Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak of the season occurring mainly between August and October. While there is a chance that a hurricane could get in the way of your cruise plans, avoiding sailing all together during this time of year seems like an overreaction. Taking a cruise during hurricane season is an opportunity for some, a failure for others, and questionable for many more. Cruise ships can reach speeds of up to 22 knots or more, so they are usually able to outrun any approaching storms.
However, if a hurricane approaches your departure port, you may have to decide if you want to travel to the port of departure (and possibly in the event of a dangerous storm) or stay home and risk losing all the money you paid for the trip. To file any claim under a travel insurance policy related to a cruise ship damaged by a hurricane or tropical storm, you must have purchased the policy before the storm formed and was given its official name. Royal Caribbean has been operating cruises during hurricane season for decades, so it has a wealth of experience when it comes to best practices. Most trips in the Caribbean and the Bahamas go off without a hitch, but it is still important to be aware of the risks involved.
The first week of June kicked off the Atlantic hurricane season, so now is a great time to freshen up on the basics and what you should know for this season. The months of September and October are usually some of the cheapest times of the year to cruise ship, as they fall right at the peak of hurricane season (and school is back up and running). If you're particularly prone to getting dizzy, hurricane season may not be the best time to take a cruise. Taking out travel insurance seems obvious when it comes to sailing during hurricane season due to all the possibilities involved. In conclusion, while there's a chance that a hurricane could disrupt your cruise plans, most trips in the Caribbean and the Bahamas go off without a hitch.
It is important to be aware of the risks involved and take out travel insurance if necessary.
