Summer comes in hot and humid on most of these tropical islands, then the weather starts to cool a few degrees as autumn arrives. Is it worth the risk to plan a cruise to the caribbean, bahamas, bermuda, mexican riviera or even canadanew england during hurricane season. Updates hurricane disaster relief royal caribbean cruises. Jan 08, 2020 is it worth the risk to plan a cruise to the caribbean, bahamas, bermuda, mexican riviera or even canadanew england during hurricane season. While there is a possibility of severe weather throughout the atlantic hurricane season, the peak months for hurricanes in the eastern caribbean. The official caribbean hurricane season runs from june 1 through nov. Jul 24, 2015 although the sixmonth caribbean hurricane season officially begins june 1 and ends november 30, the peak of activity usually falls toward the beginning of september at the exact time the. This season is further divided between the specific areas of the region. Cruises hurricane season for the southern caribbean. That includes during the atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs. Cruising the caribbean in summer has become more popular due to the rise in the number of ship all vying for ports of call, the med, northern europe,baltic and the norwegian fiords have become clogged.
The cheapest time to cruise the caribbean is definitely summer time and the more expensive is january and february then more expensive again is xmasnew year. Carnival sees a hurricane hangover in parts of the caribbean. Carnival cruise line is showing guests exactly what goes on behind the scenes both shoreside and on the ship when a hurricane is expected to have an impact on a port of call. A big consideration for when to travel to the caribbean is the hurricane season, which runs from june 1 to november 30. May 29, 2018 the 2018 hurricane season officially kicks off friday, but subtropical storm alberto on monday brought heavy rain to the florida panhandle and the gulf coast, with more expected across the. The best times of year to cruise the caribbean usa today. I have been on numerous cruises during october that included being between a hurricane and tropical storm during a western caribbean cruise. May 31, 2019 i ts possible to take a caribbean cruise any time of the year. As the season progresses, more hurricanes begin to form, so by august to september, they can. As an example, last year it started to snow here in november which was early and unusual and not welcomed at all. Jul 09, 2019 each year, an average of tropical storms whirl through the caribbean, atlantic, and gulf of mexico during hurricane season, which officially runs from june 1 through november 30. Officially, the hurricane season in the caribbean is from 1 june to 30 november, but as we know, mother nature hasnt quite been herself in the last few years so this is an estimate. Caribbean hurricane season fodors travel talk forums. National hurricane service officially designates june 1 to november 30 as hurricane season.
That includes during the atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs from june 1 to november 30. Caribbean s leading cruise line, seven years in a row. Hurricane season which runs june 1 through november 30 is the main issue, with an average of six hurricanes a year. The caribbean islands first received a tourism boost in the early 1980s and have not looked back since. The best time and weather to travel to the caribbean usa today. Hurricane season in the caribbean ask a cruise question. Even though the caribbean hurricane season is from june to november, there are still times when hurricanes are almost nonexistent. The highest surge of possible hurricanes during that time is usually the middle of september. Cruise prices usually drop during hurricane season, but is it worth the risk. How to travel to the caribbean during hurricane season. These vacations come smack in the middle of the atlantic hurricane season, which runs from june 1 through november 30 each year, but the likelihood that a severe tropical storm will affect these trips to the caribbean is relatively slim. Jul 15, 2019 what to know about cruising this hurricane season royal caribbean has got guests covered thanks to chief meteorologist james van fleet. Hurricane season is a major concern in the caribbean region. I ts possible to take a caribbean cruise any time of the year.
Like most weather conditions, hurricanes can impact travel itineraries and schedules, and cruise schedules and routes will be different from those in drier and sunnier seasons. Signs of the hurricane season in the caribbean islands start in may with periodic light rains through to june. The southern caribbean was once thought to sit under the hurricane belt and remain unaffected by storms, but with grenada and aruba both hit in the last 10 years, its a concern no matter which route you take. While these storms occur throughout the world, you likely hear about them parading through the waters of the northern atlantic most often the caribbean sea and gulf of mexico.
