Hurricane Season Is Coming - Why the Safest Place to be is on a Cruise Ship

The hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and although hurricanes are generally unpredictable, conventional wisdom has dictated that peak season varies by geography. In the Eastern Caribbean and the east coast of the U.S., the busiest time of the season tends to occur in the mid-August to mid-September time frame. In the Western Caribbean, it runs later, picking up in mid-September and stretching into early November. Early and late-season hurricanes (June, mid- to late-November) are rare but not unprecedented.An "average" hurricane season means we can expect 8 to 11 tropical storms; of these 5 to 7 could develop into full-fledged hurricanes.

How Safe Are Cruise Ships During Hurricanes? The cruise lines have two major considerations during the hurricane season; first, safety and security of their passengers, and the protection of theirs assets (ships, property & personnel).

Cruise lines have been operating in the Caribbean for years and have, by virtue of experience, specific hurricane/tropical storm emergency response plans in effect. These cover everything from designating a bridge officer as the weather monitor during the season, to outfitting ships with state-of-the-art satellites, to backing up on board efforts with expanded staff at headquarters. The trickiest situation for cruise lines whose ships' scheduled ports of call are threatened is finding alternate places to dock or anchor (those ports not already booked up with regular cruise visitors, not to mention other ships looking for a quiet port in a storm). Most common is that cruise lines whose Eastern Caribbean itinerary appears to be in flux will simply switch over to a Western Caribbean port schedule (and vice versa). Can't find a port?

The schedule may include a couple of extra sea days (in calmer waters, naturally).Do you get a refund for missed ports? Alas, no. The fine print in your cruise contract, also known as your ticket, gives lines the right to substitute ports if and when they feel like it.Even Ships Outrunning a Storm Can Encounter Rough WatersWhen the threat of a storm occurs, cruise ships can "outrun" them -- storms tend to move at about 8 to 10 knots, while ships can attain speeds of up to 22 knots and beyond.While improved technology can help ships to evade storms, they can't avoid them entirely -- and you may run into rough waters. You can even experience storm remnants in far away places, such as on one of the seasonal north Atlantic repositioning cruises coming out of Europe.

While they may be tropical storms or even lesser turbulance by the time they reach Iceland, the waters can still be rough. Be prepared -- even the stalwart should pack their favorite seasickness remedy.Can't Get to the Ship?Sometimes hurricane-related problems don't have anything to do with the ship, and everything to do with conditions at the port of embarkation. As we said before, plan ahead. This is a good time of year to build a day or two into your vacation. Aim to arrive in port a couple of days early in case difficulties arise.

Prepare for the possibility -- and it happens -- that you might actually arrive home a day or two late. And bottom line: If you're having trouble getting into your port of embarkation make sure you contact the cruise line. Most will do everything possible, even if they are not obligated, to help you get to the ship, but there's no guarantee.Canceled CruisesThe cruise lines rarely cancel sailings. They will simply deviate itineraries. If a cruise is actually canceled you will, obviously, get a refund. You might also receive a discount on a future cruise. Pretty much the only thing that gets cruises canceled outright (and not even regularly) is when a storm is aiming for major ports of embarkation, such as Ft. Lauderdale's Port Everglades or Miami.

To check the status on a hurricane we have provided the following link:

National Hurricane Center

In the event of a hurricane that is active when you are scheduled to sail, contact the Cruise Center for information of visit the web site of the cruise line for posted information.