2009's Strongest Hurricane Yet Heads for the Baja

Hurricane Jimena has apparently set her sights on the Baja peninsula, with winds presently just a mile shy of Category Five status, at 155 mph.

FIRST, and most importantly, the people of the Baja need our thoughts and prayers right now. Let's remember them!

Secondly, cruise itineraries have necessarily been affected, namely those of the following four ships:
Mariner of the Seas will reverse her itinerary as follows: Mon, Tue, Sat- Sea Days; Wed- Puerto Vallarta; Thur- Mazatlan; Fri- Cabo San Lucas
Carnival Splendor: Mon- Catalina; Tues and Sat- Ensenada; Wed, Thurs- Sea Days; Fri - Cabo San Lucas.
Carnival Paradise: Tue- Sea Day; Wed- Catalina; Thurs- Ensenada.
Carnival Elation: Mon- Sea Day; Tues- Catalina; Wed- Ensenada

This is the latest information available on itinerary changes, which, of course, are subject to further change as warranted by sea and port conditions.

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Discovery on Its Way to the ISS

Godspeed, Discovery!

We'll await your safe return.

Tropical Storm Danny Forms Off Nassau

This morning, Tropical Storm Danny formed about 445 miles East of Nassau, The Bahamas.
The system is not terribly well organized right now, but will soon encounter more favorable conditions for development, as it continues to move WNW. It does not apper that Danny will pose a threat to The Bahamas or Florida. Those from North Carolina to Maine and the Maritimes are currently within the NHC's 5 day cone, and should remain watchful.

Updates on Bill

Hurricane Bill is now a Category 2, and has passed Bermuda without a direct hit. They are not escaping completely, but it could be worse. Here is a link to some news from Bermuda.

The coast of Massachusetts is now under a Tropical Storm Warning.

ITINERARY CHANGES **
Carnival Triumph: The cruise that departed from New York on August 20 will cancel the scheduled call in Saint John. The ship will now navigate a safe course away from the storm and return to New York on Monday as scheduled.

Explorer of the Seas: Thursday, August 20, departure - Revised itinerary reorders ports. The ship will visit San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sunday; Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Monday; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Tuesday; and Kings Wharf, Bermuda, Thursday

Norwegian Spirit: Friday, August 21 departure - Depending on the path of the storm, the ship may arrive later than scheduled into Bermuda. The ship's Captain will update the guests on board as to the specific arrival time in Bermuda once it has been determined.

** Always check with your cruiseline for the most recent and authoritative information.

Bill Becomes First Major Hurricane of Season

Hurriane Bill has been upgraded to a Category 3, with winds of 125 mph, becoming the first major hurricane of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. Many fingers are crossed for a predicted recurve out to sea...
Edit on 08/19: Bill upgraded at 5 AM to a dangerous Category 4 Hurricane.

Tropical Storm Ana: Cruise Itinerary Changes

Princess Cruise Lines:
Caribbean Princess - Cancelled: San Juan, St Thomas, Grand Turk. Substituted: Port Canaveral and Nassau.

Carnival Cruise Line has announced itinerary changes for four of its ships : Glory, Liberty, Freedom, and Victory. LINK to the CCL Announcement.

EDIT on Monday 8/17: Carnival has gone back to original itineraries for 3 ships. Details at above link.

If you are concrned about possible high seas when you cruise, don't forget that Cruise Ready Store has some things that you might find helpful: anti nausea wristbands and several types of ginger candies for motion sickness

from CruiseReadyStore

Claudette Approaches Florida Panhandle

I watched the radar with fascination yesterday evening as Tropical Depression Four rapidaly organized in the Gulf of Mexico. It was amazing! We even experieenced some small bands of tropical like weather here on the east coast. Today, TD #4 is Tropical Storm Claudette, and is headed for landfall on Florida's western panhandle. After a slow start in June, July, and earlyAugust, the tropics are making up for lost time! Let's hope that some of the dry regions of the Southeast get some much needed rain from this surprising little system, but no wind damage.

