Before diving into the cruise tales, I want to express my deepest empathy to those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. It’s impossible to fully grasp the challenges you’re facing, but my thoughts and prayers are with you as you rebuild your lives and communities.
A common question I often hear from my guests, especially those from the Midwest, is whether it’s wise to vacation or cruise during hurricane season. It’s an understandable query, particularly for those unfamiliar with such storms. I like to counter with a simple analogy: “Do you travel in the winter?” The answer is almost always ‘yes,’ which brings us to the essence of the answer—traveling during hurricane season is much the same. Preparation and a bit of flexibility are key.
Let me share a recent experience with Hurricane Milton. Along with 250 travel advisors and 80 suppliers, I set sail on the Independence of the Seas. We departed from the Port of Miami, scheduled to visit destinations like Royal Caribbean’s private Island, CocoCay, and Cozumel. However, due to the weather, Cozumel was substituted with a stop at Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. I was thoroughly impressed by the smooth transition—we received refunds for Cozumel tours, and new tour options quickly popped up on the app for easy rescheduling.
The night before disembarkation, we were informed that the Port of Miami was closed, necessitating an extra day at sea. Royal Caribbean handled the situation admirably, extending drink and Wi-Fi packages automatically. For those without Wi-Fi, they kindly provided 150 free minutes to arrange alternative travel plans. Guess what? – Guests who had travel agents didn’t have to lift a finger…
Though a few guests were understandably disappointed about missing Cozumel or returning home a bit late, the overall mood remained positive. I reminded those concerned that our safety was the priority. In fact, being on a cruise ship during a hurricane often feels like one of the safest options. Our captain skillfully navigated around any threats, ensuring sunny and calm seas for most of our journey, with only a bit of turbulence near Florida.
Traveling at any time has its unpredictability, which is why travel protection is crucial. While Royal Caribbean offered compensation for rearranged flights, the closure announcement timing meant some flights were fully booked upon disembarkation, leading to extended stays for some.
So, would I cruise during hurricane season again? Unequivocally, yes! Every season has variables. The key is preparedness, an understanding that safety comes first, and of course, carrying plenty of patience.
Here are 3 of my new “friends” I met on board. And the photo above is Cococay, which is a pretty amazing place to hang out for the day.
The woman in the picture with me is Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service. She was our keynote speaker for our conference onboard.
Sara is the owner of Platinum Travel and specializes in creating luxury, customized, stress free vacations for people who want to see the world and all things Disney.
She also owns Autism Friendly Vacations where she helps families who have a member on the Autism spectrum get the vacation they deserve. Visit AutismVacation.com for more information.
You can reach her at 414-377-8611 or Sara@PlatinumTravelWI.com to start planning your vacation today.
