Hurricane Irma-"To Cruise or Not to Cruise in Late 2017, Early 2018"

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Update: As of 9/15 it has been reported that only 4 Caribbean Ports remain closed. St. Thomas, Key West, Tortola and St. Martin. Cruises are re-routing these port stops only THROUGH OCT.

There has indeed been a devestating hurricane that has greatly impacted a large portion of Caribbean cruise destinations as well as Floridian home ports for many of the major cruise lines. The wrath of Irma has left many cruiser favorite destinations in shambles and as I write this, it is still unknown what the extent of the damage is, (probably in the high billions or even trillions of dollars), and how long it will take these idyllic vacation destinations to recover.

One of the many reasons i love cruises and why I joined a "cruisecentric" agency like Cruise Planners (even though we book alot of land based vacations too), is the portability and flexibility of the ship. The cruiselines will continue to book and may adjust here and there, but you will still find the warm get-a-way you need, even after one of the most horrendous natural disasters on record in the region.

As an avid cruiser, travel professional, and consumer of information fed from various sources, here are a few things to consider if you are wondering about Caribbean options this winter (2017/2018).

1. Cruise ships can change itineraries. Cruise lines try their best to keep things sailing and keep passengers happy, even when some of the destinations may be unreachable or out of commission. I personally LOVE the days at sea, and sometimes I don't even get off the ship anyway. The ships can sail around weather and will adapt and overcome adversities caused by weather or other port strife. That favorite all-inclusive resort is stuck on the same beach and may be unavailable for a while, but ships can "run away" from hurricanes and tropical storms and visit other ports that may be open for business when the others recover. Yes, there may be some examples of cruises sailing into rough seas, or cancelling altogether, but that is the exception to the rule. The cruiselines will do everything they can to make paying customers happy and cruise. Most passengers choose to comeback and cruise again and if the ships are not sailing, the cruiselines are not making money. If the port is closed, the cruiseline may stay an extra day at sea or you may get to experience another port of call. Maybe it's not exactly what you wanted or originally paid for, but isn't even the "less than great" day on a cruise still better than going to work or shoveling snow? Think positive!

2. The Destination's Economy. The islands and ports that were affected by hurricane Irma and other hurricanes rely extensively on tourism and the cruise ships to feed the economy. With all the destruction, the first priority would be to stabilize the population followed by a quick recovery to services that keep the tourism economy going. The ports and tourist services will re-open as soon as possible and hope to cater to guests that will help PAY for the recovery. By cancelling or foregoing the vacation, you are not helping the recovery efforts, but delaying them. They need your business NOW to get back in business.

3. Charitable Donations. There are also oportunities to help IN PERSON and empathize with those directly affected. A direct hand to hand donation (tip) to a taxi driver or tour operator would probably be better received than a veiled donation through a large organization with administration expenses. The larger organizations have their place and help a ton, but how about the souvenier worker that is still waiting for help to re-roof their home and you have the opportunity to hand over a few extra bucks. You can help directly and maximize your contribution.

4. Natural Recovery So the hurricane has damaged the island, but the port is back open now. Is it worth going? The buildings, resorts, attractions and bars may take a bit longer to get back up and running, but what was the reason you picked these destinations in the first place? THE SUN! The beaches and natural areas affected have been through hurricanes before and they will recover. Yes, you may have some extra debris or maybe your favorite palm tree is no longer on your favorite beach. But you can still feel warm sand between your toes and hear the lapping waves. Suncreen will still be required and many hiking, biking, and river type expeditions will probably pop back on-line quickly since they require less infrastructure than say, a resort.

5. Unaffected areas. If you are still skeptical and would rather wait until the affected areas recover, there are some Caribbean alternatives that can still provide you with the early to mid winter vacation fix you need. Although the path of the hurricane went straight through some of the top Caribbean destinations, there are still many open destinations. The Southern Caribbean including Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are unaffected as well as Western Caribbean itineraries which include Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexico and the Yucatan.

We are all a little shellshocked from the disasters caused by Harvey and Irma this year and we pray for the families, individuals and businesses that were impacted. We hope the Eastern Caribbean will recover soon so we can continue to enjoy all of it's beauty and hospitality. Let's do our part to jump back as soon as they are ready for us to return and do our part as gracious, paying guests.

Give me a call to book your Caribbean cruise or resort vacation. The sooner the better.

Thanks.

Scott

Whittaker Travel

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