Royal Caribbean changes itineraries as severe storms threaten cruise routes
Sailings in Mexico and along the East Coast were adjusted as Hurricane Polo and a forecast nor’easter posed potential disruptions.
Hurricane Polo was reported as a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph off western Mexico. The hurricane was located roughly 600 miles west of Acapulco and south of Cabo San Lucas.
According to an industry report, Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas changed its planned weeklong itinerary from Los Angeles to avoid the hurricane. The ship canceled calls at Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, rescheduled its Mazatlán visit and added a stop in Puerto Vallarta.
On the East Coast, forecasts cited in the report called for a nor’easter to bring coastal flooding, wind gusts of up to 50 mph and between 3 and 5 inches of rain across parts of New England. Royal Caribbean reportedly switched Vision of the Seas’ sailing from Baltimore from a New England and Canada itinerary to a Bahamas voyage.
The report also observed that Independence of the Seas returned to Cape Liberty one afternoon rather than arriving the following morning as scheduled. Norwegian Breakaway and Celebrity Silhouette were identified among other cruises scheduled in the affected East Coast area that could be impacted.