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.
Radiance of the Seas ship, 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, Freedom of the Seas ship, departing Fort Lauderdale on November 3rd, has rearranged visits to Labadee, Haiti, and Grand Cayman, reversing the order to steer clear of Rafael’s projected impact zones.
Vision of the Seas ship, which departed Baltimore MD on October 31st, has a revised course, with canceled visits in The Bahamas and CocoCay. Instead, the vessel will spend extended time in Bermuda and call at Port Canaveral FL.
Brilliance of the Seas ship, which departed from NOLA/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.