Tropical Storm Ernesto forces cruise itinerary changes in the Caribbean

   August 14, 2024 ,   Accidents

Several cruise lines have adjusted their itineraries due to Tropical Storm Ernesto, which was impacting the northern Caribbean with heavy rain, strong winds, and rough seas as it approached Puerto Rico on Tuesday evening, August 13.

As of 8:00 p.m. ET Tuesday, both CCL-Carnival and RCI-Royal Caribbean reported changes to avoid the storm.

Carnival Pride, sailing from Baltimore to Bermuda, advanced her visit by a day, now arriving on Tuesday and departing on Thursday.

Carnival Magic, on an Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami Florida, canceled the stop in San Juan Puerto Rico on Wednesday, replacing it with a visit to Nassau Bahamas on Friday.

Additionally, Carnival is closely monitoring the itineraries of Carnival Freedom and Mardi Gras for possible adjustments.

Royal Caribbean also made modifications. Icon of the Seas switched to a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary, now visiting Cozumel Mexico; Roatan Honduras; and Costa Maya Mexico, instead of its planned Eastern Caribbean route.

Rhapsody of the Seas reordered her ports of call, visiting Bridgetown Barbados on Tuesday; Castries St Lucia on Wednesday; St John’s Antigua on Thursday; Phillipsburg St. Maarten on Friday; and St. Croix USVI on Saturday.

Symphony of the Seas will now stop in Nassau instead of Puerto Plata, Dominicana.

Meanwhile, Holland America and Princess Cruises have no ships currently operating in the Caribbean.

Virgin Voyages confirmed that its Valiant Lady is the only ship in the Caribbean and remains unaffected by the storm.