- 08
- Nov
- 2017
What Happens if my Cruise is Cancelled Due to Weather?
Find out how bad weather and cancellations can affect your cruise vacation
This year’s storm season has been unusually intense, causing many travelers to wonder about safety issues and cancellation policies on cruises. If you are one of the many cruisers wondering, “what happens if my cruise is cancelled due to weather,” and other questions about cruise vacations and inclement weather, we have some answers to set your mind at ease.
What happens if my cruise is cancelled due to weather?
Full cancellations of cruises due to weather are rare, but they do occasionally occur. Several cruises sailing to the Caribbean and Bermuda out of Florida were cancelled earlier this fall because of Hurricane Irma. If your cruise is cancelled due to the weather, you will be issued a full refund. Partial refunds or credits are issued in cases of a cruise that is shortened because of inclement weather.
What happens if there is a hurricane while on a cruise?
People who are new to cruising often ask this question, concerned about the safety of booking a cruise during hurricane season. We have a pleasant surprise for you – a cruise ship is one of the best places to be on vacation when a hurricane occurs, because it is mobile! Cruise lines have experts who constantly monitor the weather. If it looks like a hurricane is developing when you are at sea, the cruise ship will simply divert their course to travel away from the bad weather. Your vacation continues in a location where the weather is sunny and the seas are calm.
Cruise lines will do their best to follow your original itinerary, but they may need to make changes in cases of bad weather. You may get the chance to visit a different port, or spend an extra day or two at sea. Sometimes the order of ports is exchanged to accommodate bad weather. In certain cases, your cruise may be shortened or lengthened by a day or two if a storm threatens your next port. If you miss a port, your port fees will be refunded. It is important to note that your shore excursions will only be refunded if you booked them through the cruise line. You are out of luck if you book activities on your own unless you have purchased travel insurance that includes cruise itinerary change compensation, aka “missed port cover”.
What happens if a hurricane hits my homeport when I am on a cruise?
The cruise line will always bring you in to a safe port. If a hurricane is expected to hit your homeport on or immediately before your embarkation or debarkation date, your cruise may be canceled and your fare refunded. If the storm is not expected to seriously damage the port, the cruise line may delay boarding or shorten your cruise by a day or two. In this case, the cruise line would refund a pro-rated amount of your fare. If you are at sea, your cruise may be extended by a few days until it is safe to land. There is no extra charge for extending your cruise, of course.
Do cruise ships avoid rain?
No, cruise ships do not change their paths to avoid rain. Cruise ships can readily accommodate all of their passengers below decks, although it may feel a little crowded. When on-deck activities such as waterslides or go-karts have to be shut down while it is raining, cruise lines will typically organize additional fun activities below-deck to keep passengers amused. You can expect to enjoy special movie screenings, scavenger hunts, trivia contests, and more as the crew works to make sure you still have a great time on your cruise.
If you have other questions about cruising, or would like help in booking a cruise vacation, call CruiseExperts.com today at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784). Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and join our InnerCircle for exclusive offers and cruise news you can use! Also, check out our new Resource Center, where you can receive expert knowledge from us before your next cruise or cruisetour!
Our team of cruise consultants and support staff, based in Central California, counts nearly a century of combined talent, knowledge, and enthusiasm in the travel industry. We’re not just another internet upstart; our seasoned team has gained the trust and business of thousands of satisfied cruise and land vacation customers from all over the country since 1995. We ARE the original Cruise Experts.
