Carnival and Royal Caribbean provide updates on Hurricane Milton

While it’s hurricane season and anything can happen, it’s rare for two hurricanes to hit back-to-back on similar paths. Americans are still reeling from Hurricane Helene as they brace for the impact of Milton, a storm that is also expected to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane.

Related: Royal Caribbean issues severe weather warning for passengers

The path won’t be exactly the same, which may spare some of the people in the Carolinas who are still without power, but the West Coast of Florida, including Tampa, appears to be in the way. This led to a number of cruise lines, including Carnival and Royal Caribbean, issuing statements regarding the storm.

Both cruise lines are making preemptive itinerary changes, but so far the changes have been minimal. However, they have issued statements telling passengers everything they know so far.

Separately, Margaritaville at Sea announced that the Islander Cruise, which was scheduled to leave Tampa on Tuesday, announced that the ship will depart on Monday.

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Carnival has already made some changes to its itinerary.

Image Credit: Matthew Frankel/Come Cruise With Me

Carnival Cruise Line is sharing a weather update

Carnival brand ambassador John Heald has the very difficult job of telling his company’s passengers that there are still no answers.

“Many of you have been asking me today about Tropical Storm Milton. As always, I promise that our Head of Communications Chris and his team will share any updates and I will do the same here for you all. Of course, there are no changes yet, but we are making announcements to guests on some ships. Here is an example:

CARNIVAL PARADISE – 10.06.2024

TROPICAL STORM MILTON MONITORING

Captain’s ANNOUNCEMENT:

Hello, guests of Carnival Paradise. Welcome aboard. This is Captain Persico with a weather update.

In partnership with our Fleet Operations Center in Miami, we are actively monitoring Tropical Storm Milton as it developed in the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone’s safety is our priority, so we will continue to monitor weather forecasts and provide timely updates should we need to make changes to our itinerary.

Heald also offered his sympathy for people still feeling the impact of Hurricane Helene.

“And, of course, those who write to me are those who have lived through Helene in the last few days and who still lack strength for whom I feel so much sympathy. I can only hope that Milton passes you by and you stay safe and well,” he added.

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Royal Caribbean has a Chief Meteorologist

While Carnival Cruise Line has a consultant meteorologist, Royal Caribbean employs Craig Setzer as its full-time chief meteorologist. He provided storm updates on his X page, formerly Twitter.

“Not much change in forecast track with Milton Saturday night, but intensity forecast now calls for Category 3 near landfall on Florida’s west coast,” he wrote.

He provided some certainty of the path.

“Unlike a storm moving north and along the coast, where small track shifts make big differences up/down the coast, small changes won’t change the landfall location that much, bigger changes matter and that’s what we’ll be watching. “Regardless, along the West Coast we will need to begin preparations for a potentially significant hurricane event on Sunday,” he added.

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Helene hit the west coast of Florida, but also caused problems at Port Canaveral. Fort Lauderdale and Miami were minimally affected. The cruise line has already made itinerary changes for Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.

None of these ships impacted arrival or departure dates, according to the Royal Caribbean Blog, which is not affiliated with the cruise line.

Update 9:56 a.m.:

Setzer added a new Tweet and shared some additional information.

“One thing I will be watching closely is Tuesday morning’s turn to the northeast. This turn, when it happens and how much it does, will likely have big implications for where on Florida’s west coast the hurricane core makes landfall,” he wrote.

This could have a major impact on travel from Tampa.

“If the turn is delayed, then Milton could come ashore south of Tampa. However, if the turn is earlier, then it could come north of Tampa. Either way, Tampa remains in the middle of the threat even longer. importantly, we can’t wait until Tuesday to start the preparations, they have to start now,” he added.

Setzer doesn’t think South Florida ports are experiencing a significant impact.

“I think the reversal will happen, how much. I don’t think South Florida will have a direct impact, but outside troops could be stronger if the track slides further south,” he wrote.

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