How do hurricanes affect Disney Cruise Line?

ernste40

New Member
I know the chances are slim, but we are going on DCL in early October, so I am curious as to whether anyone has had an experience with DCL and what happens when a hurricane is a coming, or if you haven't experienced it, what have you heard happens?

Thanks for your help!

Erik
 

DisneyBunny

Active Member
The Disney Cruise Line, like any other cruise line is actually really flexible, and turns out to be a really safe place to be in the event of a hurricane. We actualy had Hurricane Emily throw a monkey wrench into our honeymoon cruise only a month ago. We couldn't go to two of our islands, but they changed the itinerary so we got to go to two other islands. It really wasn't a problem, we didn't even get into any rough waters. that's the beauty of cruising. - you can go around the storm. A great resourse for cruises in general is Cruise Critic if you'd like to read up for more info.

:)
 
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Buried20KLeague

Well-Known Member
ernste40 said:
I know the chances are slim, but we are going on DCL in early October, so I am curious as to whether anyone has had an experience with DCL and what happens when a hurricane is a coming, or if you haven't experienced it, what have you heard happens?

Thanks for your help!

Erik

We were actually the first ship to be allowed back to Disney's private island (Castaway Cay) after a hurricane passed DIRECTLY over it last year. With the exception of the entire island being brown because salt water killed all the plant life, everthing else about the island was fine... And that was after a DIRECT HIT, maybe 6 or 7 days earlier. So there were no flowers and it wasn't green, but other than that, it was fine. I'd venture to say you'll be okay unless you just get REALLY unlucky.

As for if there's a hurricane before... Last year Port Canaveral was closed for a while because one of the hurricanes pulled too much sand into the port and the army corps of engineers had to dredge it back to a safe level (or so we were told)... But even then Disney made alternate plans and helped people to where the ship temporarily left from, etc...

The previous post was correct, too. If you're on a ship DURING a hurricane, you're pretty safe. They might change the islands you visit, and you MIGHT get some larger waves than normal, but for the most part you probably won't even know. On the upside, you MIGHT see a really cool light show on the horizon from all the lightning!! :wave:
 
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3IAlienKid

Member
We were on the Wonder when the 3rd of the 4 summer of 2004 hurricanes passed through. Just like was mentioned earlier, they will basically change the itinerary a bit to get around the hurricane. We were on the 4 day cruise to Nassau and Castaway Cay and didn't get to port at either, we ended up going to Cozumel and they extended our cruise to 5 days. Also, instead of ending up back at Port Canaveral, we docked somewhere on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida. I won't lie, we were disappointed we missed Castaway Cay as this was our 1st (and so far only) Disney cruise, although our Cozumel catamaran/snorkeling excursion almost made up for it.

Word of caution #1 -- If you've made travel arrangements through Walt Disney Travel Co and the cruise changes its itinerary while out at sea, they will take care of you by rearranging your return flights and so forth and you have nothing to worry about. However, if you made arrangements through someone else, you will be responsible for making any flight changes yourself which is a HUGE inconvenience given the fact you cannot make long distance calls from your stateroom, and your cell phone is pretty much dead since you're in the middle of the ocean. The cruise opened up 2 phone lines at the front desk for long distance calls, and the lines were typically a 3-4 hour wait to use over the next 3 days. I spent literally 3 hours from 4:30 to 7:30pm in line to change our returning flights and missed the Golden Mickeys show to do so. People took 15 to 20 minutes at a time to call from these 2 phones, so you can imagine why the lines took so long.

Word of caution #2 -- I'm told this almost never happens, even when circumnavigating a hurricane, but the first night and last afternoon of our cruise, the boat was rocking from the hurricane waves enough that it was actually difficult to walk a straight line down the hall. Mind you, it was sunny outside, it never rained, and it's not like the waves were crashing into the side of the boat, but the hurricane's effects on the water were significant. There were quite a few folks sitting on the lower decks looking quite green during both episodes. About 1/3rd of Triton's was empty that first dinner, presumably sick in their staterooms, whereas dining on the rest of the nights were pretty full. One of our tablemates had been an officer on a Naval ship, and he felt the Wonder's rolling was about as bad as the worse days on his ship. So bring plenty of Dramamine!
 
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Woody13

New Member
3IAlienKid said:
Word of caution #2 -- I'm told this almost never happens, even when circumnavigating a hurricane, but the first night and last afternoon of our cruise, the boat was rocking from the hurricane waves enough that it was actually difficult to walk a straight line down the hall. Mind you, it was sunny outside, it never rained, and it's not like the waves were crashing into the side of the boat, but the hurricane's effects on the water were significant. There were quite a few folks sitting on the lower decks looking quite green during both episodes. About 1/3rd of Triton's was empty that first dinner, presumably sick in their staterooms, whereas dining on the rest of the nights were pretty full. One of our tablemates had been an officer on a Naval ship, and he felt the Wonder's rolling was about as bad as the worse days on his ship. So bring plenty of Dramamine!
They lied. It happens all the time.
 
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Laura

22
Woody13 said:
They lied. It happens all the time.

Yup - I've been on some pretty rocky cruises myself, to the point where it tickles your stomach just sitting still, and the weather was fine. I actually LOVE the rocking feeling!
 
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ernste40

New Member
Original Poster
3IAlienKid said:
We were on the 4 day cruise to Nassau and Castaway Cay and didn't get to port at either, we ended up going to Cozumel and they extended our cruise to 5 days. Also, instead of ending up back at Port Canaveral, we docked somewhere on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida.
What happens for those of us driving and parking our cars at Port Canaveral???
 
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Magic Maker

New Member
Oh good point, not sure about the cars, guess that's the risk you take I suppose. Anyone have any info?

My boyfriend is working on the Magic as it comes through the Panama canal. I miss him so much, but he will be home in 7 days!
 
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3IAlienKid

Member
For those who parked at Port Canaveral, Disney bussed everyone back, I think they were saying it was going to be about a 3 hrs drive.

As to the posts about the rough waters, I'm sure it happens from time to time, but I can't imagine it happens often. Granted, this purely "armchair" research, but of the experienced cruisers we talked to, both on that cruise and as well as friends at home (my wife herself has been on several cruises with her family), none had ever experienced anything quite like that. The captain himself who was in the lobby one evening answering hurricane and itinerary-change questions said himself it was rare to have those kinds of waves, although granted he didn't put any numbers on it in terms of frequency.
 
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DisneyBunny

Active Member
SpenceMan01 said:
Thread Title: How do hurricanes affect Disney Cruise Line?

Answer: Cheap(er) rates Sept-Nov.

You got it.

I try to look at it this way: even if your itinerary changes, or have potential difficulties with travel arrangements, that's the risk you take when going on a cruise - at any time of the year. Even a bad storm can throw things off track. But that's what trip insurance is for. If something happens on the cruise, at least you know that Disney will take care of you. But still bring the Dramamine. Eat lots of bread for the seasickness. And even if it's sooo tempting, don't drink alcoholic drinks! Otherwise... :hurl:
 
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