Royal Caribbean has made adjustments to the routes of four of its cruise ships in the Caribbean to steer clear of Hurricane Rafael. This decision comes after the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in the United States issued a warning, forecasting that Rafael would reach Category 2 status before nearing Cuba, similar to past occurrences.
Among the affected vessels is the Radiance of the Seas, which departed from Tampa Bay on November 2. Originally scheduled to stop at Bimini, Freeport, and CocoCay, it now plans visits to Cozumel, Roatán, Belize, and Costa Maya in the western Caribbean, as reported by Reportur.
The Freedom of the Seas, which set sail from Fort Lauderdale on November 3, has also revised its itinerary. The ship will swap the dates of its stops in Labadee, Haiti, and George Town in the Cayman Islands to avoid areas potentially impacted by Hurricane Rafael's path.
In another change, the Vision of the Seas, which left Baltimore on October 31, has canceled its stops in the Bahamas and CocoCay. Instead, it will extend its time in Bermuda and add a stop in Port Canaveral, Florida.
The Brilliance of the Seas, which embarked from New Orleans on November 2, has also altered its course. It will no longer stop in Grand Cayman but will dock in Belize City to ensure passenger safety.
Hurricane Rafael's Impact on the Caribbean
Hurricane Rafael is expected to hit the Cuban coast this Wednesday with winds reaching up to 154 km/h, significantly affecting the western Caribbean. It is predicted to move towards the Gulf of Mexico and eventually the southern coast of the United States.
With the potential escalation in the storm's intensity, authorities and cruise lines are closely monitoring the situation to make further necessary adjustments to their routes.