Tag Archives: Hurricane Irma

Hurricane-Hit Caribbean Cruise Ports Anticipate Reopening

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Hurricane-Hit Caribbean Cruise Ports Anticipate Reopening

PHOTO: The Disney Fantasy and MSC Divina docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (photo by Jason Leppert)

As far as cruise itineraries are concerned, the Caribbean is not quite back to business as usual.

However, following recent hurricane destruction, things are starting to look better. There is a glimmer of light now emerging at the end of the tunnel for St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola and even San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Like the recent reopening of Key West, Florida to cruise ships, the U.S. Virgin Islands are hoping to be up and running soon, according to Seatrade Cruise News. While cruise lines would like to begin returning to St. Croix and St. Thomas as early as October 15, based on Governor Kenneth Mapp’s assessment, the end of the month is more likely.

Priorities now are to reopen famed Magens Bay as well as ensure operational restaurants, stores and other beaches in addition to security infrastructure.

Seatrade Cruise News reports the British Virgin Islands are on a similar track. Even though the destination took a toll, the cruise facilities managed relatively well. Tortola Pier Park received minor damage according to Mark Vanterpool, minister of communications and works.

At least half of the pier-side shops and restaurants are looking to open by November 1. Outside the port, restoration is also underway on roadways, electricity, water and telecommunications. A status report regarding beaches and other attractions is still forthcoming.

Cruise Fever reports Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas will return to home-porting from San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 7. Jose Izquierdo, Executive Director of Puerto Rico Tourism Company, announced the news on Twitter.

Royal Caribbean’s website still indicates all other calls on San Juan are still being replaced with different destinations. In fact, the line is also continuing to bypass St. Croix and St. Thomas, as well as St. Maarten for the time being.

Meanwhile, Princess Cruises is already anticipating being able to return with its Regal Princess to St. Thomas and San Juan for its December 17 sailing. Off limits also to Princess, though, is St. Maarten in addition to Dominica and Virgin Gorda.

Though Grand Turk and St. Barts remain closed according to USA Today, the latter is expected to be ready to accept its next scheduled call on October 30. Grand Turk, on the other hand, is still being replaced by Carnival Cruise Line.

The future for Dominica, Grand Turk, St. Maarten and Virgin Gorda remains unknown.

At least the entire industry is banding together to assist the Caribbean at large and it is all helping bring the bulk of the destinations back up to their usual paradise conditions. In the meantime, less frequented islands are seeing increased cruise ship traffic and visitor love as well.

St. Croix cruise pier holds up to hurricane; update on USVI hotels

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St Croix cruise pier
A cruise ship in St. Croix last winter. Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks/Shutterstock
 

The Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility pier in Frederiksted, St. Croix’s deepwater cruise ship facility, withstood the barrage of wind and storm surge from Hurricane Maria, according to U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp.

The runway at Henry Rohlsen Airport has been cleared but relief flights have not yet begun.

The government is working with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association to coordinate humanitarian missions to evacuate residents, primarily those with medical conditions. The hospital and medical center on St. Croix were breached by Maria.

The governor conducted a flyover of St. Croix on Thursday and reported that the western and southwestern portions of the island received the greatest damage from Maria’s winds and water.

Until further notice, a 24-hour curfew remains in place for St. Croix, although the curfew is suspended today between noon and 4 p.m. to allow for essential tasks such as refueling or picking up supplies from the four distribution centers on the island.

Curfew hours for St. Thomas and St. John are 6 p.m. to 10 a.m.

FEMA urban search and rescue teams arrived on St. Croix Thursday night.

“It’s going to be a long road to recovery. It ain’t gonna happen overnight. We have to manage our expectations realistically and we will get through this,” Mapp said in a media briefing on Thursday.

He called for “all hands on deck” as the USVI expands its recovery efforts. Maria significantly impacted St. Croix and worsened conditions in hurricane-affected St. Thomas and St. John.

Hotel updates on St. Croix:

• Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino reported that the grounds sustained damage and assessment is underway.

• Caravelle Hotel & Casino is operational and will accommodate relief workers.

• Hotel on the Cay survived the storm and will house first responders and the Air National Guard.

• The Buccaneer was spared major damage and guests and staff are safe.

St. John:

• Caneel Bay is closed. Further updates for 2018 will become available in due course.

• Westin St. John is closed until further notice.

St. Thomas:

• Point Pleasant sustained some damage. Guests should cancel all reservations through Nov. 15.

• Sugar Bay Resort & Spa is closed.

• Windward Passage is closed.

• Club Wyndham Reservations advises that all four St. Thomas resorts are closed until Oct. 10, including Margaritaville Vacation Club, Bluebeard’s Beach Club, WorldMark St. Thomas and Elysian Beach Resort.

• Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas is closed.

• Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort is closed.

• Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is housing relief workers and people in need. It hopes to reopen in the second or third week of December.

With some Caribbean ports knocked out, cruise lines make wholesale changes

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The cruise port in Nassau, Bahamas, has escaped hurricane damage. Photo Credit: Ceri Breeze/Shutterstock

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have announced itinerary changes for cruises scheduled to depart into October that steer ships clear of storm-ravaged destinations in the eastern Caribbean.

The changes affect nearly half of Carnival’s fleet of 25 ships. The cruises, with departure dates ranging from Sept. 20 to Oct. 1, will visit ports in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic and sail to ports in the western Caribbean, including those in Jamaica, Mexico, Belize, Honduras and the Cayman Islands.

One ship, the Carnival Vista, will visit the southern Caribbean on an 8-day roundtrip Miami itinerary that includes La Romana in the Dominican Republic, Aruba and Curacao.

The Carnival Paradise will offer a five-day roundtrip Tampa cruise departing Sept. 25 that overnights in Havana.

Other affected ships and their departure dates are: Carnival Ecstasy (Sept. 20), Carnival Sensation (Sept. 21 and 30), Carnival Splendor (Sept. 23 and Sept. 30), Carnival Conquest (Sept. 24), Carnival Magic (Sept. 24), Carnival Pride (Sept. 24 and Oct. 1), Carnival Victory (Sept. 25) and Carnival Glory (Sept. 30).

Carnival said the Sept. 24 cruise of the Carnival Fascination, which sails from San Juan is contingent on the damage caused by Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm on Wednesday. Carnival said it will continue to monitor the hurricane and will confirm the itinerary once a post-storm assessment has been completed.

Royal Caribbean said that it will skip Key West on departures of Empress of the Seas through Oct. 11, but that it plans to visit Havana as scheduled on Empress departures that have it as part of the itineraries.

Five Royal Caribbean ships have modified itineraries to substitute other ports for stops in St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Key West.