Hurricane Melissa is proving to be the strongest storm this year. She is a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 175 mph and even stronger gusts. As of this morning, October 28, 2025, Jamaica is being battered with tropical-storm force winds from the outer bands of the hurricane which is expected to make landfall early this afternoon.
This will be the first time Jamaica has taken a direct hit from a hurricane in more than a decade, and the island country has never been hit with a Category 5. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the coastal areas of the island as the storm is threatening to cause “extensive infrastructure damage, long-lasting power and communication outages, and isolated communities” according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Melissa has already killed seven people–three in Jamaica, three in Haiti, and one in the Dominican Republic.
Parts of Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba are expected to see similar effects of the hurricane, with the southeast Bahamas and Turks and Caicos experiencing “life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall” by tomorrow, October 29, 2025.
As a result, multiple cruise lines have rerouted ships for the safety of the passengers and crew.
Carnival Cruise Line has rerouted five of its ships: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Dream, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Vista.
Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Beyond will now visit the Western Caribbean instead of the Eastern Caribbean.
MSC Cruises’ World America is also sailing a Western Caribbean route.
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure and Disney Wish have both changed itineraries.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is sailing a Western Caribbean itinerary rather than the planned Eastern Caribbean cruise, and Freedom of the Seas replaced its Turks and Caicos’ Grand Turk port of call with Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Changes were also made to Rhapsody of the Seas.
While it is never ideal to have an itinerary changed, every cruise line’s first responsibility is to the safety of its crew and passengers.