Hurricane Beryl is heading towards Jamaica after making landfall in the Windward islands on Monday, leaving a trail of destruction.
Among the worst hit were Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and at least one person is understood to have been killed.
Several other islands, including Barbados and St Lucia, have suffered power cuts and flooding.
Beryl has since intensified from category four to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ category five, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
It is expected to reach Jamaica on Wednesday morning and the NHC is warning it is likely to bring ‘life-threatening winds and storm surge’.
In an update to its travel advice, the Foreign Office said: “You should follow and monitor local and international weather updates from the US National Hurricane Center and follow the advice of local authorities including any evacuation orders.”
Beryl is expected to skirt below the Cayman Islands on Thursday and could hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday before arriving in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has already switched course for Icon of the Seas, which has amended its 29 June cruise to visit Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico instead of St Maarten and St Thomas, and Grandeur of the Seas changed the order of port calls and will now call Cozumel on Wednesday (3 July) and Progreso on Thursday (4 July).
Additionally, Wonder of the Seas will miss a call in Roatán on Thursday (4 July) and head to Costa Maya instead of Nassau, Bahamas on Friday (5 July), while Harmony of the Seas will also call in Costa Maya on Wednesday (3 July) instead of Roatán.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said: “The safety of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. Along with our Chief Meteorologist, we are closely monitoring the progression of Hurricane Beryl, and are making adjustments to some of our Caribbean sailings for the comfort and safety of our guests and crew. Guests and travel advisors will be notified directly of any necessary changes.”
Carnival
Carnival Cruise line is largely continuing with itineraries as most ships are away from the hurricane path, but it has cancelled Carnival Horizon’s call in Grand Cayman tomorrow (3 July) and Carnival Liberty will call in Cozumel today (2 July) instead of Friday (5 July), which will now be a sea day.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise Hive reported Norwegian Jade’s current sailing, which left Port Canaveral on Saturday (29 June) is now being rerouted with new stops in San Juan; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; replacing Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity has reversed the ports of call for Beyond’s current sailing from Florida to Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba.
Disney Cruise Line
It’s also been reported Disney Fantasy will skip its call in Falmouth on Thursday 4 (July) and have an extra day at sea.
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Among the worst hit were Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and at least one person is understood to have been killed.
Several other islands, including Barbados and St Lucia, have suffered power cuts and flooding.
Beryl has since intensified from category four to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ category five, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
It is expected to reach Jamaica on Wednesday morning and the NHC is warning it is likely to bring ‘life-threatening winds and storm surge’.
In an update to its travel advice, the Foreign Office said: “You should follow and monitor local and international weather updates from the US National Hurricane Center and follow the advice of local authorities including any evacuation orders.”
Beryl is expected to skirt below the Cayman Islands on Thursday and could hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday before arriving in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday.
How is Hurricane Beryl affecting cruises?
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has already switched course for Icon of the Seas, which has amended its 29 June cruise to visit Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico instead of St Maarten and St Thomas, and Grandeur of the Seas changed the order of port calls and will now call Cozumel on Wednesday (3 July) and Progreso on Thursday (4 July).
Additionally, Wonder of the Seas will miss a call in Roatán on Thursday (4 July) and head to Costa Maya instead of Nassau, Bahamas on Friday (5 July), while Harmony of the Seas will also call in Costa Maya on Wednesday (3 July) instead of Roatán.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson said: “The safety of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. Along with our Chief Meteorologist, we are closely monitoring the progression of Hurricane Beryl, and are making adjustments to some of our Caribbean sailings for the comfort and safety of our guests and crew. Guests and travel advisors will be notified directly of any necessary changes.”
Carnival
Carnival Cruise line is largely continuing with itineraries as most ships are away from the hurricane path, but it has cancelled Carnival Horizon’s call in Grand Cayman tomorrow (3 July) and Carnival Liberty will call in Cozumel today (2 July) instead of Friday (5 July), which will now be a sea day.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Cruise Hive reported Norwegian Jade’s current sailing, which left Port Canaveral on Saturday (29 June) is now being rerouted with new stops in San Juan; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; replacing Falmouth, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity has reversed the ports of call for Beyond’s current sailing from Florida to Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba.
Disney Cruise Line
It’s also been reported Disney Fantasy will skip its call in Falmouth on Thursday 4 (July) and have an extra day at sea.
The post Deadly hurricane hurtles towards Jamaica, leaving trail of destruction across the Caribbean appeared first on Travel Gossip.
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