Could a hurricane ruin your cruise or Caribbean vacation? How to plan safe summer trips
If you’re considering a Caribbean getaway this year, you’re not alone.
The Caribbean is the top cruise destination in the world, according to Cruise Lines International Association’s 2024 State of the Cruise Industry report. In 2019, 12 million passengers traveled to the tropical Atlantic region. In 2023, the number was 12.9 million, more than double the amount of people who took Mediterranean cruises last year.
Amid higher-than-average temperatures here in North Carolina, a beach vacation may seem more appealing than ever this summer. Plus, some Caribbean cruises are cheaper this time of year.
But at the same time, maybe you’ve heard that forecasters are predicting a particularly busy Atlantic hurricane season. The News & Observer previously reported that 23 named storms are predicted to occur between June 1 and November 30 this year; the average number of annual named storms from 1991-2020 is 14.4. Already, we’ve had Alberto and Beryl.
Before booking that cruise to the Bahamas or plopping yourself on a beach on Barbados, be informed about what a hurricane could mean for your tropical trip.
Is it safe to visit the Caribbean during hurricane season?
Short answer, yes.
Strong hurricanes aren’t likely to form in all months throughout Atlantic hurricane season. Chris Landsea, the chief of the Tropical Analysis & Forecast Branch at the National Hurricane center, said 90% of strong hurricanes occur during August, September and October.
“It’s typical that the early and late parts of the season are a lot quieter than the peak,” Landsea said.
When hurricanes do occur, the worst part of the storm is usually between 25 miles and 50 miles across, and at most, 100 miles across. That means a hurricane is likely to directly affect only parts of Caribbean islands.
Are certain Caribbean islands less likely to be affected by hurricanes?
Most hurricane activity in the Atlantic occurs between the latitudes of 15 degrees north (around the northern tip of Nicaragua) and 30 degrees north (near Jacksonville, Florida), Landsea said.
Destinations south of that range, such as Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados, are rarely struck by hurricanes.
“The closer you are to the equator, the safer it gets,” Landsea said.
What happens if a hurricane occurs during a cruise?
Landsea said cruise ships are fast enough to avoid a hurricane’s path.
“If I got invited to be on a cruise in the peak of the hurricane season in September, I would say, ‘heck yeah,’” Landsea said.
Matt Lupoli, a senior manager of public relations for Carnival Cruise Line, said in an email to The News & Observer that the cruise line’s Fleet Operations Center in Miami works with ships to make decisions with accurate information. For passengers, that means a ship may skip a destination, go to a different destination or visit a destination on a different day.
“Unlike a stationary beach resort, ships can be moved out of the way of a storm, so when necessary, we build alternative itineraries to maintain a safe distance from a weather front, while also giving our guests the vacation they were looking forward to,” Lupoli said in an email.
Other cruise lines have similar policies for dealing with hurricanes. According to the Royal Caribbean website, “If there is a potential threat to any of our guests or ships, the itinerary may be altered to try to avoid any interaction with the storm or any affected areas.” (Royal Caribbean could not be reached to comment on this story.)
Be sure to read any contracts to learn how your cruise line handles compensation for changes to itineraries or trip duration.
What happens if a hurricane makes landfall near your beach resort?
Before heading south, travelers should contact the hotel or resort where they plan to stay to ask about evacuation policies and hurricane shutters or hurricane windows, Landsea said.
Several of the Caribbean islands have hills or mountains away from the coastline that can serve as a natural barrier to the storm surges and waves.
What can you do before going on a Caribbean vacation?
Hurricanes can cause flights to be canceled or delayed, knock out power at hotels, restaurants and resorts, make roads impassable and affect planned activities such as fishing, snorkeling or scuba diving.
Purchasing travel insurance right after booking a trip may help recuperate some expenses if you decide to cancel a trip.
“Getting insurance, I think, is a really good idea during the hurricane season for vacations down in the Caribbean,” Landsea said.
