Caribbean Itinerary Changes as Hurricane Beryl Escalates

As Hurricane Beryl intensifies to a category five storm, several cruise lines have announced changes to their Caribbean itineraries.

The Weather Channel reports that after passing south of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola on Tuesday, Beryl is projected to follow a west-northwest path through the Caribbean for the remainder of the week.

Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that its Fleet Operations Center in Miami is closely monitoring the weather forecasts for potential impacts on itineraries due to the hurricane. Two of Carnival’s ships, the Carnival Horizon and the Carnival Liberty, have already had their schedules altered in response to Beryl’s projected path.

The company has stated that the Horizon’s planned stop at Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands on July 3 has been canceled. Additionally, the Liberty’s visit to Cozumel, Mexico has been rescheduled to July 2, moving it up from the original date of July 5.

“The safety of our guests and crew is paramount. We are continually monitoring forecasts and incorporating guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard, and local port authorities to provide timely updates to our guests as more information becomes available,” Carnival announced.

Norwegian Cruise Line has also made adjustments to the itineraries of two ships currently sailing in the Caribbean. The Norwegian Breakaway, which originally planned a Western Caribbean route, has shifted to an Eastern Caribbean itinerary after departing from Miami on June 30.

“To avoid the path of Hurricane Beryl and forecasted bad weather, we decided to take a safer, alternative route,” the company informed guests onboard.

The Breakaway, instead of visiting Mexico, Honduras, and Belize, will now stop at the Bahamas, St. Thomas, Tortola, and the Dominican Republic over the coming days.

Similarly, the Norwegian Jade’s current cruise has been rerouted to steer clear of Beryl. Departing from Port Canaveral on June 29, the ship was initially scheduled to visit Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Mexico. The new itinerary now includes Puerto Rico, Tortola, and the Dominican Republic, covering the Eastern Caribbean instead.

Royal Caribbean International has made significant changes to the itineraries of three ships: the Icon of the Seas, the Wonder of the Seas, and the Harmony of the Seas. The Icon of the Seas has shifted from Eastern Caribbean destinations to visits in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico.

The Wonder of the Seas skipped its stop in Honduras and replaced a visit to Costa Maya with a new stop in Nassau. Departing from Galveston, the Harmony of the Seas has dropped its visit to Honduras and moved up visits to Cozumel and Costa Maya.

Other cruise ships affected by the storm include Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Beyond, both of which have also seen itinerary adjustments.

As the situation evolves, cruise lines continue to prioritize passenger and crew safety while keeping everyone informed of any further changes.