of is MCO shutting down like it did for Earl and us not being able to fly in. THAT is my biggest concern over Frances and our cruise!

FRANCES STAY OUT AT SEA!

 

[Monstro]

Originally posted by WisconsinDisneyGirl
I don't know what I should do. We are taking the 9/5 Wonder (next Sunday). We have a flight scheduled for next Sat. getting in at 6pm. Should I change it to Friday getting in at 11am?? I just don't know what I should do. Maybe I should wait later in the week. Who knows. I did not grow up with hurricanes. We just get tornados and snow!

I'd give it a few more days. We're flying in on Friday for our 9/4 cruise.

Here's hoping this baby dies out.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Originally posted by mostyn17
Out to Sea...Out to Sea

Is that better? When I said go North, that is what I meant. Who would ever want or wish a hurricane on anyone Charley wasn't even a BIG one and look at the damage it did! Soo sad

I hope and pray this one does not go where charley did. That would just be awful!

Travis

Charley not a big one??? What news did you watched... Charley was a cat 4, only one worse is a 5!!! I am 15 miles south of Punta Gorda where the eye went thru... not big...there is nothing left in that town... they are devistated. Even the hospitals suffered damage... the wall of the eye hit Pine Island & the rest of Lee County's barrier islands suffered major damage...still many without electric 2 weeks later...the storm was so strong it entered by be & swept clear thru the state, exited out by Daytona with damage in every county it hit! There was more widespread damage with Charley than Andrew in 92 & that was a cat 5 storm...so if you don't think Charley was a big one...come visit my coast

 

[mostyn17]

Wow, people sure get upset for something that was harmless. What I meant was it was not a cat. 5 storm. I didn't even know it was a cat 4 until another poster made that clear to me. I thought it was a cat 2 and was suprised by all the damage it caused.

I didn't watch the news with the last hurricane, bue have been keeping an eye on this one. The post I made were harmless and all I wanted to do is keep my fellow cruisers updated on the current conditions.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

Travis

 

[ganurse]

i went through andrew and people who werent there didnt know how bad it was until the tv shows it. its ok travis.what do guys think of the storm. im checking this one website that updates it everey 6 hours and i am still hopeful that we will cruise. it looks lilke it may it south florida but i guess a lot could happen in 7 days

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by WisconsinDisneyGirl
I don't know what I should do. We are taking the 9/5 Wonder (next Sunday). We have a flight scheduled for next Sat. getting in at 6pm. Should I change it to Friday getting in at 11am?? I just don't know what I should do. Maybe I should wait later in the week. Who knows. I did not grow up with hurricanes. We just get tornados and snow!

I'll be on that cruise (hopefully).
I'd wait and see. Don't panic yet.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by mostyn17
Wow, people sure get upset for something that was harmless. What I meant was it was not a cat. 5 storm. I didn't even know it was a cat 4 until another poster made that clear to me. I thought it was a cat 2 and was suprised by all the damage it caused.

I didn't watch the news with the last hurricane, bue have been keeping an eye on this one. The post I made were harmless and all I wanted to do is keep my fellow cruisers updated on the current conditions.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

Travis

I don't think you meant any harm by the comment, but a Cat 4 hurricane is VERY serious, having just lived through it. I guess unless you've been through it you couldn't have any idea. Can't imagine the pictures haven't been on the news where you are.
No fun, there still isn't power down the street from me in Sanibel, and the people in Punta Gorda will most likely not have power for a few weeks. It's devastating. Clean up and re-building will be going on for months, maybe years.

 

[cjsmith]

Our best friends are on the Carribean Princess out of Fort Lauderdale today and were supposed to go to St Thomas, St Marteen and Princess Cay. They arrived to port and have found out that the ship is going to Princess Cay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. Boy, talk about a change. I guess it's a great thing that they're not upset about missing only port like a poster from the 8/14 cruise as they're missing all their ports and taking the western route instead of the eastern.


Wonder what changes the Magic is going to take this week.

