No cruise ship passengers were directly affected by Hurricane Beryl that in less than a day had turned into a powerful storm as it made its way into the Caribbean. For cruise line operation centers, shifting ports of call and substituting other spots is everyday business. When they sell a cruise, they actually sell the cruise ship as the destination, with ports on the itinerary not guaranteed.
In the case of Beryl crossing the Caribbean, ships in the western Caribbean have been kept to the outside borders, as a Cruise Mapper map shows. It is that for passenger safety, cruise ships are ready to change itineraries at the drop of a hat. In most occasions, the cruise lines will do all possible to not change a port of call, many times waiting as long as possible, but safety is always first.
In the case of Beryl, a major storm that most computer models forecast would keep a steady path through the Caribbean, several ships had their itineraries changed before they set sail this week.
Several ships serving northern Dominican Republic continue on route. But ships in the southern Caribbean had their itineraries redirected to avoid impact from the storm. The Dominican Republic’s two major cruise ports — Amber Cove and Taino Bay — are located on the north coast that was not impacted by Beryl.
Likewise, how much damage a port of call has suffered after the hurricane may impact a destination for months.
Diario Libre reports that eight flights by American Airlines (Miami), Kingston (Arajet) and Bogota (Avianca) were cancelled on Tuesday, 2 July at Las Americas International Airport (SDQ).
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Cruise Mapper
Diario Libre
3 July 2024