Hurricane Ernesto has affected the itinerary for one more Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
With the storm’s anticipated path headed for Bermuda, Royal Caribbean has altered the plan for Liberty of the Seas August 15, 2024 cruise.
The unique plan was for Liberty to sail a 9 Night time Bermuda and Japanese Caribbean cruise.
As an alternative, Liberty of the Seas will skip its go to to Bermuda and go west of the storm and south to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos.
An electronic mail despatched to booked passengers defined the change, “Together with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we have been monitoring the monitor of Hurricane Ernesto alongside our supposed path.
“So as to keep protected and away from this hurricane, we’ll now skip our go to to Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, and journey west of the storm and south to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. Whereas not the unique itinerary deliberate, we’re excited to have an additional day to get pleasure from Grand Turk with you!”
Any pre-booked shore excursions by way of the cruise line shall be mechanically refunded.
The brand new itinerary features a go to to Grand Turk twice on consecutive days, adopted by the resumption of their authentic itinerary.
Cruise strains will alter the itinerary of a cruise ship to keep away from dangerous climate, particularly tropical storms. Normally an itinerary change just like what has occurred to Liberty of the Seas is all that is wanted.
It is uncommon for a cruise to be cancelled due to a hurricane.
The cruise line apologized for having no alternative however to vary its authentic plans, “We’re terribly sorry for this last-minute change brought on by the climate – your security is our prime precedence. Please know, being onboard is likely one of the most secure locations as a result of our ship can rapidly transfer out of the best way of any inclement climate.”
Liberty of the Seas is a Freedom Class cruise ship, able to crusing with as much as 4,960 passengers at most capability.
Learn extra: What I preferred (and disliked) about my Liberty of the Seas cruise
Liberty of the Seas remains to be on schedule to return to Cape Liberty on August 24.
Fourth Royal Caribbean cruise ship affected by Ernesto
Liberty of the Seas is the fourth Royal Caribbean cruise ship to change its itinerary this week.
Icon of the Seas needed to swap itineraries, going from an Japanese Caribbean cruise to a Western Caribbean crusing.
Crusing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rhapsody of the Seas reversed its port order to keep away from the trail of the storm and went to Barbados first.
Symphony of the Seas changed a port go to to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic with a go to to Nassau, Bahamas.
These adjustments have been made earlier than Ernesto had turn into a hurricane.
Different cruise strains modified their plans too.
Carnival needed to alter the itinerary for Carnival Magic and Carnival Satisfaction, and is monitoring the itineraries for the Carnival Freedom and Mardi Gras.
Norwegian Cruise Line had three ships change plans, together with Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Pleasure.
Hurricane Ernesto’s path
The Nationwide Hurricane Heart says Hurricane Ernesto is a Class 1 Hurricane centered about 600 miles south-southwest of Bermuda and is shifting north.
The storm moved by way of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and it is now previous these islands.
Whereas not a risk to america mainland, it seems headed straight for Bermuda.
Ernesto is heading north at 13 mph early Thursday with most sustained winds of 85 mph, the hurricane heart stated.
Ernesto might turn into a significant hurricane by Friday, which implies it must attain Class 3 or greater.
The Nationwide Hurricane Heart that Bermuda will see a “harmful storm surge” that can produce important coastal flooding and damaging waves. The island nation will see about half a foot of rain and in some areas, as much as a foot, presumably leading to “appreciable life-threatening flash flooding.”