Hurricane Sandy battered the mid-Atlantic coast on Monday, but storm force winds extending across nearly 900 miles of ocean have played havoc with cruise ship schedules from New England to Florida over the past several days.
Two cruises have been cancelled and more than a dozen cruise ship schedules were changed over the past three to four days.
Battling rough seas, Holland America Line's (www.hollandamerica.com) Eurodam was scheduled to arrive in Port Canaveral on Oct. 26, but instead docked at a cargo pier in Jacksonville, FL and stayed there.
When the time came for guests to disembark, the line transported them by motorcoach back to Port Everglades in the Fort Lauderdale area. Holland America guests arriving to board the ship at Port Everglades were also put on motorcoaches and driven to Jacksonville to board the ship.
Norwegian Cruise Line (www.ncl.com) adjusted schedules for Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Dawn.
UPDATED: Norwegian Gem was scheduled to end its cruise in New York Oct. 29, but because the Port of New York was closed, it will remain at sea until the U.S. Coast Guard allows the port to reopen, which "may be Oct. 30 in the afternoon," the line said in a statement issued at 5 p.m. Monday.
At that time, Norwegian expects to give guests the option of disembarking the ship or staying onboard overnight, allowing them the opportunity to make the appropriate travel arrangements.
"Given the current information regarding the path and speed of Hurricane Sandy, and as long as the Port of New York re-opens, we expect embarkation for Norwegian Gem’s next cruise to take place on Wednesday, Oct. 31 beginning at noon and the ship will depart at 4 p.m," the statement said.
Check www.ncl.com and hit "Weather Alert" for the latest information.
Other Norwegian ships are shifting port calls. Among the many changes, Norwegian Dawn cancelled the Portland, ME, call for Oct. 30 and will instead call in Halifax, Nova Scotia today, October 29.
UPDATED: On Monday afternoon, Princess Cruises (www.princess.com) adjusted schedules for several ships. Caribbean Princess is currently in Boston during a four-night cruise that began on Oct. 27. The ship will sail for New York on Tuesday.
But Princess said the ship must sail at a significantly slower speed so the ship will arrive at least one day late into New York -- and no earlier than Nov. 1. "Due to the unprecedented circumstances, we understand that some passengers will wish to disembark in Boston and have provided them information how to disembark [Oct. 30]," the line said in a statement Monday.
The line is rebooking air travel for those passengers who purchased air through Princess. It's also offering complimentary phone and Internet services for passengers who need to make changes to their independent travel plans.
As a gesture of goodwill, in recognition of the extreme circumstances, Princess said it is offering compensation to all passengers onboard in the form of a future cruise credit. "Once we are underway and the full impact on our voyage is known, we will communicate details to the impacted passengers while onboard," the statement said.
Princess also advised passengers on Caribbean Princess’ 10-night voyage from New York, slated to depart Oct. 31, that the ship will embark passengers later than originally planned. Tentatively, the line will move embarkation to Nov. 1. Passengers will receive a per diem for any cruise days missed due to a late embarkation.
Princess said it will keep passengers informed as the weather situation changes. Passengers with Princess Air and/or Princess transfers will be contacted regarding their specific travel plans.
For Emerald Princess' 12-night cruise from Quebec to Port Everglades, FL, port calls to Bar Harbor, ME, Boston, MA, and Newport, RI, have been cancelled. Port calls to Port Saguenay, Quebec, and Corner Brook have been added..
Royal Caribbean International (www.cruisingpower.com) delayed Monarch of the Seas' departure from Port Canaveral, FL, over the weekend but the ship has since sailed.
Enchantment of the Seas will be unable to call on Kings Wharf, Bermuda, as originally scheduled. Instead, the ship sailed to try to find the calmest seas possible.
Monarch of the Seas will call at CocoCay, Bahamas, on Nov. 1, instead of Oct.30, as originally scheduled.
