Hurricane season is right on schedule and that means cruisers need to be extra aware of how storm systems may impact their sailings. Waves crash onto rocks ahead of Tropical Storm Karen in Puerto Rico. Photographer: Gabriella N. Baez/Bloomberg UPDATE: Erin is now a hurricane and forecast to become a CAT4 over the weekend into early next week. This storm will stay east of Florida but produce dangerous rip currents and swell next week along the east coast. Tropical Storm Erin has officially formed and is on track to impact the Eastern Caribbean by the end of the week, making it the first hurricane of the season to impact this region. Of course, here is great uncertainty this far out in the forecast, but all cruisers should watch the storm carefully. No cruise line has made any itinerary changes yet, but they will be closely monitoring the storm and will make any adjustments necessary to keep ships safe. The cruise line will contact you if changes are necessary. On Monday morning, August 11, 2025, Tropical Storm Erin officially formed in the eastern Atlantic. The first official advisory for Tropical Storm Erin was issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. While several days away, her path will likely bring the storm to the eastern Caribbean. This may impact a number of popular ports of call, as well as cruise ships with itineraries heading east over the next 7-10 days. At of 2pm CVT (Cape Verde Time), the storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour and was moving west at 20 mph The minimum threshold for a tropical storm is 39 mph threshold, with a maximum of 73 mph before being classified as a hurricane. The westward track will bring Erin close to the top Eastern Caribbean ports on Friday and Saturday, August 15 and 16, before it is predicted she will turn north. Most models have her missing the Florida coast. (see graph below) Forecast predictions have the storm likely to be a major hurricane of Category 3 or higher by August 15-16. The ports likely to at least feel moderate impact include Barbados, St. Lucia, the US and British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Depending on when and how Erin turns north, the Turks and Caicos as well as the Bahamas, including private islands, may also feel some impact. Ships departing on Eastern or Southern Caribbean itineraries this coming weekend are most likely to have at least some itinerary changes. Check your emails for any communication from the cruise line. There is no point in calling them – the call centers are not in direct communication with any ship. Shoreside will contact you if necessary. Remember, no cruise line has yet altered any sailings for Tropical Storm Erin. All cruise lines keep safety as their top priority and they will be monitoring the storm as she draws closer. How Strong Will Erin Become? The NHC’s forecast discussion advises caution this early, as it is always hard to predict how a tropical storm or hurricane will act several days in advance. “The intensity forecast in the short-term is a little tricky,” the NHC notes read. “The rate of intensification will likely increase in the second half of the forecast period.” Wind shear, ocean temperature, regional atmospheric conditions, and other factors all interact to determine how the storm may intensify and how she will move. Forecast tracks (the “spaghetti” plots) do show the storm likely to turn north long before impacting larger islands or the Florida eastern coastline, which includes Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Miami ports. That turn will not likely happen until the weekend, however, and could be significantly different than predicted so early in the storm’s formation. Though most believe she will remain no more than a Category 2 or 3 intensity, some forecast models show Erin reaching as high as a devastating Category 4 or 5 storm, Just as her path is difficult to predict precisely so many days away, her intensity can also vary tremendously as she gets closer. The overall size of Erin’s wind field will also determine how far away her impact may be felt. Very large storms can often impact ports of call or cruise homeports hundreds of miles from the storm’s eye, as the wind affects waves patterns and heights. The peak of hurricane season, when storms are strongest and most numerous, is typically around September 10. This does not mean that storms before or after this date are any less dangerous or disruptive. Any cruise guests with sailings booked over the next few days should watch Tropical Storm Erin carefully. Anyone with Caribbean sailings booked at this time of year should always stay informed about potential storms in case their cruise is impacted. For accurate and up-to-date information, follow Brian Shields…aka Mr. Weatherman on YouTube. He is a well-known and trusted Florida/Caribbean weatherman. To learn how hurricanes can affect your cruise and what to expect if they do, visit Hurricane Season and Your Cruise: What to Know. If you found the article informative and helpful, please comment below and follow Zest4Travel for cruise news and information. Let’s Connect: Join me and other cruisers on Facebook at Zest4Cruising, A Celebrity Cruises Forum, A Celebrity Solstice Cruise Forum, A Celebrity Reflection Cruise Forum, A Celebrity Ascent Cruisers Forum, A Celebrity RETREAT class forum, A Celebrity River Cruises Forum and Alaska Cruise Lover Forum You can also follow me at: YouTube at Travels With Mickey Pinterest at Travels with Mickey Instagram at Travels with Mickey Please visit and follow my Amazon store for more helpful items to make your cruise and travel even more enjoyable! P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons are below). Thanks so much! Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I will earn a commission – at no extra cost to you — if you click on the link and purchase anything from these trusted companies. It helps Zest4Travel, a small business, stayContinueContinue reading “What to Know About Tropical Storm Erin and Your Cruise”