Hurricane Dean Impacts Air and Cruise Travel
August 20, 2007
Hurricane Dean Impacts Air and Cruise Travel
Aug. 20, 2007 – Hurricane Dean has travelers and residents fleeing from many areas today as many popular vacation sites are along the storm’s projected path. The National Hurricane Center says that Dean, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, may reach a Category 5 on Monday. Many airlines and cruise ships are making cancellations and adjustments today because of the storm.
Several airlines are offering passengers the option to cancel and change their flights. Last week, American Airlines said travelers flying to or from many Caribbean destinations, such as Barbados and Grand Cayman, through Aug. 22 could change their reservation if their ticket was issued no later than Aug. 15.
Delta Air Lines is allowing customers who purchased tickets by Aug. 15, 2007 to travel Aug. 16-22 to, from or through select Caribbean cities to make a one-time change without penalty or additional fees.
Spirit Airlines’s will waive any change fee and difference in fare as part of their Hurricane Buster Protection policy. Customers must rebook their travel plans before the date and time of their original reservation, and travel on or before Sept. 2, 2007.
Northwest Airlines also waived penalties for Aug. 17-22 for passengers with confirmed tickets involving Cancun, Cozumel, Montego Bay, Punta Cana, San Juan and St. Maarten. Northwest fliers can reschedule for travel between Aug. 23-27.
Apple Vacations said passengers traveling on an Apple Vacation charter flight or USA3000 flight to Cancun Sunday through Aug. 21 who rebook by Aug. 24 can change vacation dates with no penalty or change fees.
To check the status of flights, visit http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp.
Travel Pulse Daily is reporting that Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International are changing Caribbean cruise itineraries to avoid the path of Hurricane Dean.
According to an article posted on the site on Monday, the Carnival Triumph’s Aug. 18 departure will now visit San Juan, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Carnival Imagination’s Aug. 18 cruise will visit Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Carnival Inspiration’s Aug. 18 departure will visit Nassau and Freeport; the Holiday’s Aug. 18 cruise will visit Freeport and Key West. Carnival Legend’s Aug. 19 departure will visit Key West, Nassau, Half Moon Cay and Grand Turk. Carnival Valor’s Aug. 19 cruise will visit Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Carnival Conquest’s Aug. 19 voyage will visit Grand Cayman and Cozumel as scheduled, but the call in Montego Bay will be cancelled. Carnival Fantasy’s Aug. 20 departure will visit Key West and Cozumel. Carnival Fascination’s Aug. 20 cruise will visit Key West and Nassau, and the Carnival Ecstasy’s Aug. 20 voyage will visit Cozumel as scheduled, but the call in Progreso will be cancelled.
Additionally, Royal Caribbean has altered the itineraries of two ships and is providing guidance regarding a third ship. Enchantment of the Seas, which departed Port Everglades on Aug. 18, is sailing a modified itinerary with port calls in Labadee on Monday and Nassau on Wednesday before returning to Port Everglades as scheduled on Thursday. The Rhapsody of the Seas was scheduled to depart Galveston on Aug. 19 as scheduled but was to sail a modified itinerary with port calls in Key West on Tuesday, Grand Cayman on Thursday and Cozumel on Friday before returning to Galveston as scheduled on Sunday. The ship’s itinerary is subject to change based on possible storm-related damage to the Cayman Islands and Mexico. Should the aftermath of Hurricane Dean prevent the ship from visiting these locations, alternative ports of call would be sought. Freedom of the Seas was to depart Miami on Aug. 19 as scheduled and was expected to sail its scheduled itinerary. The ship’s itinerary is subject to change based on possible storm-related damage to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Mexico.
NTA will continue to monitor the storm and its effects upon our members and our industry. We would like to receive any information available from members in the affected areas and those who are offering services to those impacted. Please send any information, comments or observations to NTA’s public relations manager Sara Morton via e-mail at sara.morton@NTA.travel or by calling 800.682.8886, ext. 4418 (U.S and Canada) or 859.226.4418.