Ten Tips for Cruising in Hurricane Season

Hurricane Season for the Atlantic Basin is from June 1 through November 30. The Atlantic basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico

PEAK Hurricane Season, when the Atlantic Basin is typically the most active, is from roughly the second week of August through the last part of October. Search for cruises sailing during this time - it's when you are most likely to find the best cruise deals

The Eastern Pacific (EPAC) Hurricane season is from May 15 through November 30.

When it comes to Caribbean cruises, you should know that you'll generally have beautiful weather when you cruise the Caribbean in hurricane season. But hurricanes are taken very seriously there, as well they should be. Cruise lines take them seriously, too, and the captain will take your ship away from a hurricane, not into it.

It's great to get a good deal, and, yes, I do cruise during hurricane season.

There ARE risks inherent with cruises this time of year. But is it just a crap shoot?

No, not really. Lots of things CAN happen, and they've happened to me. But, they haven't ruined my cruise. Why? Because I not only knew and accepted the chance I was taking, but prepared for some possible consequences of a tropical system interfering with some aspect of my cruise.

NEXT: Some of the most likely risks of cruising during hurricane season.

Here are some of the ways your cruise and travel plans can be affected:

Florida Hurricane Damage Poster by pamdicar

1 - Travel to and from your port of embarkation could be effected.

2 - Your ship could have to leave port hours earlier than the stated time.

3 - There could be changes to your cruise itinerary.

4 - You could be sailing on rough seas and in stormy weather.

5 - Your cruise could end a day or two earlier or later than planned, or even return to a different city than the one you left from.

6 - You could return to a city that was hit by a storm. There could be flooded streets, making getting out of the city difficult, Or or no power, making routine purchases impossible.

NOTE Most Caribbean cruises and Mexican Riviera cruises begin, sail, and end just as planned, even during the season. But ONE tropical system could cross your path and bring LOTS of changes with it.

Read on for my tips for cruising during hurricane season, and how to be ready for some of the ways a hurricane can affect your cruise.

Think about it. If your travel plans must be adjusted or extended, if you miss a flight, if you make it to the ship but your luggage doesn't, it can be an expensive proposition. Travel insurance will cover all this and more.
It even covers medical emergencies when you are out of the country. These can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, and are NOT coveredy by MediCare or most employer-provided plans. The company we use is TravelGuard. Here's their banner:

IMPORTANT POINTS:
1 - You want Travel Insurance - as opposed to Trip Protection.
2 - For best coverage, buy when you purchase cruise, not later.

Free Travel Insurance Quotes from Travel Guard.

Create a list that fits your personal circumstances - a list of extras to pack just in case you encounter very inclement weather, or problems in returning home after your cruise. Here is a partial list to get you thinking:

1 - A sweater or jacket, an extra pair of durable long pants, tennies, and a rain poncho, in case you have to be in the weather of a tropial system.

2 - An extra battery for your cell phone, in case you return to a port that's been hit, and there's no power for chargers.

3 - Several extra days of perscription medicines.

4 - Important phone numbers, including that of your travel agent.

It was a weekend cruise during the wicked 2004 hurricane season.

The ship left a tad early (see tip #3), the seas were a little rough (see tip #4), and we never made it to CocoCay, because the little island was being hit by the outer bands of a hurricane.

Then, it was announced Nassau was being hit, and that we wouldn't be going there the next day. Some passengers began expressing hostility. Yes, they were on a cruise... being waited on hand and foot ... being entertained, being catered to ... eating delicious food ...yet they were UTTERLY MISERABLE, and outright ANGRY. Yes, they were angry that the Captain had the temerity to steer the ship into safer waters. They paid for a cruise to Nassau, and by golly they wanted to go to Nassau - hurricane or no hurricane.

So it was, that the passenger population was split into two groups.

One group was working themselves up into a lather and making themselves miserable because something unexpected had happened and nobody was fixing it for them.

The other group was clearly enjoying the unexpected adventure that their cruise had become.

