Tropical Storm

[Rate Queen]

Has anyone noticed the new tropical storm that showed up today ? we are sailing on the Wonder on 8/8/04. It looks like the storm might be over Nassau by then. What will happen to the cruise?

 

[Talking Hands]

If necessary they will divert to another port.

 

[SeaSpray]

Unfortunately, it's that time of year again. All of us with cruises coming up will just have to wait and see how the weather is. I know they very rarely cancel a cruise due to weather. But they can and do divert from their normal route in order to avoid bad weather.

 

[O&WMOM]

This time of year is scary, I am sending out good thoughts to everyone with a cruise booked the next few months!

 

[MariaTia2]

What if the hurricane is near Fl either when you are leaving port or arriving back in port? How do they avoid that? We are going on Aug. 26 and hope for smooth sailing

 

[eye R.N.]

Not so much where they will divert to, a mystery cruise would have it's own charm, but what if we can't get out of port at all.

 

[markey]

In 2000 there was a chance for a hurricane around the time of sailing. We were staying at the BC and the CM at the DCL table told me that the ship had the possibility of docking at Tampa and sailing from Tampa. People with transfers would be taken there and others would be diverted there. I think it would be a big mess, don't know how they would handle the extra time required to reach there. Hope this happens to nobody.

 

[FLGalInTN]

I'm keeping a close eye on www.weatherunderground.com for the latest tropical updates. So far it's just a tropical depression and every time it hits land it will lose some of its power. I only hope it burns itself out and gets into cooler water soon (that will take care of it). We sail on the 8/7 Magic. I hope.

 

[kcashner]

We have a late Sept. birthday, so frequently sail at this time of year. Yes, there are some disadvantages, but DCL does a wonderful job of taking care of us. We've been on one cruise that didn't go to any scheduled port except Castaway (but went to alternative ports)...and two that couldn't get into Grand Cayman. Bottom line is that we always have a Magical cruise. The DCL staff is the greatest. When you go to an alternate port, they work their tails off to arrange excursions, etc.

The bottom line is that the captain isn't going to do anything stupid or dangerous. Most tropical storms develop over a period of many days or weeks. The captain and officers are constantly in communication with the weather people and will chart a safe course for our favorite ship. We will enjoy it, no matter where it goes. Worst case, there was a cruise that sailed in circles and didn't manage any port of call--we weren't on that one.

If your attitude is that you will have a great vacation, you will. If your attitude is "I just have to go to XYZ island," maybe you'd better not sail Aug - November. You just need a little flexibility.

 

[cindalu]

I haven't been on a cruise this time of the year but I did go to WDW and we actually left a day early because of a Hurricane.

that was pretty scary too

 

[cindalu]

I forgot to mention this was in Sept.

 

[FLGalInTN]

I grew up in Florida and hurricane season is something you learn to live with. They seem scary but only if you are sitting in the middle of one. Been there, done that. They are pretty slow moving and can usually be avoided. Now earthquakes, on the other hand, are SCARY! Been there, done that too - didn't like it one bit. As long as I can get on the ship and it sets sail, I really don't care about the destination. I figure as long as I'm not at work banging away on my computer, I'll be fine.

Oh, waiter! Another round of Hurricanes please!

 

[Rate Queen]

I checked the weather maps this morning and they are indicating that TS 2 will probably turn north and head back out to sea. I'll keep my fingers crossed
I agree that you can get out of the way of a Hurricane(did Andrew when he came through sought Florida) but earthquakes are much scarier as you don't usually get advance warning(did one of these in Illinois as a young girl).
Still love living in Florida and I feel any cruise(especially a Disney Cruise) is a good cruise.

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by cindalu
I haven't been on a cruise this time of the year but I did go to WDW and we actually left a day early because of a Hurricane.
that was pretty scary too

I prefer to remain at Disney if a huricane is on the way. Better sitting it out there than in Miami where I live.
Actually when Andrew hit Miami I was at Ft Wilderness. No way I was going home to a hurricane.
I don't worry about hurricanes all that much because I could just as well get one at home as on a cruise or at WDW. They are just a part of life living in Florida.

 

[jrabbit]

Here's a link that will show hurricanes and the weather in the caribbean.

AccuWeather - Hurricane

 

[skyhawk]

That's a great link!! I'll be checking it daily until the 14th!

 

[Mboothby]

I've been told by sailors that during a hurricane you are actually safer at sea then on land. (well, unless you sail INTO a storm, like the Andrea Gail.) If it hits a point in land, you can't go anywhere, but you can sail around it at sea and that's exactly what they do.

I'll be on the repositioning in Aug of next year and that was my first question, since we'll be smack at the worst time (read that the end of Aug/early Sept is THE height. That's EXACTLY when we sail, so I've went rounds on this myself. We're sailing out of LA, so I KNOW we'll shove off since we don't usually get hurricanes out here in CA (yes, we DO have earthquakes, but...I've been here 41 years and..well, been there done that, as someone said...)...but I wonder what would happen if it hit while we were out there and couldn't dock at port. Then, couldn't get outta town to fly out, due to the weather. That'd probably be more of an issue. Not that I just HAVE to get back to work

I actually think it'd be kinda exciting to be diverted. Since I'm onboard really to SAIL the Magic, I don't much care where they stop. The only stop I'd REALLY miss would be CC and I hear that poor island can get PUMMELED (it did one year) and so there are bigger chances that you'll get diverted away from CC than anything else. So, I'm crossing my fingers for my cruise and for everyone this year. I'm sure no matter what..it'll be a good time.

 

[FLGalInTN]

Oh, THANKS Mandie. Now I have visions of that wave in "The Perfect Storm" in my head.