This weekend, a massive winter storm might have many people wishing they were on a cruise ship headed to warmer locales as temperatures plummet and snow and ice blanket the ground.
For many scheduled to do exactly that, the widespread impacts of the weather could throw a wrench in their plans to sail.
Estimates are that a major cold front is going to affect more than 230 million people in the United States over the coming days. Dubbed Winter Storm Fern by The Weather Channel, the system is set to drop ice in parts of a dozen states, stretching from Texas all the way to Virginia. The areas from Atlanta to Richmond and from Dallas to Nashville set to be hit the hardest by ice.
In addition, snow is forecasted to blanket a large swath of the nation as well, stretching from Lubbock to Boston, with many areas possibly seeing 12-18″ of snowfall.
This has led to winter storm warnings, advisories, and watches for tens of millions, with major impacts expected in places ranging all the way from Dallas to New York. Officials throughout these areas are urging people to stay home and only travel if necessary.
But what about cruising and the impacts of the storm on trips sailing this weekend? Despite the size and breadth of the storm, it isn’t slated to have impacts on most major departure ports in Florida, Galveston, Los Angeles, and others. However, ports in New York and Baltimore look to be the ports most impacted by the weather.
Here is the current schedule for these ports over the coming days, with ships that could be impacted:
Baltimore, Maryland
- January 24: Vision of the Seas
- January 25: Carnival Pride
Cape Liberty (Bayonne, New Jersey)
- January 26: Odyssey of the Seas
New York
- January 25: MSC Meraviglia
In regards to these specific cruises, we have yet to see any changes announced. Carnival Ambassador John Heald did post on Facebook that the cruise line is watching the forecasts for the Baltimore sailing of Carnival Pride but so far nothing has changed.
He said that guests embarking on Sunday received the following message last night:
“Heavy snow is expected in the region, and this could impact our operational plans for the day. For now, there are no changes, but, since forecasts can vary, we will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated if it becomes necessary to adjust things.”
If you are on one of these cruises, then your cruise line will have the latest information and will be in contact with any schedule updates.
Bigger Impacts for Passengers Traveling to Cruise Ports Nationwide
While the effect on cruises actually sailing will hopefully be minimal, where there is sure to be a greater impact is for people traveling to the port. Specifically, many people fly to the cruise terminal to embark on the ship. Others drive considerable distances to the port.
Given the storm, we think that airline delays and driving delays are likely for many people. It could be that some people planning to travel to a port city simply won’t be able to safely get from home to the ship, even if the storm doesn’t impact the port itself.
So what happens if you can’t travel due to the winter storm and the ship leaves without you? There are a couple of possibilities.
First and foremost, you should know that cruise lines typically treat someone not arriving at a port as a “no show,” and it’s the same as if you just decided not to go on the trip. You’re charged the cancellation penalty (most often 100% of the cruise fare) as a penalty. You will be returned any taxes, fees, or pre-booked items like drink packages or pre-paid gratuities.
In situations like this where there is a major, well-known event impacting many people, we have seen lines be more lenient with passengers as a gesture of goodwill. It is possible that passengers having to cancel due to the storm could be offered a refund. Don’t assume you’ll get your money back, but if you are set to be impacted by this storm and don’t feel you can safely get to the port, it’s worth calling up the cruise line and asking.
Second, this storm shows where travel insurance can be a benefit. In the case of a flight being cancelled due to the storm that makes you miss the ship, most insurance plans would offer coverage to help reimburse the cost of the cruise.
In the case of driving to the port where there is no “cancellation,” but it’s simply more risky to drive, it does get cloudy on coverage. Most travel insurance only covers specific listed reasons and bad weather alone isn’t usually listed. You’ll want to review the travel insurance you have and contact the company to see about your specific coverage.
If you have travel insurance with a “cancel for any reason” add-on, then you’ll likely be covered. These plans cost more, but they give you the option to be reimbursed at least some of the cost of the trip no matter the reason for cancelling.
Insurance or not, if you don’t feel like you can safely get to the port, then simply stay home. Even if you aren’t compensated, there’s no cruise that’s worth risking your well-being.
