Caribbean Cruise Ports, Including St. Thomas and St. Maarten, Closed Indefinitely Post Irma
by Daniel McCarthyDamage done by Hurricane Irma will force major Caribbean cruise ports to remain closed indefinitely as they survey the damage done by the most intense Atlantic hurricane in the last decade.
St. Thomas and St. Maarten are both reportedly closed indefinitely after Irma made direct impact with both islands.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have both altered itineraries to avoid the islands—Norwegian will not sail scheduled Eastern Caribbean itineraries until November—they will be replaced by Western Caribbean sailings—while Royal will replace St. Thomas and St. Maarten with St. Kitts and St. Croix.
Tortola, which served Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, Celebrity, Viking Sea and more before Irma, is also closed. According to PBS, Tortola was so damaged by Irma that it was “like a war zone.” Norwegian’s move to Western Caribbean sailings will allow it to avoid Tortola, as well.
