You might get one or more extra days at sea, or the captain could swap out the missed port for a new port, should one be available. Sometimes, the entire order of ports is rearranged so that all are still visited but at times when the weather will be less disruptive.

If a hurricane develops during your cruise, the primary goal of the captain and the cruise line's "Fleet Operations Center" is to outrun or sail around the storm. Modern cruise ships are equipped with advanced satellite weather tracking and can travel at speeds (over 20 knots) that allow them to easily bypass the core of a hurricane. This usually means your itinerary will change: a Western Caribbean cruise might be rerouted to the Eastern Caribbean, or a port day might be replaced with a day at sea. While the ship is safe, the sea can become "choppy" on the outskirts of a storm, which may lead to some motion sickness among passengers. In 2026, cruise lines rarely cancel sailings unless the "home port" is closed by authorities; if they do cancel, they typically offer full refunds and "Future Cruise Credits." If only a port is missed, you are usually only entitled to a refund of that specific port's taxes and fees (often $10–$20) added to your onboard account.