Hurricanes and Cruising

Passenger safety is always the paramount concern of the cruise lines and you can be sure they are not going to put you in harms way. The following information should help you to better understand the cruise lines approach to managing this annual problem.

Captain Leonard Francolla, Captain of the Carnival's ship Destiny, explains, hurricanes never arrive by suprise. "Ships receive advisories by radio, satellite, fax and e-mail. On the bridge, the position, speed and direction of the storm is then tracked on a computerized nautical chart. Making allowances for possible changes in the direction, speed and storm force, the future positions of the storm are compared to the itineary of the ship."

If a hurricane does threaten a port on the ships itinerary, the Captain willl consult with his senior officers and decide if they need to alter the ships course in the interest of safety, also advising Carival's home office so that new port arrangements can be made. Sometimes it is not possible to arrange a new port so they just spend an extra day at sea.

Staying in port during a hurricane is never an option, according to Captain Francolla. A ship is much safer at sea, where she has room for maneuvering. A hurricane's tremendous wind can cause the moorings to break and push a ship aground or against another vessel in the harbor. Another threat is ocean surge, which may come with a hurricane, "he says."

The Carnival Destiny Captain says he's yet to directly encounter a hurricane in the Caribbean. "So far the timely advisories of the Hurricane Center in Miami, which keeps a watchful eye not only on the caribbean but also on the Atlantic where most of the hurricanes are generated, have given us the advance notice necessary to successfully avoid them, "he says."

A good reason to cruise is that during this season you can also find some excellent rates.