US and Canadian residents can win a Caribbean cruise for two aboard the new MSC Poesia in the MSC Cruises Poetry in Motion Sweepstakes .
Kids ages 7 to 12- Carnival Cruise Line Book of Dreams contest . The winner will christen and be the Carnival Dream cruise ship water slide Godchild, and win a 2 night cruise for their family.
Royal Caribbean Give Us Your Best Shot contest (Crown & Anchor members) - submit a photo taken on a Royal Caribbean cruise to win one of three cruises on RCCL. Go to http://www.rccl.com/, and click on Crown & Anchor Society, then on Member Forum.
It happened last night, off the coast of Port St Lucie, Florida - about 30 miles out to sea !
A cruiser on the Carnival Sensation fell overboard as the ship was returning to Port Canaveral
About an hour later, the man's cries for help were heard by someone aboard the Wonder, also enroute to a Port Canaveral turnaround. After the ship's captain requested silence on board, they were able to hear the man's screams more clearly, and locate him in the darkness. A rescue boat was then sent out to pick him up and bring him aboard the Disney ship.
The man is reportedly in good condition this morning.
Hurricane Jimena has weakened considerably since yesterday and is near land in the Cabo San Lazaro area. Winds are down to 105 mph, and the storm also brings a very real threat of life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.
Tropical Storm Erika formed last night east of the Leeward Islands, and now appears headed directly for Guadeloupe. From there, several scenarios could play out, ONE of which would bring the storm through The Bahamas and towards the Southeastern United States. She could also recurve out to Sea, or miss Florida to the south. So far, the NHC is drawing a track that includes a recurve east of the Bahamas. Things can and do change in the tropics, so stay tuned.
Cruise ships are still being diverted away from the area of danger from Jimena. Stay on the lookout, cruisers, for any itinerary changes as a result of TS Ericka, as well.
PS - The blue hats (see my previous blog entry) are now once again available at Cruise Ready Store.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Princess Cruise Lines:
Caribbean Princess - Cancelled: San Juan, St Thomas, Grand Turk. Substituted: Port Canaveral and Nassau.
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 sicknessI 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.
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.
