Hurricane Season and Your Cruise: What to Know

Hurricanes are devastating, catastrophic storms. These storms affect people living in coastal areas, those living hundreds of miles inland, and also hotels, resorts, theme parks, ports and cruise ships. I live in Florida and have experienced tropical storms and hurricanes firsthand.

How can a hurricane affect your cruise and what can you do to protect yourself and your vacation?

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When Is Hurricane Season?

Even though a tropical storm or hurricane can form at any time of year if oceanic conditions are right, the hurricane season in the North Atlantic Ocean basin and Caribbean runs from June 1 through November 30. The peak season for storm formations and the highest intensities is from mid-August through the end of September.

In the eastern Pacific basin and along the Mexican Riviera, hurricane season stretches from May 15 through November 30. The busiest period is in August and September, which is very similar to the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Strong storms can and do occur outside the typical peak seasons. In 2024, for example, Hurricane Milton did not form until October 5, and in five days, became one of the most powerful and destructive storms ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America), causing devestation well into the United States.

Only a very small portion of cruises that sail to the Caribbean during storm season are actually affected by these storms. Though you may encounter slightly rougher water on a cruise during hurricane season, there are many systems in place to detect any hurricane weather along your cruise route, ensuring your ship’s captain and crew will be able to chart a path around any bad weather or make modifications to the itinerary to keep you safe.

How Will A Hurricane Affect My Cruise?

You may have heard or read that there were some cruises that were canceled in the wake of Hurricane Irma in 2017, but the fact is that it’s actually extremely rare for a cruise to be canceled during Caribbean hurricane season.

Typically, it’s still safe for cruise ships to depart the home port while a hurricane is occurring in the Caribbean. As long as the hurricane is not impacting the embarkation (home) port – and if the home port is impacted, a cruise departure may only be delayed by a day or two rather than being canceled. All cruise lines work closely with expert meteorologists and storm forecasters for the latest updates and predictions based on the most accurate data.

What happens when you do embark on time, but there’s a hurricane happening in the region? Most likely a hurricane will not impact your cruise, but you might incur an itinerary change if a hurricane is in the path of a port of call on your cruise itinerary.

Any sailing region can be impacted by hurricanes. The Bahamas and Puerto Rico are two of the most frequently impacted regions, including private island and beach clubs. 

Other Caribbean regions are also at risk of hurricanes, such as Jamaica, the Turks and Caicos, the Cayman Islands, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Costa Maya, and Cozumel. 

Florida is frequently impacted by storms. This means homeports can be affected even if individual Caribbean cruises may be sailing well away from hurricane tracks.

Similarly, the Gulf of Texas (Galveston) and the Gulf Coast (New Orleans and Mobile) are also at risk from hurricane impacts and landfalls.

Thanks to an incredible arsenal of weather equipment onboard the ship, including weather maps and satellite images and computer-generated storm models from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), your captain and crew are always on top of where a hurricane is headed and have the experience and means to stay out of its path.

Itinerary Changes

Photo courtesy of CruiseHive

The exact changes a cruise line may make to any cruise will depend on a wide range of factors and every storm is different.

One of the ways your captain might avoid a hurricane’s path is to make a last-minute schedule change to the itinerary. For example, your cruise itinerary has a scheduled stop in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but the route there is impacted by a hurricane. Your cruise ship will reroute, and you’ll skip that port of call.

This may result in an additional day at sea. With an extra sea day, you can treat yourself to a spa visit, spend some quality time with the family, or participate in one of the many onboard classes offered during your cruise. Depending on your ship’s proximity to the storm and its severity, the captain may find it necessary to close the pool for guest and crew safety.

Another hurricane cruise scenario might involve a substitution of one port of call for a skipped one. There are a number of factors at play here, including weather patterns and cruising time to the substitute port that captain and bridge officers will be constantly monitoring. You may find yourself completely charmed by the opportunity to visit a different Caribbean port.

The captain may choose to alter just one port of call or could shift an entire itinerary. When possible, substitution ports are arranged to give guests safer options to enjoy. This may not always be practical depending on distance or berth availability.

