Should I still book a cruise?

[star1sarah]

I am planning on going on my first cruise January 8th cruise on carnival to the western caribean. Should I still plan on going? With this hurricane won't the islands be a mess still...

[star1sarah]

I am planning on going on my first cruise January 8th cruise on carnival to the western caribean. Should I still plan on going? With this hurricane won't the islands be a mess still...

[Karen Knowlton]

Definitely you should plan on going! The port calls may change somewhat, but remember, many of these islands and ports depend on tourism for their main income, so they will do whatever they can to be "up and running" as soon as possible. And your visitor dollars will help them out as well.

With several months before you plan to travel, the cruise lines will be able to keep informed on how restoration of visitor facilities is going, and if necessary may substitute a different port here & there. In any case, you will have plenty to enjoy, both onboard ship and in the ports of call.

[Oggy Boy]

I have to agree with Karen. You are going to have a great time, especially the time of year you are going.

Tom

[Tom]

You mentioned you're going on a Western itinerary. Does that include Grand Cayman? We stopped there last week to deliver some needed perishables. I was amazed to see the destruction that Ivan wreaked on the island. The Cayman Islands will most likely get back to functioning normally faster than other places that were hit (ie., Grenada). I'm wondering, though, if they will be harvesting some palm trees to help replace all of the ones that were felled by the hurricane (otherwise, they can only grow so fast).

[Karen Knowlton]

Good to know the cruise lines are doing what they can to help out too! I take it you didn't go ashore. Heard they just aren't up to hosting visitors quite yet.

[Tom]

No, we stayed on the boat (Caribbean Princess). We were there for about 4 hours. We were able to see in the distance what looked like a large pile of rubble that was being added to as we watched.

I should have mentioned that we also went to Cozumel and Jamaica (Ocho Rios) and both of those places were fine. From what I was told, most of the damage in Jamaica was closer to Kingston (and most ships dock in Montego Bay or Ocho Rios; far from the damaged areas). I didn't notice any damage in Cozumel. Ivan certainly could have been worse.

Tom

[star1sarah]

My ports of call include grand cayman and conzumel...I am really leaning towards on going. This would be the only really time i could go because of school and work. I am still debating but leaning towards going