Bill Joins Ana in the Tropical Atlantic.

As of the 5:00pm advisory, we now have TWo active named storms in the Atlantic: Ana and Bill. tropical Storm watches have been issued for the northernmost Lesser Antillies, and we are keeping a wary eye on both storms for a possible turn towards the US after a few days.


Meanwhile, the cruise lines will need to alter itineraries to avoid the storms. I'll post any itinerary changes that are made public, but those cruising during the next two weeks should 1) check with their travel agent of cruise line;and 2) plan to arrive at their port of embarkation well
in advance of the scheuled sailing time.


I'll monitor websites, and pass on any news I find of itinerary changes.

Tropical Storm Ana Forms!

Ana, the first tropical storm of the 2009 Atlantic Basin hurriane season has just formed 1000 miles east of the Leeward Islands. See tracking widget, right, for projected track.

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Eastern Pacific Continues its active Season

This morning we have another hurricane in the Eastern Pacific. Hurricane Guillermo is a Catehory 1, and, at this point, is expected to track well north of Hawaii.
Right now, there's not even a Tropical Depression in the Atlantic, much less Ana. That could change if the large area of disturbed weather SSW of the Cape Verde Islands continues to develop, which the NHC says is likely.

The Tropics Appear to be Waking Up

Holy Cow! The tropical alarm clock is ringing, calling the season awake!

• Welcome rain is coming to Hawaii courtesy of the remnants of Felicia.
• China and Japan are reeling from a hard hit byTyphoon Morakot.
• Two Tropical Depressions (9E and 10E) have shown up in the Eastern Pacific.
• Tropical Depression Two is workng its way across the Atlantic, and may become our first named storm of the season.
• And, there are three other suspect areas spread out between the coast of Africa and the southeastern Caribbean.

There's plenty for tropical weather watchers to watch . . . and plenty of reason for those of us in coastal areas, and who love to set out on sea voyages, to keep an eye peeled on tropical activity starting now!

Check your hurricane preparations, everyone!

Felicia's Bands to Reach the Hawaiian Islands Overnight Tonight

Once powerful Felicia, now a Tropical Storm with 45 mph winds, is expecetd to arrive Hawaii tomorrow, with outer rain bands coming before morning. Even a Tropical Storm can cause flash flooding and plenty of damage. . .

On the other side of the globe ... in an all out assault by water, Typhoon Morakot dumped 80 inches of rain, causing mudslides, toppling entire apartment buildings. "Hundreds" are reported missing in Tiwan and China.

Felicia Heads for Hawaii

As Felicia continues to head west, most of Hawaii is under a Tropical Storm Watch. We talked to our son there yesterday. While their hopes are that she will weaken to a Tropical Depression before arriving at the shores of the Aloha State, indications are that at least the eastern most islands may be facing a Tropical Storm in a day or two. Our hopes are with theirs for rapid weakening of this system. We will certainly continue to watch!

Meanwhile, the Atlantic Basin has not yet seen a named storm this season. A disturbance off the coast of Africa is being monitored for slow development, but the NHC (at this point) pegs the chance of that at 50% or less. Things can change quickly in the tropics, so we'll watch this one, too.
Now, just because we've passed the first week of August with no tropical threats is no reason to breathe easy. RECALL 1992. That year, our first storm came on August 17th. It's name? Andrew. 'Nuff said?

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Thank you to Mary at KreatesKards Blog!

It's always nice to be recognized, and today, I want to thank Mary, who writes the KreatesKards blog, and point my readers back in her direction.

Mary very kindly mentioned Cruising Musings on her blog. Finding a notification of her Circle of Friends Award in my mailbox this morning was a wonderful way to start my day!

The cards this talented lady creates are absolutely amazing... Please take a moment to visit her KreatesKards blog, You'll see some photos of her amazing handiwork, and even some tutorials. You'll be glad you did. She also makes cards to send to our soldiers in combat zones, for which SHE deserves a big thank you from all of us!