Which group would you have been in? If it was the miserable group, perhaps cruising in hurricane season is just not for you.

My Photo- Storm Clouds at CocoCay - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Especially for new cruisers, shore excursions are exciting. They give you the opportunity to do and experience new and exciting things.

Whether you plan on water activities, like snorkeling or jet sking; or city or adventure tours, you can choose to book through the ship or on your own through an independent tour operator. Sometimes you'll save quite a bit by using an independent. (Check recommendations, though)

If there is a tropical system, your ship may have to substitute one port for another, or miss a port entirely, in order to avoid sailing into dangrous waters. Or, it may have cut the planned time in a specific port short, and leave early by order of that port's authorities.

If you have booked your excursions through the cruise line, and cruise itinerary changes, your money will automatically be credited back to you.

If you decide to book with an independent tour operator, consider these things:

- Make sure they will refund any monies paid if your ship's itinerary changes. Get it in writing.
- Avoid independent tours that end very near sailing time. ALWAYS leave yourself extra time, in case your tour operator runs into problems.

Tropical systems can develop at any time, and intensify quickly. Beginning several days before your cruise, watch the weather like a hawk! If there is even the hint of a storm forming or a low developing, you want to know about it.

A good friend found out by watching the local Miami weather that the ships had been ordered out of the port of Miami in the morning, although her ship was scheduled to sail at 5 PM. Thank goodness they came a day early, AND kept an eye on the weather. Thanks to her dilligence, they made it to the ship in time.

You can check for changes on line with the cruise line's website.

Consider joining a good cruise forum. They will usually be all over anything that can affect a cruise or its itinerary, and get it posted quickly. I recommend CruiseLineFans.com, and that's a forum I participate in, and also lend assistance when I can in to keeping their Hurricane Watch forum updated.

Your cruise could return a day or more earlier or later than was scheduled because of tropical weather.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING HOME Before leaving to board the ship, check the location you are parked in... if it's under a tree, and a hurricane is on the way, you might want to re-think your parking place. Look for a high and dry spot, if possible.
Fill your tank BEFORE leaving for your cruise. A lot can happen in a week or 10 days (or however long your cruise is) and if one of those things is a hurricane hitting your port, there may be no gas to be had on your return.

IF YOU ARE FLYING HOME:
Make sure the air tickets you purchase are changeagle without a large fee. If your original flight was to leave on Sunday afternoon, but you are still at sea on Sunday, you're gonna need a different flight. If you booked your flights through the cruise line (or your travel gent did) they will take care of your re-booking arrangements. Otherwise, it's up to you, even from the middle of the ocean.

KEEP Your Calendar Free for a couple of extra days
Don't make crucial plans for the day or day after your cruise is scheduled to end. For example, don't make an important appointment for the Monday after a cruise that is supposed to end on Sunday. If your cruise is a day late coming in, or if air travel is disrupted, you will miss your appointment. Give yourself a couple days of leaway.

If your post-cruise return plans must change, you may need extra cash. And changes in plans is due to hurricanes or tropical storms hitting the city where you disembark, just6 about REQUIRE that you have CASH funds.

In the aftermath of a hurricane, cash is king. This is because if there is a power outage, those stores, restaurants, and others, that manage to open may not be able to process credit card charges. In addition, even if you are able to find an ATM at a location with the power to operate it, the machine is unlikely to have any cash remaining. So, plan to have enough cash to survive for several days when you get off the ship.

This goes back to the little story in Tip #5. It's YOUR cruise, and you yourself can make it or break it when things don't go just as expected. It's all in your cruising attitude.

Live Love Cruise by CruiseReady

if you are bound and determined that you are on a cruise, and by golly, it's gonna be a good one, it probaly will be. If you are convinced that outside forces will determine your happiness at sea, well, you are at their mercy. It's up to you.

So, my most important tip for enjoying your hurricane season cruise is to bring along a positive attitude, and your best sense of adventure, and even a nasty weather system probably won't be able to defeat you.

Enjoy every minute - whether you're planning a weekend cruise or a month long voyage!