What do they do with Cruise ships during a hurricane?

Question

What do they do with Cruise ships during a hurricane?

Answer 1

Most of the time cruise ships continue to run, but change course and itinerary to avoid the storm.  As most storms follow a reasonably predictable pattern, the cruise lines plan around the storms during hurricane season.  For example during Hurricane Dean, cruises which were supposed to sail to Cozumel, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, went instead north of Cuba to Key West and the Bahamas.  While Hurricane Felix is in the southern Caribbean the cruise ships will sail north of the course of the storm.

On occasion cruise ships will get into rough weather, then they close down the outer decks and try to make every effort to give a pleasant trip to those on board.  The onboard entertainment continues.  Passengers are given rebates or credits if the cruise is significantly affected.  If the itinerary changes before sailing the passengers can cancel and re-book at another time, or choose to accept the new itinerary.

Answer 2

We were on the Royal Caribbean Rhaposody of the Seas in July 2005 when we got caught between Tropical Storm Cindy and Hurricane Dennis.  

The Captain high-tailed it down to Progresso, Mexico to avoid the storm.  We missed the Grand Caymans port but our cruise was not cut short.  It was really uncomfortable the night he was trying to out-run the storms.

Answer 3

Very large wheels are attached to the ships and they are taken up on shore and put into garages.

Answer 4

cruise lines change course to avoid the area the hurricane is in. Also they might cancel the cruise or change the itinerary to stay out of the hurricanes path.  Have you tried to call the cruiselines to ask them their plans?  there s a great site about cruising= cruiseclues.com

and cruisecritic.com

Answer 5

The Caribbean hurricane season which runs from June until about October 30.  When hurricanes are predicted all of the cruise lines make advanced provision for alternate routes that take them as far away from the hurricane as is possible. This would include, for example, taking a Caribbean cruise to Bermuda instead of Cozumel, or making  the Eastern Caribbean stops like St Thomas (USVirgin Islands) and/or St Maarten instead of western Caribbean stops. In some cases, as was the case on a cruise that we took, the ship will simple do the port stops in a different order. So if the hurricane is still in the southern Caribbean when your ship sails, it may go to Cozumel first and then take you to other ports outside the hurricane zone.

If the hurricane is at or near the departure port when its time to leave the cruise line will delay departure or just cancel the cruise. If there is a hurricane at the departure port at the end of the cruise, the ship will probably stay out a day or so longer .