This past week Tropical Depression 13 became Tropical Storm Lee which then became Hurricane Lee. But no matter the name, it is disrupting cruising.
The disruptions began when Carnival Cruise Line notified guests of Carnival Venezia they would not be sailing the planned Eastern Caribbean itinerary because of Hurricane Lee. Carnival Venezia departed New York on Friday, September 8, 2023, on her new itinerary which now includes the cruise line’s private island, Half Moon Cay, Nassau and Freeport.
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy is also sailing an alternate itinerary away from the storm’s potential track. The cruise ship is sailing her 8-night cruise from Port Canaveral as a Western Caribbean cruise that includes an extra call to Castaway Cay, the cruise line’s private island.
Hurricane Lee also forced four different Royal Caribbean International ships to change itineraries–Adventure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Vision of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. The ships departed from Port Everglades, PortMiami, Baltimore, and Port Canaveral respectively, but all are sailing a Western Caribbean or Bahamas itinerary instead of the planned Eastern Caribbean itinerary.
After changing those sailings, Royal Caribbean International had to change two more ship itineraries–Vision of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas–as Hurricane Lee is heading toward Nova Scotia. Both ships were to embark today, September 14, 2023. Vision of the Seas is still embarking in Baltimore, Maryland today, but will stay overnight until Friday. She is headed south for a Florida and Bahamas cruise instead of north for a Canada & New England cruise as planned.
Jewel of the Seas’ changes are not as dramatic as the only change made is to the beginning of the 14-night Greenland itinerary. Instead of visiting Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jewel of the Seas will overnight in Manhattan, New York before sailing toward Greenland. There are no other itinerary changes for her sailing which includes Nuuk, Qaqortoq and Nanortalik, Greenland.
Last, Caribbean Princess, which is sailing a 10-night one way “Classic Canada & New England” itinerary is being forced to dramatically alter her sailing. Calls to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Bar Harbor, Maine have all been canceled allowing the ship to visit Sydney, Nova Scotia a day early and then arrive in Boston about 12 hours before winds from Hurricane Lee are expected.
These itinerary changes really should not be a surprise to seasoned cruisers as this week is considered the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, typically bringing the strongest storms. As always, keep in touch with your travel agent and cruise line for the latest updates to your cruise.