Snow Storm😳

[cougar87]

Is anyone boarding this wknd for a Christmas cruise worried about this big snow storm? Flights canceling and road closures if driving down to Florida?

 

[NEGeekymama]

If it's any comfort, they were predicting upwards of 6+ inches of snow for Omaha, and we wound up getting less than 2. The only major issue is the wind/windchill right now.

 

[KSL]

Is anyone boarding this wknd for a Christmas cruise worried about this big snow storm? Flights canceling and road closures if driving down to Florida?

YES! We are on the Dream departing 12/24. Coming from upstate NY. Flights scheduled for tomorrow (4 folks connecting through Charlotte traveling roughly 11am-6pm; two folks connecting through DC roughly 6pm-12am). Timing couldn't be worse for this storm & where we are. Couldn't pull flights forward for variety of reasons. Very stressful.

 

[Kwami]

Good luck to you all!

I had a similar experience last February when an ice storm cancelled my Friday flight for a Saturday cruise. Disney didn't accept weather as an excuse to cancel or reschedule. I was lucky that they had modified the cruise itinerary because of the Virgin Islands Covid-19 policies, so I got to reschedule without penalties. But they specifically asked if I was rescheduling because of the storm and said that weather isn't a valid excuse to avoid penalties.

So, make backup plans now if you can! There are trains that head from NY to BWI airport, from where you can fly to Orlando. We almost made that work last time.

 

[Cheburashka]

Once we boarded the Fantasy amidst a winter storm that was causing lots of flight delays in the northern part of the U.S. The captain delayed sail away by a few hours at least, in order to allow delayed passengers to catch up and get to the ship. He announced this over the intercom as his reason for the late sail away. Maybe the same thing will happen this year?

If anyone is seriously delayed to where they're worried about missing the cruise by just an hour or two, I do recommend communicating that to DCL as it occurs. They aren't required to wait for you, but they might, since the storm is bound to affect the arrival of a lot of passengers this weekend.

 

[happycamper47]

However, the captain did delay sail away by a few hours at least, in order to allow delayed passengers to catch up and get to the ship. He announced this over the intercom as his reason for the late sail away. Maybe the same thing will happen this year?

Those may have been flights booked through DCL so they already had all the info.

 

[Cheburashka]

Those may have been flights booked through DCL so they already had all the info.

Maybe, maybe not. If my flight was late, I would call.

 

[loves to dive]

I would worry more about the timing of driving down. I live in Georgia and it's expected to rain tonight and not get above freezing until Christmas afternoon. That means ice on the roads and that ice is not going to melt. We are not equipped to clear roads of ice, we don't get it often enough to allow for the expense of the equipment.

 

[Disney mac]

As someone sitting in Midway right now, it’s not looking good on the “canceled” board.

 

[dhutchin12]

Yes. Cruise is 12/27 out of Galveston. Moved flight up a day to try to give us time to deal with delays. Leaving from Chicago. Stressed out. Looking at how long this drive is.

 

[Kwami]

I would worry more about the timing of driving down. I live in Georgia and it's expected to rain tonight and not get above freezing until Christmas afternoon. That means ice on the roads and that ice is not going to melt. We are not equipped to clear roads of ice, we don't get it often enough to allow for the expense of the equipment.

Almost every year lately, Atlanta gets a half inch of snow and the whole city shuts down and there are big accidents everywhere. You'd think the cost of recovering from that every year would justify a few machines to melt some ice!

 

[cvjw]

Almost every year lately, Atlanta gets a half inch of snow and the whole city shuts down and there are big accidents everywhere. You'd think the cost of recovering from that every year would justify a few machines to melt some ice!

We can only afford some gravel! But they are putting it out early!

 

[robinb]

I hope everyone has trip insurance!

 

[CamColt]

Best of luck to everyone affected by this storm.

 

[NEGeekymama]

Maybe, maybe not. If my flight was late, I would call.

A) With the nature of air travel these days, anyone flying in the day of their cruise is just asking for issues, and 2. I highly doubt that Disney (or any cruise line for that matter) would delay leaving port for just one person/family, especially if they haven't booked their airfare through the cruise line.

 

[Kwami]

A) With the nature of air travel these days, anyone flying in the day of their cruise is just asking for issues, and 2. I highly doubt that Disney (or any cruise line for that matter) would delay leaving port for just one person/family, especially if they haven't booked their airfare through the cruise line.

A) The original flight might have been for the day before, but delayed until the day of because of the storm. B) It can't hur to ask!

 

[Cheburashka]

I highly doubt that Disney (or any cruise line for that matter) would delay leaving port for just one person/family, especially if they haven't booked their airfare through the cruise line.

They certainly have waited up to an hour at times for individual families who are lagging behind schedule at ports of call in the past. So while they don't promise anything, it is possible. And if a lot of families call in about their delays to initial boarding, DCL might be more likely to wait than if they do not receive calls or receive only a few. There is no guarantee, but it's worth communicating and asking for help if you are delayed.

 

[princesscinderella]

Best wishes and hoping it’s not as bad as they are predicting for those traveling in the next few days. I’m a Florida girl born and raised so I don’t have a clue how to drive in snow/ice conditions.

 

[Kwami]

Best wishes and hoping it’s not as bad as they are predicting for those traveling in the next few days. I’m a Florida girl born and raised so I don’t have a clue how to drive in snow/ice conditions.

Don't feel bad. People who grew up here in New England also don't know how to drive in snow and ice. Or at all. It's kind of amazing, really!

 

[lklgoodman]

I'm in Ohio. We're suppose to get ice/snow starting late Thurs and will continue throughout Frid. Local news said strong winds and wind chill making it -29 degrees is going to cause more delays/cancelations than the amount of snow or ice. Airport ground crews can't be outside for long when it's that cold outside. Best of luck and safe travels to those who are traveling for cruises or the holidays.