During this period, tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes form in the warm waters of the atlantic ocean and the caribbean sea. Cruise lines cancelling upcoming sailings are reimbursing. The annual hurricane season officially runs from june 1 until nov. Early and lateseason hurricanes june and mid to latenovember. Within these dates, the peak months for hurricanes in the eastern caribbean and along the u. Apr 14, 2020 the official caribbean hurricane season runs from june 1 through nov. Jul 12, 2019 carnival cruise line is showing guests exactly what goes on behind the scenes both shoreside and on the ship when a hurricane is expected to have an impact on a port of call. Booking your caribbean cruise vacation before peak time, say in june or july or at the end of november, is one way to cruise during hurricane season. While you may run into a hurricane outside of the caribbean hurricane season, most storms emerge from the middle part of august to the middle of september in the atlantic, off the east coast of the us, and from the middle of august to early november in the western part of the caribbean. So in the aftermath of hurricane dorian, the bahamian people are in our thoughts and prayers. The months that historically are most likely to experience tropical cyclones storms or hurricanes are september and october. If you plan to cruise during hurricane season, we recommend a southern caribbean cruise in one of the peak months. View prices for caribbean cruises when the storms take place.
Travelers held off on booking cruises to the caribbean in the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes. Even though some parts of the year are more statistically likely to see hurricanes, that hardly means a strong tropical storm is guaranteed hurricanes usually affect only a small part of a big region at a time. Its important to remember that if there is an itinerary change, the cruise lines are doing this to keep everyone safe. Hurricane season in the caribbean tends to start sometime around may and june, and ends sometime in november. Sep 01, 2017 good deals may fool unsuspecting tourists who arrive only to experience bad weather. Things to know about cruises during hurricane season. Few hurricanes hit an island like jamaica directly.
Many families plan vacations to the caribbean during the summer and early fall, including booking a cruise. Caribbean hurricanes can bring with them strong winds. The east pacific hurricane season is oftoverlooked because there are simply more people cruising the caribbean than, say, the mexican riviera. Things to know about cruises during hurricane season tripsavvy. While there is no such thing as a hurricane free island in the caribbean, the bahamas and the british virgin islands are often the hardest hit, whereas southern caribbean ports like the abc islands aruba. Out of all the regions in the caribbean, the southeastern part has the least number of hurricanes and the southwestern and the northeast region the bahamas has the most. A surprising number of travelers actually opt to cruise during hurricane season, when extensions such as these are not unheard of. Operating cruises during hurricane season is something royal caribbean has been doing for decades, so they have a great deal of expertise when it comes to best practices, and it is part of the reason why cruises are almost never canceled. The peak of hurricane season occurs between midaugust and early november.
Should i cruise to the caribbean during the hurricane season. Statistically speaking, the chances that your particular cruise is going to be affected by a hurricane are very slim, but your travel plans might. For instance, the eastern caribbean, as well as the u. Discounts and low cruise fares are often found during the course of hurricane season, with great pricing usually in august through the end of october. East coast are midaugust to midseptember, and from mid. If you have a cruise booked during hurricane season, you should absolutely plan on going on the cruise. On average, about 12 to 15 storms move through the caribbean and gulf of. June 15, 2010 is it worth the risk to plan a cruise to the caribbean, bahamas, bermuda, mexican riviera or even canada or new england during hurricane season. Its possible to take a caribbean cruise any time of the year. Hurricane season in the caribbean runs from june 1 through nov. Hurricane season in the western caribbean and the gulf of mexico typically occurs from september to late november. Mar 30, 2020 for the caribbean, the hurricane season usually starts in june and lasts until november. Annual hurricane season time of year is a much bigger factor in dealing with eastern caribbean cruise weather.
However, changing weather patterns can cause hurricanes to occur earlier or later in the year. Hurricanes come all the way from the west coast of africa, so there is always plenty of advanced warning. The 2018 hurricane season officially kicks off friday, but subtropical storm alberto on monday brought heavy rain to the florida panhandle. Instead, the islands more often will see a big jump. The official dates for the atlantic hurricane season are june 1 through november 30. The best time to cruise to the caribbean celebrity cruises. While people prefer to go in seasons that are drier and offer more sun, hurricane season for the caribbean has become sought after for the competitively low prices. Hurricanes and the cruise line industry cheap cruises and.
In may and june the early part of the caribbean hurricane season, the majority of hurricanes occur in the western part of the caribbean. East coast, experiences more hurricanes between august and september, while the western caribbean has more hurricanes from. Hurricane season officially begins june 1st and continues through november 30th. What to know about cruising during hurricane season in the. But weather reports dont always mean that you cant still relax on board and get a. One big question is how many of them will want to risk sailing during this years hurricane season. The caribbean islands span approximately 1 million square miles of the caribbean sea, which means that even if a hurricane were impacting the southern bahamas, most of the region would likely be having ideal tropical weather, says frank j.
