Cruising during hurricane season

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Most sailings during those months are unaffected, but storms are the main reason itineraries change in the Caribbean, the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico.

When the risk is highest

Activity usually peaks from mid-August through mid-October. June and July, and late November, tend to be quieter. A season average cannot tell you what will form in the week you sail.

What can change on a cruise

• Ports swapped or skipped to keep the ship clear of a storm.
• A late return or a changed embarkation time when the home port is closed for weather.
• Longer routes at lower speed, which can mean rougher or slower sea days.
• In rare cases, a cancelled sailing.

The cruise line and the captain make these calls, usually a few days ahead as forecasts firm up.

How to plan

• Check typical conditions for your ports and month on the port pages, for example Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, Cozumel, Nassau and San Juan.
• Once your sailing is within about two weeks, use the interactive forecast. For U.S. ports it also shows active National Weather Service alerts.
• Read your travel insurance for named storms and itinerary changes before you buy.
• Book flights that leave a day of slack before embarkation.
• Follow your cruise line’s notices in the days before departure.

Questions