Latest on Hurricane Rafael: Warnings and Travel Changes

The storm system brewing in the Caribbean over the last few days has officially become a hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Tuesday morning declared Rafael a hurricane, the latest in a busy and brutal 2024 hurricane season. As of Friday morning, Rafael was a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, but was losing strength.

The NHC says that Rafael should continue to weaken through Friday and the weekend, and not pose much of a threat to the land surrounding the Gulf of Mexico or the coast of the U.S.

Watches and warnings

There are no warnings or watches as of Friday morning.

Airline waivers and cancellations

Flight cancellations in the Caribbean are piling up on Wednesday. José Martí International Airport (HAV) suspended all operations through the end of Nov. 6, while Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Jamaica remains open, but is recovering after a slate of cancellations on Tuesday.

Here are the latest change fee waivers from airlines operating in the area:

Air Canada has a waiver for Varadero (VRA) for travel on Nov. 7.

American Airlines has a waiver for travel through Nov. 7 through Grand Caymen (GCM), Havana (HAV), Kingston (KIN), Montego Bay (MBJ), and Varadero (VRA). Impacted flyers can switch to new flights through Nov. 12.

Delta Air Lines has a waiver for Havana (HAV), Key West (EYW), and Montego Bay (MBJ). Delta’s waiver runs through Nov. 7 and allows travelers to switch to flights through the end of Nov. 10.

United Airlines has issued a waiver for travel through Havana (HAV) and Montego Bay. The waiver runs through Nov. 7, allowing rebooked flights through Nov. 12.

WestJet has a waiver for travel through Varadero (VRA) starting on Nov. 6 and running through Nov. 7, with rebooked travel allowed within 60 days of the original departure date.

Cruise ship changes

With the storm’s current position and expected path, several cruise ships are already altering course.

This includes four Royal Caribbean ships:

• Brilliance of the Seas (Nov. 2 sailing out of New Orleans) is skipping Grand Cayman and visiting Belize City instead.
• Freedom of the Seas (Nov. 3 sailing out of Fort Lauderdale) is reversing its original schedule, now visiting Labadee on Tuesday and George Town on Thursday.
• Harmony of the Seas (Nov. 3 sailing out of Galveston) will skip a stop in Cozumel, Mexico, on Thursday and will instead spend a day at sea.
• Radiance of the Seas (Nov. 2 sailing out of Tampa Bay) is switching to the Western Caribbean, changing stops from Bimini, Freeport, and Perfect Day at CocoCay to Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City, and Costa Maya.
• Vision of the Seas (Oct. 31 sailing out of Baltimore) is skipping the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, spending more time in Bermuda, and stopping at Port Canaveral.

MSC Cruises is also adjusting its itinerary for MSC Seascape, which departed Miami on Nov. 2. The ship will no longer visit Falmouth or George Town, instead spending time in Costa Maya and Roatan. Guests with prebooked excursions for those stops are being reimbursed.

Carnival Cruise Line is changing the path of two ships, Carnival Miracle and Carnival Horizon. Miracle skipped Grand Cayman on Wednesday and Horizon reversed its itinerary, switching Ocho Rios and Cozumel.