Cruise lines may continue to alter itineraries after a storm has passed. If the scheduled ports of call are not considered safe for passengers to visit or if repairs are necessary before ships can safely dock, the captain will adjust the schedule. We saw this happen in 2017 when Hurricane Irma and then Hurricane Maria hit, causing widespread damage in the US Virgin Islands and other nearby islands.

Passengers will be refunded for any cruise line shore excursions they have already booked for ports that will no longer be visited. Any applicable port taxes or fees may also be refunded. If you booked excursions privately, it is your responsibility to cancel them.

If a port is completely canceled, passengers may be offered some onboard credit, but such compensation is not required. The right for the cruise line to change or cancel the itinerary is noted in your cruise contract. Passengers may be able to cancel their cruise before an altered sailing and request a refund, but such refunds may not be guaranteed.

Your Cruise May Be Shortened or Lengthened

If the embarkation and debarkation port is affected, it is possible for a cruise line to either shorten or lengthen a cruise as needed while waiting for a storm to pass so the ship can navigate a port safely. The change may be just a few hours or could be several days, depending on the severity of the storm, where it is tracking, and what the damage may or may not be to port facilities.

Activities and entertainment will continue to be offered on board the ship for lengthened cruises. Typically, passengers will not be charged additional fares for the longer cruise, though tips, bar charges, and other extra costs may continue to be in effect. Don’t worry though, cruise ships are well stocked with plenty of food and other supplies. Some of your favorite beverages might start to run scarce though.

For a shortened cruise, cruise lines typically offer passengers a pro-rated refund for the shortened cruise. They may also be offered credit toward a future cruise, but this is not guaranteed.

The cruise line usually offers assistance to travelers who need to change pre- or post-cruise travel plans to accommodate the new embarkation and debarkation dates and times. If the delay is only a few hours, assistance may not be offered. For significant changes, more assistance is typically available.

Embarkation or Debarkation Ports Changed

Port Canaveral Port Authority photo

An embarkation or debarkation port could be severely damaged, unsafe, and unable to service cruise ships for several days following a hurricane.

If the homeport is directly in the storm’s path, it is possible that the ship may return to a port other than the initial port it set sail from. Onboard passengers would then be debarking at a new location.

Depending on where the cruise ports are located and how the next itinerary may or may not be affected, incoming passengers may need to reach the new embarkation port to board the ship. If time permits, the ship may be relocated back to its original port for the next embarkation. Any passengers on back-to-back sailings will not be allowed to remain onboard, unless the ship is returning to a different country. The ship will work with those passengers to get them to the proper port for embarkation.

Cruise lines will typically offer assistance for debarking passengers to either return to the original port or to adjust their post-cruise travel plans to the new location so they can return home safely after the cruise. 

Incoming passengers will be contacted by the cruise line to see if they need assistance in reaching the cruise ship if the embarkation port has changed.

Cancelled Sailings

If necessary, cruise lines will cancel entire voyages to ensure passengers and crew members are safe during a hurricane. While no one wants to miss their vacation, it is more important to remain safe for the duration of a storm rather than risk catastrophic consequences.

Cruise lines will notify passengers as far in advance as possible about the cancellation and a full refund will be given to all guests. Do not call your cruise line, you will only reach a call center that has limited information. The cruise line will contact you directly if a cancellation is needed. Additional compensation in the form of a future cruise credit MAY be offered.

It is unlikely that your cruise during Caribbean hurricane season will be canceled, but it is not guaranteed. It is strongly recommended to purchase travel insurance (for any cruise vacation), and most necessary if you choose to cruise during hurricane season.

When you’re looking for travel insurance, don’t choose one based solely on the lowest price. Read a policy’s fine print carefully before you purchase, as many travel insurance policies won’t cover trip cancellations or delays due to hurricanes.

Rough Ocean Seas

Rough seas can occur at any time during hurricane season, even hundreds of miles away from the storm. While the ship is still perfectly safe, it may have more motion and rocking than guests might expect or like. If you see “barf bags” appear at the bottom of the stairs, expect stronger swells to occur soon.

