Does Royal Caribbean cancel cruises because of weather?

Can Royal Caribbean change a cruise itinerary? In the event of strikes, lockouts, riots, weather conditions or mechanical difficulties, or for any other reason whatsoever, Royal Caribbean® may, at any time and without prior notice, cancel, advance, postpone or deviate from any scheduled sailing o...



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Because cruise ships can move around bad weather, full cancellations are rare. But they can and do happen. Cruise lines are loath to cancel sailings and try to wait as long as possible before making a decision, while still trying to give passengers enough lead time to make alternate plans if necessary.

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Again, it's very rare for either Carnival or Royal Caribbean to cancel a cruise, but they can change the ports at which a ship stops, delay the ship's departure, and keep it out at sea for longer than originally scheduled.

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A few passing showers are little cause for concern, and there are plenty of things to do inside until the rain stops. A storm, squall, or hurricane is a different matter. If your ship is in danger of encountering seriously bad weather, here's what you can expect to happen: The captain will change course.

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Enjoying Your Cruise When Bad Weather Strikes Most indoor activities will be unaffected by inclement weather, including trivia contests, karaoke, cooking demonstrations, Bingo games, art auctions, craft projects, comedy shows, slot tournaments, scavenger hunts, and more.

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Because cruise ships can move around bad weather, full cancellations are rare. But they can and do happen. Cruise lines are loath to cancel sailings and try to wait as long as possible before making a decision, while still trying to give passengers enough lead time to make alternate plans if necessary.

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A possible forced stay at sea: If the storm proves too formidable, the ship may need to hunker down and ride it out at sea. A slim chance of sinking: It's an unnerving thought, but the possibility exists. If the ship takes too much damage, it could go down.

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Storms in August and October have a moderate risk of developing into hurricanes while September has the highest risk of all. For these reasons, September is the worst month of the year to take a cruise.

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What's Considered Rough Seas For A Cruise Ship? When waves reach a height of over eight feet (2.4m), the sea is considered to be 'rough'. If waves are over 13 feet (4m) then the sea is classified as 'very rough'. This is based upon the Douglas sea scale, a system for measuring the height of waves.

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Cons: September actually marks the peak of hurricane season. Historically, the first week of the month is the busiest for storms and then activity quickly drops off later in the month. Still, even if your ship isn't directly impacted by a storm, it can cause issues at Caribbean ports.

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Caribbean Seasons
Rain is more frequent in the wet season, but the temperatures are warmer. Wet season and dry season are both good times to cruise the Caribbean. The worst time for a Caribbean cruise weather-wise is August to September, as it is peak hurricane season.

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What is the best time of year to go to the Caribbean? December through April is the peak season for Caribbean cruising. During this time, you'll experience the best weather and some of the most entertaining holidays and festivals.

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If the delay goes over eight hours, a hot meal should be provided. If you're subject to a delay, you would have the right to an alternative cruise or a refund if the delay causes a significant change to your original booking. In practice this means that the delay would have to be quite long.

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Though your itinerary may change, cruises are rarely canceled due to storms. Ships are designed to handle rough seas and can be rerouted to avoid danger. Once you're on board, any port updates will be announced over the ship's intercom or detailed in a notice delivered to your stateroom.

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While highly advanced weather and storm detection systems mean that cruise ships can easily avoid these situations, the fact they can withstand them means the chances of tipping over are very slim.

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A stabilizer works like an aeroplane wing to ensure the guests' safety. These are generally installed for stormy situations that may go out of hand. The stabilizers lift the ship over the rough waves without the guests even getting aware of it. Such measures are pre-installed in every cruise to face crises like these.

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Ambient temperature on the vessels ranges between 18 – 20°C (64 – 68°F) in public areas, while cabin temperatures may be adjusted according to your preference.

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According to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), hurricane season in the Caribbean runs from June 1 through November 30 and normally peaks in August and September. The Caribbean region is a part of the Atlantic hurricane season, which also impacts Florida and other parts of the coastal southern United States.

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If a storm is threatening the area a ship was scheduled to sail to, cruise lines will reroute the ships if the forecast is severe enough. While cruise ships can typically outrun most storms, passengers may still experience rough seas as their ship skirts the edges of a weather system.

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