Brilliance of the Seas has cancelled its call to Bar Harbor, ME, on Oct. 30. Instead, the ship is calling at St. John, New Brunswick, today, Oct. 29, as scheduled, and will remain in port until Tuesday.
A weather alert on Royal Caribbean's Web site said: "This will provide the ship with the most shelter from the weather and ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all guests and crew onboard."
Given Hurricane Sandy's current location and projected path, Jewel of the Seas did not depart Boston on Oct. 28 as scheduled; it will remain docked in port until Oct. 30. Due to the delayed departure, Royal Caribbean said it was modifying the itinerary and guests would be advised of that when they boarded.
Disney Cruise Line (www.disneytravelagents.com) also adjusted several schedules late last week. Disney Fantasy encountered rough seas off the coast of Florida late last week, according to a clip shown on CNN's iReport site.
A Disney passenger shot the video, which showed pool water flowing onto the deck as well as Disney souvenir and logo items which toppled off shelves onto the boutique shop's floor. Here's the link to the CNN ireport: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-865019
Reportedly, guests on that voyage were promised a discount on a future cruise. At presstime, Travel Agent was awaiting an update; we'll post that here when we receive it.
Cunard Line (www.cunard.com) issued a statement on its Facebook page late Monday afternoon, which reads as follows: "We would like to reassure everybody that all is well with passengers and crew currently sailing onboard Queen Mary 2. She has made good progress since leaving NYC yesterday afternoon and is now away from Hurricane Sandy, with the weather and sea conditions well within the capabilities of the ship. Our captain is constantly updating passengers and there is no reason for friends or relatives of our passengers and crew to be concerned. We expect the ship to arrive in Southampton next Sunday as scheduled."
Carnival Cruise Lines (www.goccl.com) cancelled two sailings including the Oct. 28 departure of Carnival Pride from Baltimore and the Oct. 28 sailing of the Carnival Glory from Norfolk.
In Norfolk, the Norfolk Cruise Terminal is located behind a flood gate, which was expected to close - preventing the ship from sailing out of the harbor.
Carnival provided Travel Agent with this comprehensive update last evening.
CARNIVAL DREAM: 10/28/12 DEPARTURE (Modified six-day cruise from Port Canaveral – originally seven-day cruise departing Oct. 27)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/28 – Port Canaveral 10/27 – Port Canaveral
10/29 – At Sea 10/28 – At Sea
10/30 – Cozumel 10/29 – Cozumel
10/31 – Belize 10/30 – Belize
11/1 – Costa Maya 10/31 – Roatan
11/2 – At Sea 11/1 – Costa Maya
11/3 – Port Canaveral 11/2 – At Sea
11/3 – Port Canaveral
CARNIVAL MIRACLE: 10/21/12 DEPARTURE (Eight-day cruise from New York)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/21 – New York 10/21 – New York
10/22 – At Sea 10/22 – At Sea
10/23 – At Sea 10/23 – At Sea
10/24 – San Juan 10/24 – San Juan
10/25 – At Sea 10/25 – St. Thomas
10/26 – At Sea 10/26 – Grand Turk
10/27 – At Sea 10/27 – At Sea
10/28 – New York 10/28 – At Sea
10/29 – New York
CARNIVAL PRIDE: 10/21/12 DEPARTURE (Seven-day cruise from Baltimore)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/21 – Baltimore 10/21 – Baltimore
10/22 – At Sea 10/22 – At Sea
