This week we continue along with Hurricane season questions just as we did last week.  Today we talk about booking a cruise during hurricane season, cruise cancellations and places to avoid during hurricane season.  Keep the questions coming and remember you can send me questions either by using my submission form (which should actually work now) by posting or sending me a message on Facebook.

I am always looking for a way to save money on a cruise.  Can I get a good deal booking a cruise during hurricane season?

If you want to book a cruise during hurricane season it is very possible that you will get a great deal.  You will be more likely to find a good deal if you book during the actual peak part of hurricane season which runs from mid-July through early October.   However you do need to know that when booking a cruise during hurricane season there is no guarantee that the cruise you book is the cruise you will sail.

• It’s important to be flexible because if weather takes a turn for the worse you may end up switching ports or even canceling a stop altogether in favor of a day at sea.
• Make sure there are multiple ways of getting to the port of embarkation.  If something were to happen where air travel was drastically delayed or suspended it helps to be able to reach the ship multiple ways.
• You should also strongly consider securing travel insurance either through the cruise line or through an independent provider.  The main purpose of this policy is to make sure you are covered in the case of weather-related events so be certain you are covered.

I am booked on a July cruise leaving from Miami going to the western Caribbean.  Is there any danger that this cruise could be canceled?  Do Hurricanes ever cause cruise lines to cancel a cruise?  What happens in the event of a canceled cruise?

Occasionally you will hear about a line canceling a sailing but usually those are usually the result of mechanical malfunctions which won’t allow the ship to normally operate normally.  Hurricanes are almost never the reason for a cruise cancellation.

When severe weather threatens a cruise, instead of canceling the sailing and losing millions of dollars cruise lines will opt for altering the sailing.  The only scenario I can think of where a hurricane would cause a cancelation would be if the storm was right over the port of embarkation.  However, even in a scenario such as that a delay and altered itinerary would be the more likely outcome.

Now, if your cruise is altered you will receive some sort of compensation for your trouble but this isn’t a standardized sum so there is no telling what it could be.  If your cruise does end up getting completely canceled you will undoubtedly get a refund and possible a discount on a future cruise.

You should also note that excursions booked independently will have separate policies that vary from vendor to vendor that may or may not include a full refund.  You should take extra care to search for any fine print or to make inquiries on cancelation policies before booking any independent excursions during hurricane season.

Since I am a teacher the only time I can really go on vacation is during the summer.  The problem is that is also the most volatile time to go on a cruise.  Are there any specific itineraries that are less likely to encounter bad weather during hurricane season?

Yes, Alaska and the Mediterranean.  The only sure fire way to avoid hurricanes during hurricane season is to avoid the Caribbean altogether. However, I am guessing that doesn’t really answer your question.

If you want to sail in the Caribbean but want to avoid possible hurricanes your best bet is the Southern Caribbean.  Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao are relatively common cruise ship stops that lie below the hurricane belt; making them a lot less likely to experience a hurricane.  Likewise Trinidad and Tobago sit below the hurricane belt as does Margarita Island, Venezuela.  While these are more obscure ports of call they are occasionally visited by cruise ships and lie in the ideal location for cruising during Caribbean hurricane season.

Although I should mention that other parts of the world are subject to their own natural phenomena.  We typically concern ourselves with Atlantic hurricane season but you will also want to be aware of Pacific Hurricane season as well as cyclones which are of concern for cruises to Asia as well as Australia.