While still a tropical storm, Tammy is expected to strengthen into a hurricane, and she's already caused some cruise ships to alter their itineraries.
Tropical storm warnings have already been issued for some of the Leeward Islands, including Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, and St. Barthelemy.
This is not the first time a storm has forced cruise lines to alter itineraries this year. Back in September, for instance, Hurricane Lee caused some Bermuda cruises to sail to the Bahamas instead.
Here's what Tropical Storm Tammy means for Eastern Caribbean cruises.
Read more: Cruising during hurricane season: Is it safe and should you do it?
Two Norwegian ships will no longer visit St. Maarten. Norweigan Joy and Norwegian Sky were both scheduled to dock in St. Maarten on Friday, October 20; however, according to the Port of St. Maarten Group Facebook page, both visits have been canceled to ensure the safety of both passengers and crew.
Norwegian Sky was scheduled to arrive at 8:00am, while Norwegian Joy was supposed to arrive at 11:00am.
Where is Tropical Storm Tammy heading?
(Image taken from the National Hurricane Center's website on October 20, 2023 at 9:15am EST. Please check the website for the most updated information, as it is subject to change)
Thankfully, the majority of impacts will be felt over the weekend, with the storm likely curving back into the Atlantic by Monday.
The tropical storm is forecasted to become a hurricane by Saturday and bring heavy rains to the Leeward Islands, as well as Puerto Rico.
Hurricane season is coming to an end
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30; however, the peak of storms occur during August, September, and October. While this doesn't mean another storm will not pop up, the chances lessen!
According to Scientific American, only ten tropical storms and three hurricanes have hit the United States during the month of November since 1851! The onset of cooler ocean temperatures means that major storms are less likely to develop.
Thinking ahead in 2024, one of the cheapest times to sail to the Caribbean and Bahamas is during hurricane season, so if you're looking to snag a great deal on a cruise, you might want to consider booking during the later months! Of course, it is crucial that you purchase travel insurance!
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
