Cruising during hurricane season

Even ships outrunning storms can encounter rough waters
When the threat of a storm occurs, cruise ships can "outrun" them — storms tend to move at about 8 to 10 knots, while ships can attain speeds of up to 22 knots and beyond.

While increasingly sophisticated technology and mechanics can help ships to evade storms, they can't avoid them entirely — and you may run into rougher-than-usual waters. You may even experience storm remnants where you least expect to, such as on north Atlantic repositioning cruises coming out of Europe (ever wondered where hurricanes go to die? You guessed it, the north Atlantic). While they may be tropical storms or even lesser swirlings by the time they reach far off places like Iceland, the waters can still be rough. Be prepared: Even stalwart cruisers should pack a favorite seasickness remedy.

Can't get to the ship?
Sometimes hurricane-related problems don't have anything to do with the ship, and everything to do with conditions at the port of embarkation. As we said before, plan ahead. This is a good time of year to build a day or two into your vacation. Aim to arrive in port a couple of days early in case difficulties arise. Prepare for the possibility — and it happens — that you might actually arrive home a day or two late. And bottom line: If you're having trouble getting into your port of embarkation make sure you contact the cruise line (carry their toll-free emergency number in your wallet). Most will do everything possible, even if they are not obligated, to help you get to the ship, but there's no guarantee.

Canceled cruises
Canceled cruises are extremely rare. For the aforementioned reasons, cruise lines will simply deviate itineraries. Pretty much the only time a cruise will be canceled outright is when a storm is aiming for its major port of embarkation, such as Ft. Lauderdale or Miami — and even in such cases, it's an unusual outcome. More often, departure is delayed by a day or so, and passengers are generally compensated accordingly. If a cruise is actually canceled, you will obviously get a refund. You might also receive a discount on a future cruise.

Storms on the west coast … and beyond
The East Pacific hurricane season is oft-overlooked because there are simply more people cruising the Caribbean than, say, the Mexican Riviera. However, as we saw last year, the western coast of Mexico is also subject to hurricanes and is monitored in just the same manner by weather experts and cruise lines; 2006's Category Two John barely spared Cabo San Lucas, and other cruise ports such as Acapulco and Puntarenas have suffered more serious storm damage in the past.

Australia/New Zealand and Hawaii deal with cyclones (same concept) — and the southern hemisphere's seasonal equivalent is just the opposite of the waters up north (their season peaks in March and April).

Bottom line?
Start monitoring tropical storm conditions a week before you leave by visiting Cruise Critic's Hurricane Zone or by watching the Weather Channel (or just click on to its Web site). Be proactive if your cruise seems to be lying in the path of a storm by contacting your travel agent — or the cruise line directly — in case contingency plans are necessary.

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