 

[NancyDVC]

I'm on the Sept. 11 Western Magic. I have decided that as long as I can get on that ship I don't care where it goes! Someone posted about having been on the Magic when their cruise turned into a 'mystery cruise' due to a hurricane. Sounds like an adventure!
So let's hope it heads way out to sea to keep everyone all along the east coast safe. And if it prevents a scheduled stop or two then enjoy a new adventure and be grateful that you are safe.

 

[CM_Mom]

This was just posted on the Tropical Prediction Center website:

HURRICANE FRANCES ADVISORY NUMBER 16
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
5 PM AST SAT AUG 28 2004

...FRANCES STRENGTHENS INTO THE SECOND CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE OF
THE 2004 ATLANTIC SEASON...

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 135 MPH...215 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. CONDITIONS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING
TO OCCUR DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS...AND FRANCES COULD REACH NEAR
CATEGORY FIVE INTENSITY ON SUNDAY.

Not really encouraging news.

 

[natdencro]

Just heard from DD onboard: itinerary all changed, due to incoming hurricane. See other post - No Key West. Nat

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Originally posted by mostyn17
Wow, people sure get upset for something that was harmless. What I meant was it was not a cat. 5 storm. I didn't even know it was a cat 4 until another poster made that clear to me. I thought it was a cat 2 and was suprised by all the damage it caused.

I didn't watch the news with the last hurricane, bue have been keeping an eye on this one. The post I made were harmless and all I wanted to do is keep my fellow cruisers updated on the current conditions.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

Travis

Didn't mean to jump on you but a cat 4 is very big. My nerves are still not the same. I have never in my life experienced my house shake like that. I have a concrete block house with a concrete foundation & it shook!! We were in our bathroom & closest (family had to split up) with mattress over us listening to the howling sound of wind & hearing sounds as if my roof was tearing off. I am sorry if I sounded harsh. My nerves have been on edge ever since. The first sound of thunder from our usual summer storms the day after the hurricane had my heart racing. That storm went from a cat 2 to a 3 in less than 2 hours then to a 4 in like minutes & by then, I couldn't evacuate.

 

[mostyn17]

No harsh feelings here! We are all friends I just pray it at least does not hit the the same places charley did! That would be devastating!

Everyone just keep safe! We don't want a dis member (or anyone ) hurt from a stupid hurricane!


I just looked at the map...it looks like it will be possibly hitting florida (i'm guessing) friday late afternoon or evening. I know that is bad news for everyone in Florida...but at least some light at the end of the tunnel for us fellow cruisers for saturday.

CRSNDSNY....I'm hoping you are able to get in ok with your flight. If the track goes the way they are calling now...it does not look good. But, it's only Saturday....we have lots of time to plan and lots of time for the storm to change!

KEEP SAFE!!

Travis

 

[lbgraves]

I really hope that Frances goes out to sea. Here in the Carolinas we are getting ready for Gaston to hit by Tuesday. It is a tropical storm now but as has been said before, they can increase in intensity in a very short time. When Alex hit the warm water around us this summer it went from a cat 1 hurricane to a 4 too. We definantly don't need to be hit by 2 storms within a couple days of each other...nor does anyone else. I hope that everyone stays safe!

 

[ganurse]

we are driving in on thurs to be with family and have plenty of places to stay. my family had house damage in volusia county, my sister needs a new roof. i pray it slows down before then

 

[Twinave]

I was on the Sept 2002 Western, that turned into the "Mystery Cruise", thanks to hurricane LIllie. The Capt. and crew did a wonderful job keeping us in calm seas and sunny weather. We did not make any of our scheduled ports except CC (got to do it twice). It was a little disappointing to miss the ports we had researched and planned on for 7 months. But we had a wonderful time! It was kind of exciting not knowing where we were heading at times. And I got DH to agree to another cruise the following year. So we did finally make it to the Western Ports. It just took us a little longer then we planned on.
I feel for all those affected by hurricanes/tropical storms. I have lived through a few myself, and it is not a plesent experience.
Praying that Frances turns out to sea, she is a Big storm.