Do Cruise Ships Stay In Port During A Hurricane?

Cruise ships avoid the path of hurricanes and chart a course with optimal sea conditions to avoid them. The peak of hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June 1 to November 30, with cruise deals and discounts available during this time. Major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises continuously monitor for hurricanes and severe weather.

Cruising during hurricane season can be risky but also cheaper and less crowded. It is important to take precautions for a safe and enjoyable trip. The ship may return to the home port early to arrive before the storm or stay out at sea for extra days to wait for the storm to pass. In rare cases when a home port closes due to a storm, ships have been known to sail to an alternative port to drop off passengers.

Typically, it is safe for cruise ships to depart the home port while a hurricane is occurring in the Caribbean, as long as the hurricane is not severe. Cruises rarely cancel for a hurricane, usually only if the home ports are shut for days. However, no cruise is immune from waves, and cruise lines often avoid huge storms, leading to many re-routes, less passengers, and cheaper fares.

Some cruise ports are harder to dock in than others during rough weather. Cruise lines and captains may agree to push back a port of call by a day or exchange one port for another depending on the location of the hurricane. If the hurricane is due to hit a departure port, the port will close and cruise ships will stay away until it is safe to dock.

Considering a hurricane season cruise to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexican Riviera, or even Canada and New England?