Hurricane Beryl disrupts cruise ships scheduled to depart from Port Tampa Bay

Hurricane Beryl threatens to ruin vacationers’ plans for smooth sailing aboard cruise ships slated to depart from Port Tampa Bay. Cruise line meteorologists are actively monitoring conditions in the Caribbean and making itinerary adjustments, but the situation is fluid.

Throughout the week, four cruise ships are scheduled to leave from the port: Margaritaville at Sea “Islander,” Carnival “Paradise,” Royal Caribbean International “Enchantment of the Seas,” and Royal Caribbean International “Grandeur of the Seas.”

This morning, the monstrous storm was located about 370 miles southeast of Isla Beata in the Dominican Republic, moving west-northwest at 22 miles per hour. Beryl is the earliest Category 5 hurricane to form in the Atlantic Ocean, due to uncharacteristically warm waters. The storm was forecast to remain at major hurricane strength as it roars near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday, before heading toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday.

Royal Caribbean International “Grandeur of the Seas,” which departed from Port Tampa Bay yesterday, will now visit Yucatan (Progresso), Mexico, on day four and Cozumel, Mexico, on day three.

“The safety of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. Along with our Chief Meteorologist, we are closely monitoring the progression of Hurricane Beryl, and are making adjustments to some of our Caribbean sailings for the comfort and safety of our guests and crew. Guests and travel advisors will be notified directly of any necessary changes,” said a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson in an email.

Two Royal Caribbean ships scheduled to depart on Saturday, July 6, will maintain their original itineraries.

Margaritaville at Sea “Islander,” which will depart around 4 p.m. this afternoon, has adjusted its itinerary to avoid the Yucatan Peninsula.

“Due to the storm’s currently projected path, and for the safety and comfort of all our passengers and crew, the second destination port of our sailing has been changed from Progreso, Mexico to Nassau, Bahamas,” wrote Maria Hayworth, the president of Hayworth PR, in an email.

Carnival “Paradise” is scheduled to depart on Thursday with no reported itinerary changes.

For updated information, Port Tampa Bay directs guests to confirm information with their cruise line. Schedules and cruise ship departure times can change at any time without notice. As of noon on Tuesday, “there are no impacts to our operations, including departures and arrivals of our cruise partners,” said Lisa Wolf-Chason of Port Tampa Bay.

Guests can expect to hear about all other changes from the cruise line they are sailing with, such as “any changes to your cruise itinerary, including vessel weather avoidance plans and any portcall changes,” said Wolf-Chason.

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