RCI-Royal Caribbean has adjusted the itineraries of 4 of its Caribbean-based ships to avoid Hurricane Rafael’s path, following an alert from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicting the storm’s intensification to a Category 2 hurricane before reaching Cuba.
The Radiance of the Seas, departing Tampa Bay on November 2nd, modified her planned itinerary from Bimini, Freeport, and CocoCay, redirecting to Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Costa Maya in the Western Caribbean.
Similarly, the Freedom of the Seas, departing Fort Lauderdale on November 3rd, has rearranged her calls to Labadee, Haiti, and George Town, Cayman Islands, reversing the order to steer clear of Rafael’s projected impact zones.
The Vision of the Seas, which departed Baltimore on October 31st, has revised her course as well, canceling planned stops in the Bahamas and CocoCay. Instead, the vessel will spend extended time in Bermuda and call at Port Canaveral, Florida. The Brilliance of the Seas, which departed from New Orleans on November 2nd, has also adjusted her route, replacing Grand Cayman with a call at Belize City to ensure passenger safety.
As Hurricane Rafael approaches the Cuban coast with winds of up to 154 km/h, Royal Caribbean and other maritime operators continue to monitor the storm’s progress, making further adjustments as needed to prioritize passenger safety and comfort.