Hurricane Matthew Forces More Cruise Itinerary Changes
by Daniel McCarthy /Port Everglades. Photo: Prayitno
A number of cruise ships that were scheduled to finish sailings and return to port on Thursday and Friday will have to make other plans, as Hurricane Matthew, on track to make landfall in Florida late on Thursday, has forced the closing of six East Coast ports.
The ports of Charleston, Palm Peach, Jacksonville and Everglades joined Port Miami and Port Canaveral, who announced closings earlier this week in preparation for the storm.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has changed a number of departures. Empress of the Seas will now leave on Friday, Oct. 7, instead of the regularly scheduled Thursday departure. The five-day sailing will be cut to four and passengers will be credited in their onboard accounts in the amount of one-day cruise fare. Majesty of the Seas will now leave Port Canaveral on Saturday, Oct. 8, instead of Friday. Majesty guest will also receive onboard credit for one-day cruise fare and a 33% future cruise credit.
Fathom’s Adonia current Cuba sailing will skip Santiago, instead spending a full day in Cienfuegos and Havana. Those who have shore excursions booked for Santiago are getting a full refund.
Princess Cruises’ Island Princess skipped a scheduled call to Aruba on Oct. 5, visiting Grand Cayman instead.
MSC Divina is still scheduled to depart from Miami on Saturday, Oct. 8. In a statement, MSC said it will follow the guidance of the U.S. Coast Guard to make a decision as Matthew approaches Florida.
Carnival Victory will not return to port on Friday as previously planned and will instead remain at sea until Port Canaveral reopens. Carnival Ecstasy was scheduled to return to its homeport in Charleston on Saturday but will also remain at sea until the port reopens.
Trains and planes
On land, meanwhile, Amtrak canceled service Thursday and Friday along three major lines to Florida: the Silver Star from New York City to Miami, the Silver Meteor from Miami to New York City and Auto Trains 52 and 53 from Lorton, VA, to Sanford, FL. No alternative transportation will be provided, Amtrak said.
And in the air, more than 2,600 arrivals and departures scheduled for Thursday at U.S. airports have been canceled, including all flights at Ft. Lauderdale International Airport. Orlando International Airport is expected to close at 8:30 Thursday night, and Orlando Melbourne will close at 6 p.m.