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Cruise ships change itineraries to dodge Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a major Category 5 hurricane on Monday, October 8, before weakening as it continues to barrel toward Florida's Gulf Coast, impacting cruise itineraries. 

Florida is preparing for the storm's arrival, with the state's Division of Emergency Management gearing up for the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017. Milton is expected to make landfall by mid-week and bring rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches across portions of the state, with localized totals up to 15 inches. 

Port strike is happening but what about cruise ships?

No, the longshoreman strike won't affect cruise ship passengers. 

The U.S. port strike went into effect on Tuesday, impacting ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. It's the first coast-wide International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike since 1977, with 45,000 unionized dockworkers raising their pickets. 

Cruise operations typically have dedicated facilities separate from cargo handling; however, ships are serviced and stocked by working members of the ILA. 

Cruise ship can't return home because of Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene continues wreaking havoc on the cruise industry, with one cruise ship stuck at sea and two more skipping their scheduled visits to Cozumel. 

Guests onboard MSC Seashore confirmed they were alerted they'll be unable to return to Port Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday, September 26. 

Cruise ships change courses as Hurricane Helene tears through the Gulf

Hurricane Helene, the ninth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, has already caused cruise ships to alter their itineraries. The system will bring life-threatening storm surges, high winds, and heavy rain to parts of the Western Caribbean and Florida, resulting in cruise ships changing course to avoid the worst of the conditions. 

Helene is anticipated to make landfall in Florida on Thursday after strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico, becoming the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the United States this year, following Beryl, Debby, and Francie. 

TikTok couple responds to controversy they left kids alone in cruise cabin

Famous TikTok couple, Matt and Abby Howard, are responding to being called “negligent” and “irresponsible” parents online after choosing to leave their children presumably unattended in a cruise cabin.

NY family loses out on $8,500 dream vacation as flight delay forces them to barely miss cruise — leaving them to watch from dock as cruise ship sailed away

One family from New York was left heartbroken when an unexpectedly delayed flight caused them to miss their much-anticipated cruise vacation. Narrowly missing the ship’s departure time, the devastated family watched their ship sail away without them.

Norway delays fjord cruise ship ban

Norway won't ban cruise ships from sailing through the iconic fjords until 2032. 

In 2018, the Norwegian government announced plans to ban all but zero-emissions cruise ships from the World Heritage fjords effective in 2026. 

Passengers stranded waiting for three-year world cruise to set sail

Passengers waiting to embark on a three-year world cruise have been stranded in Ireland for three months after the departure date was delayed due to mechanical issues. 

Initally scheduled to depart Belfast, Ireland, in May, the Villa Vie Odyssey remains docked in Northern Ireland while repairs are made to its rudders and gearbox. 

Some passengers have spent upwards of £680,000 (about $750,000 USD) for the cruise—yet there's no official sail date in sight. 

Tropical Storm Ernesto disrupts at least five cruise ship itineraries

As Tropical Storm Ernesto continues to head toward Puerto Rico, at least five cruise ships have had to adjust their itineraries to steer clear of the storm. 

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Ernesto is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to parts of the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. They anticipate heavy rainfall that could potentially result in flash flooding and mudslides. 

Cruise ships sail around Hurricane Debby, but some delayed returns

We're roughly halfway through the Atlantic hurricane season, and, so far, we've seen four named storms, two of which strengthened into hurricanes. As such, cruise ships have had itineraries altered to keep passengers and crew safe. 

The latest, Hurricane Debby, made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on August 5 with sustained winds of 80 mph. As of 2:00pm, however, the National Hurricane Center reported Debby had weakened as the storm moved inland with 65mph sustained winds. 

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