Canada adds El Niño guidance to Bahamas travel advisory
Cruise visitors are also advised to use added caution around terminals, resort districts and water sports operators.
Global Affairs Canada updated its travel advice for the Bahamas on October 13, adding information about El Niño to the section covering natural disasters and climate. The department says possible climate-related hazards include droughts, flooding and severe storms.
In an October 8 discussion, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said El Niño continued to strengthen. The center estimated the likelihood of strong to very strong conditions through March 2027 at more than 83%.
Canada continues to advise travelers to exercise a high degree of caution in the Bahamas because of crime, particularly in Nassau and Freeport. Its advisory says robberies may occur near cruise terminals and in popular resort areas, including during daylight hours.
The Canadian government also characterizes the country’s water sports rental sector as poorly regulated and says boating accidents happen frequently. Royal Caribbean, meanwhile, says it closely tracks tropical systems and seeks to keep ships away from them. According to the cruise line, itineraries may be changed when a storm poses a potential danger to passengers or vessels.