There are many steps the ship’s captain and engineering team will use to ensure the vessel stays safe and as comfortable as possible. Deploying the ship’s stabilizers is often the first step and will help minimize any motion.  Reorienting the ship or changing course can minimize winds,. Onboard activities might be adjusted to indoor or sheltered areas rather than deck parties and pool games.

Of course, taking seasickness medication such as Bonine, or Ship EEZ- motion sickness patches can help, as well as cutting back on greasy foods or alcohol intake.  Eating green apples, drinking ginger ale or eating ginger candies can also help. Cutting back on greasy foods or alcohol intake is helpful

How Will I Know What Happens to My Cruise During a Hurricane?

Whatever actions a cruise line may take to safeguard its passengers and crew during a hurricane, the line will contact passengers and update them as quickly as possible. Calling will not get you up-to-date information, as the call centers have limited information and are not in direct contact with the ships.

Onboard, this will mean public address announcements, notification letters delivered to your cabin and announcements before major events such as evening shows or even during evening mealtimes.

Guests waiting on land for news of their upcoming cruise should stay tuned to official social media channels for the cruise line for immediate updates. Future passengers will receive email notifications of changes. Some cruise lines may also open dedicated alert phone or texting numbers to share updates quickly.

It is important that passengers always provide the most convenient, accurate contact information to the cruise line so they can receive notifications right away. 

Passengers who have booked their cruise through a travel agent should alwys provide contact information directly to the cruise line as well as to their travel agent. You may receive information before your travel agents does!

Every line uses their cruise contracts to outline provisions related to weather and storms, including their right to make changes due to hurricanes. No travelers should expect compensation if their sailing is affected, but cruise lines do try to keep everyone happy if changes are necessary.

Staying Safe in a Storm at Sea

Listen to all announcements made by the ship’s captain and cruise director, as they will share the most updated information with guests as soon as possible. If there are letters or notices delivered to your stateroom, please read them carefully and follow all instructions. 

Guests with balcony cabins might be asked to move any small chairs or tables into your cabin in case of rough weather, balcony doors must be secured so they cannot be opened. Help the cabin stewards by doing whatever is asked of you. Their primary task in a storm is your safety.

Inside your stateroom, secure any loose objects – clicking hangers can be very annoying – and make sure there are no trip hazards in case you get thrown off balance when moving about. Clean off countertops to prevent items being thrown to the floor.

Pay attention to any closed areas. When winds are high and waves could be crashing against the ship, the captain will often close outer decks to ensure everyone’s safety. This may mean you have to take alternate routes to reach different areas of the ship through interior promenades and corridors.

Use handrails and be mindful of your surroundings when moving about the ship. In extreme cases, guests might be asked to remain in their staterooms until the worst of the weather has abated.

Minimizing Your Hurricane Risks

While it can be frightening when a hurricane threatens your cruise, there are ways to minimize the risk of hurricane disruptions to your travel plans. First, consider booking cruise travel well outside the more active months of hurricane season.

If you can only plan a cruise during the summer when hurricane risks are naturally higher, opt for dates earlier in the season when storms are typically fewer and weaker. If possible, consider locations that do have the risk of hurricanes. Alaska and Europe are excellent options.

Investigate options for cruise travel insurance policies. Different policies may or may not cover hurricanes as well as helping with other travel costs, such as changing flight plans or hotel reservations if the cruise is impacted by a storm.

Be sure to plan pre- and post-cruise travel with extra time just in case of flight delays or evacuation-crowded highways. If the home port is affected, airports will close. This could mean the difference between making your ship on time or returning home before a storm approaches, or being stuck due to cancelled flights and traffic jams.

Final Thoughts:

No cruise, no matter how amazing it may be, is worth unsafe risks. Understanding how hurricanes could impact your cruise can help you prepare if a storm does become a concern.

The seas can be rougher when avoiding a storm. Be prepared with seasick remedies. Ginger candies are a good solution, along with these sea sick patches that many of the crew use.

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