Cruise lines have modified several Caribbean itineraries as Tropical Storm Humberto, now upgraded to a hurricane northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, continues to strengthen.
The National Hurricane Center advised on September 26th that Humberto was expected to reach major hurricane status within 24 to 48 hours. In addition, a tropical wave near Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos, and eastern Cuba is projected to advance toward the Bahamas, where a low-pressure system may develop into a tropical depression. The Center reported that heavy rain and strong winds were already affecting the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, with conditions likely to extend into the Bahamas and eastern Cuba over the following days.
CCL-Carnival Cruise Line confirmed adjustments to its schedules. Carnival Venezia, which departed New York on September 22nd, has canceled a September 28th call at Grand Turk and extended its September 27th call at San Juan, Puerto Rico, by two hours. Carnival Sunrise, which departed Miami on September 25th, advanced its call at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas by one day. The company stated that safety considerations guided the changes, with continuous monitoring of storm developments in coordination with the National Hurricane Center, the U.S. Coast Guard, and port authorities.
RCI-Royal Caribbean International also revised multiple itineraries. Star of the Seas will substitute a Western Caribbean route, calling at Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico and Roatan, Honduras, instead of its planned Eastern Caribbean program beginning September 28th. Liberty of the Seas has replaced a scheduled Bermuda call with St. John, New Brunswick, on its September 27th voyage. Freedom of the Seas altered its September 25th itinerary by calling at Cozumel rather than Grand Turk. The Royal Caribbean Group explained that these changes were based on meteorological assessments and that passengers were notified directly.
DCL-Disney Cruise Line adjusted the sailing of Disney Wish, canceling a September 27th call at Nassau and moving the call at its private island, Castaway Cay, forward by one day. The vessel will spend September 28th at sea.