Has a port of Embarkation ever changed due to a hurricane coming in?

[CBounds]

I'm traveling on Carnival in Sept out of Jacksonville and was wondering if the port we leave from can be changed due to a hurricane ... and we would be responsible for getting to the changed port?

[Dave]

Ports VERY rarely have changed because of a hurricane. I recall a couple years ago where a swap was made between Tampa and Miami (I think, maybe it was the other way around). Carnival shuttled the people from the original port to the revised one. Air is a different matter. They aren't necessarily going to buy new air for you to get to the new port if, for instance, JAX was closed. I'd say they may offer reimbursement to you for the revised air you had to arrange.

In reality, the usual thing is the ship will not move to a backup debarkation port. It most likely would become a modified cruise of a shorter duration with a partial refund for those that went, or a total refund for those who cancelled or couldn't get to the ship.

[TrvlPro]

Yep, if there is a hurricane heading in the vacinity of your port of departure at about the time of your cruise it will be changed or your cruise cancelled (cancelled in most cases). If there is room at another port for the ships that need to be moved, and time to move them, they will occasionally change the port. If they do they will give you a small compensation for re-routing your flights. They will also give you the option of cancelling without penaly with small compensation for your air cancellation fees.

It is rare that this drastic action is necessary. If they can safely get the ship under way the ship can travel at approx twice the speed of the hurricane across the water and will route you as needed to skirt or avoid the storm all together. Also the ports of call may be changed if threatened, with no compensation unless they are feeling generous.

Cheers, Neil

[cruizinallthetime]

I know when I sailed on the Victory, it was suppose to leave from Miami. We got a fax and a call prior to leaving to let us know that the ship was leaving from Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale.
When we got off the ship, we got off in Miami. Carnival bused everyone back to Ft. Lauderdale.

[Dwayne]

Chris, I remember hearing about that. And seems like some folks were bussed back to PC as well last year.