Hurricane Dennis wrapup
So Hurricane Dennis is history, thankfully substantially sparing life and property by weakening prior to hitting the Florida panhandle.
The impact on cruises was less than feared, generally causing minor itinerary modifications to stay clear of the storm or to skip ports that closed (like Key West). One ship sailed a day later than planned from New Orleans, Carnival's Conquest, with guests on that sailing receiving a $50 per person onboard credit plus a 15% refund, or the option to cancel without penalty. The Conquest's delay put two ships in town on Monday, the other being Carnival's Sensation, forcing the New Orleans port authorities to debark Sensation at not-yet-completed Poland Avenue pier.
Dennis performed some free civil engineering work that humans hadn't been able to finish since 2002. The USS Spiegel Grove, which had been intentionally sunk as an artificial reef for divers near Key Largo, Florida, was tipped into a more-favorable upright position by the storm. Up until now the ship had lain on its side in a less-desirable configuration after some troubles with its 2002 sinking.
So far the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's prediction of an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this year, which runs June through November, seems prescient. This is the first time there have been four named storms so early since recordkeeping began in 1851, according to the National Hurricane Center. A spot of bad weather gets a name when its maximum sustained winds reach 39 miles per hour and it becomes an official Tropical Storm.
What is a cruise traveler to do? Rest assured that no cruise line will risk safety. Unlike land resorts, cruise ships can simply sail elsewhere to avoid the brunt of a storm, making itinerary changes on the fly. For those relatively uncommon situations when a storm affects the turnaround port on turnaround day, ships can be diverted or rescheduled, as in this case with the Conquest. All travelers, whether cruise or otherwise, are strongly recommended to procure quality travel insurance to provide financial protection, and enroute live assistance, for covered trip interruptions and delays. But as with any travel, it is up to the individual to decide his or her own tolerance for the possibility of weather-related inconveniences and time trips accordingly.
The impact on cruises was less than feared, generally causing minor itinerary modifications to stay clear of the storm or to skip ports that closed (like Key West). One ship sailed a day later than planned from New Orleans, Carnival's Conquest, with guests on that sailing receiving a $50 per person onboard credit plus a 15% refund, or the option to cancel without penalty. The Conquest's delay put two ships in town on Monday, the other being Carnival's Sensation, forcing the New Orleans port authorities to debark Sensation at not-yet-completed Poland Avenue pier.
Dennis performed some free civil engineering work that humans hadn't been able to finish since 2002. The USS Spiegel Grove, which had been intentionally sunk as an artificial reef for divers near Key Largo, Florida, was tipped into a more-favorable upright position by the storm. Up until now the ship had lain on its side in a less-desirable configuration after some troubles with its 2002 sinking.
So far the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's prediction of an above-average hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin this year, which runs June through November, seems prescient. This is the first time there have been four named storms so early since recordkeeping began in 1851, according to the National Hurricane Center. A spot of bad weather gets a name when its maximum sustained winds reach 39 miles per hour and it becomes an official Tropical Storm.
What is a cruise traveler to do? Rest assured that no cruise line will risk safety. Unlike land resorts, cruise ships can simply sail elsewhere to avoid the brunt of a storm, making itinerary changes on the fly. For those relatively uncommon situations when a storm affects the turnaround port on turnaround day, ships can be diverted or rescheduled, as in this case with the Conquest. All travelers, whether cruise or otherwise, are strongly recommended to procure quality travel insurance to provide financial protection, and enroute live assistance, for covered trip interruptions and delays. But as with any travel, it is up to the individual to decide his or her own tolerance for the possibility of weather-related inconveniences and time trips accordingly.
Labels: Hurricanes and Weather