10/23 – At Sea 10/23 – At Sea
10/24 – Grand Turk 10/24 – Grand Turk
10/25 – At Sea 10/25 – Half Moon Cay
10/26 – At Sea 10/26 – Freeport
10/27 – At Sea 10/27 – At Sea
10/28 – Baltimore 10/28 – Baltimore
CARNIVAL PRIDE: 10/28/12 – (Seven-day voyage from Baltimore) - CANCELLED
CARNIVAL MIRACLE: 10/28/12 DEPARTURE (Nine-day cruise from New York, originally eight-day cruise departing October 29)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/28 – New York 10/29 – New York
10/29 – At Sea 10/30 – At Sea
10/30 – At Sea 10/31 – At Sea
10/31 – Port Canaveral 11/1 – San Juan
11/1 – Nassau 11/2 – St. Thomas
11/2 – At Sea 11/3 – Grand Turk
11/3 – Grand Turk 11/4 – At Sea
11/4 – At Sea 11/5 – At Sea
11/5 – At Sea 11/6 – New York
11/6 – New York
CARNIVAL ECSTASY: 10/28/12 DEPARTURE (Four -day cruise from Port Canaveral – originally five-day cruise departing Oct. 27)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/28 – Port Canaveral 10/27 – Port Canaveral
10/29 – Nassau (overnight) 10/28 – Key West
10/30 – Nassau 10/29 – At Sea
10/31 – Freeport 10/30 – Nassau
11/1 – Port Canaveral 10/31 – Freeport
11/1 – Port Canaveral
CARNIVAL SENSATION: – 10/25/12 DEPARTURE (Three-day cruise from Port Canaveral)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/25 – Port Canaveral 10/25 – Port Canaveral
10/26 – At Sea 10/26 – Nassau (overnight)
10/27 – Key West 10/27 – Nassau
10/28 – Port Canaveral (7 p.m.) 10/28 – Port Canaveral
CARNIVAL SENSATION: 10/29/12 DEPARTURE (Three-day cruise from Port Canaveral, originally four-day cruise)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/29 – Port Canaveral 10/28 – Port Canaveral
10/30 – Nassau 10/29 – Freeport
10/31 – Freeport 10/30 – Nassau (overnight)
11/1 – Port Canaveral 10/31 – Nassau
11/1 – Port Canaveral
CARNIVAL DESTINY: 10/25/12 DEPARTURE (Four-day cruise from Miami)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/25 – Miami 10/25 – Miami
10/26 – At Sea 10/26 – Key West
10/27 – Cozumel 10/27 – Cozumel
10/28 – at Sea 10/28 – At Sea
10/29 – Miami 10/29 – Miami
CARNIVAL IMAGINATION: 10/26/12 DEPARTURE (Three-day cruise from Miami)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/26 – Miami 10/26 – Miami
10/27 – At Sea 10/27 – Nassau (overnight)
10/28 – Nassau 10/28 – Nassau
10/29 – Miami 10/29 – Miami
CARNIVAL FASCINATION: 10/27/12 DEPARTURE (Five-day cruise from Jacksonville)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/27 – Jacksonville 10/27 – Jacksonville
10/28 – At Sea 10/28 – At Sea
10/29 – Freeport 10/29 – Half Moon Cay
10/30 – Nassau 10/30 – Nassau
10/31 – At Sea 10/31 – At Sea
11/1 – Jacksonville 11/1 – Jacksonville
CARNIVAL GLORY: 10/22/12 DEPARTURE (Six-day cruise from Norfolk)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/22 – Norfolk 10/22 – Norfolk
10/23 – At Sea 10/23 – At Sea
10/24 – Nassau 10/24 – Nassau (overnight)
10/25 – At Sea 10/25 – Nassau
10/26 – At Sea 10/26 – Freeport
10/27 – Norfolk (11 a.m.) 10/27 – At sea
10/28 – Norfolk
CARNIVAL GLORY: 10/28/12 (Five-day voyage from Norfolk) - CANCELLED
CARNIVAL LIBERTY: 10/27/12 DEPARTURE (Seven-day cruise from Miami)
Revised Itinerary Original Itinerary
10/27 – Miami 10/27 – Miami
10/28 – Nassau 10/28 – Half Moon Cay
10/29 – At Sea 10/29 – At Sea
10/30 – St. Thomas 10/30 – San Juan
10/31 – San Juan 10/31 – St. Thomas
11/1 – Grand Turk 11/1 – Grand Turk
11/2 – At Sea 11/2 – At Sea
11/3 – Miami 11/3 – Miami
Stay tuned for further updates.