Keep these 5 travel tips in mind before you book that caribbean beach vacation. T he conventional wisdom is that the caribbean is a nogo zone during hurricane season. But hurricane wilma is an example that sometimes a storm will hit outside of the season, usually in may or december. That makes this the most expensive hurricane season in the companys history. That includes during the atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs from june 1. What to know about cruising this hurricane season royal. How to avoid caribbean hurricane season smartertravel. Although the sixmonth caribbean hurricane season officially begins june 1 and ends november 30, the peak of activity usually falls toward the. Although the sixmonth caribbean hurricane season officially begins june 1 and ends november 30, the peak of activity usually falls toward the beginning of september at the exact time the cruise lines lower their rates. If youre thinking about cruising in hurricane season, there are a few things you should know before setting sail. Wilma formed october 15 and dissipated october 26, 2005. Choose from twelve ships, including norwegian getaway, norwegian escape, and our newest ship norwegian bliss, seven convenient departure ports. For the caribbean, the hurricane season usually starts in june and lasts until november. Dec 29, 2018 annual hurricane season time of year is a much bigger factor in dealing with eastern caribbean cruise weather.
Hurricane season survival guide for cruisers fox news. However, the western coast of mexico is also subject. Carnival gives behind the scenes look at hurricane operations. Historically, though, most hurricanes in the caribbean. The best time and weather to travel to the caribbean usa. While these seasons span over several months, its important to remember that a potential increase in weather activity isnt the same as a sure thing. By july, hurricane formation shifts to the lesser antilles i. This is the time frame when the vast majority of storms form in the atlantic ocean the peak months for hurricanes in the eastern caribbean are midaugust to midseptember and in the western caribbean from midaugust to early november. Cheap caribbean cruises cruises to caribbean tripadvisor.
While there is no such thing as a hurricanefree island in the caribbean, the bahamas and the british virgin islands are often the hardest hit, whereas southern caribbean ports like the abc. This also makes people assume that hurricane season isnt the best time to cruise to the caribbean, but this isnt necessarily always the case. Book one of our cruise deals aboard our awardwinning fleet sailing these crystal blue waters. Where to avoid hurricane season in the caribbean travelpulse. What to know about cruising this hurricane season royal caribbean has got guests covered thanks to chief meteorologist james van fleet. Hurricanes have become more difficult to forecast as of late. This is the time frame when the vast majority of storms form. What happens when your cruise gets stuck in a hurricane. Hurricane season in the caribbean runs from june 1 to november 30. We were in cozumel in december 2005 and saw the destruction as you can see from my photo above showing what is left of the pier used by cruise ships we never had to worry about the. While hurricanes can crop up outside of that time period, its rare. Although the sixmonth caribbean hurricane season officially begins june 1 and ends november 30, the peak of activity usually falls toward the beginning of september at the exact time the.
On average, about 12 to 15 storms move through the caribbean and gulf of mexico each year. This story is retold every year, mostly from august through october. Cruises caribbean hurricane season my friends and i are first time cruisers looking to go on a 45 night cruise sometime in late july or early august. If you book a summer sailing in a caribbean region within the hurricane zone, theres a chance nothing will happen but buying insurance and keeping a flexible. I am planing on taking a cruise on the carnival destiny late september or late october.
Unlike landbased vacations, cruise ships have the advantage of navigating around the weather. Its tough to know when a hurricane will hit, but its easier to guess where. Royal caribbean bookings bounced back after costliest. The dividing line between the caribbean sea and the atlantic ocean is the most common path for hurricanes. The national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa officially labels the caribbean hurricane season as lasting from june 1 through november 30, with the worst storms usually occurring during september and october. Jan 08, 2020 the east pacific hurricane season is oftoverlooked because there are simply more people cruising the caribbean than, say, the mexican riviera. Each year, an average of tropical storms whirl through the caribbean, atlantic, and gulf of mexico during hurricane season, which officially runs from june 1. Cruising during hurricane season is something thousands of cruisers do every year, and enjoy it. In the caribbean, central america and the southeastern u.
During the summer and early fall, hurricanes roll through the tropics. By sherry laskin, contributor july 24, 2015 by sherry laskin, contributor july 24, 2015, at 10. The most compelling reason to take a royal caribbean cruise during hurricane season are the lower prices. Modern cruise ships like celebrity cruises fleet of ships have the satellite technology to see where hurricanes are headed and are often able to sail around them, meaning it is quite rare for a. Caribbean cruise in august or september hurricane season.
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