2024 cruise season tropical weather discussion

[Pooch]

First time in a long time I’m actually worried about my daughter in central Florida (Longwood).  I kept suggesting a visit back to CT but no luck.  “I’ll be fine Mom!!”

[Pooch]

To all of you in the path of the hurricane, my prayers for your safety.

[teddy]

Stay safe everyone.

[cruisellama]

Milton is a "5"!  Hopefully enough cold water will be churned up from the bottom to the  surface to degrade the storm before it lands.  Stay safe everyone.

[Gadget Hackwrench]

Also hopefully we can spare Bermuda long term, because I do love to cruise there and the people are super nice.

[WAAAYTOOO]

We are hearing that it WILL degrade before making land.....unless they hit it with the HAARP.  JK

[PPPJJ-GCVAB]

for everyone in the path of Milton…and beyond!  

[smokeybandit]

Tampa airport closing tomorrow morning. Orlando, Wednesday morning.

[Geezer Of The Seas]

Local weather forecast office prognostications(Melbourne NWS) is currently expecting high end tropical storm force winds and hurricane force gusts up to 100 mph in the immediate vicinity of the track of the center for  Metro Orlando.

Seen this movie 20 years ago (Charley), and 8 days without power (eyes beautiful oak trees outside warily). 

[Firefly]

Currently on board Serenade. We left Tampa yesterday at 4:30pm and are currently just off the coast of Mexico already - I can see the beach high rises in Cancún from my balcony. We are docking in Cozumel overnight tonight. The cruise has been relatively smooth so far and sunny all afternoon. Captain Stig said we might have bad weather overnight. Feeling I made the right decision to leave my car with family north of Orlando instead of parking it in Tampa. Wondering how long this 5 night cruise will actually be…

[PL8SWPR]

Due to leave on the Wonder out of Port Canaveral on Sunday.  Storm will be long gone by then, but wonder what the damage will be on the east coast of Florida. 

[Lovetocruise2002]

I am worried about @Neesa. She hasn’t been around here lately and I know she is in that area. If anyone stays in touch with her, let her know we are thinking about her.

[Southern Dan]

I am hoping everyone affected here and their families stay safe and hope the damage isn't as terrible as they are projecting it to be.  

[smokeybandit]

59 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I am worried about @Neesa. She hasn’t been around here lately and I know she is in that area. If anyone stays in touch with her, let her know we are thinking about her.

I was just thinking that the other day. Haven't seen her around much.

[Firefly]

Change of plans on Serenade. We are now heading to Costa Maya. The sunset tonight while sailing between Cozumel and the mainland was memorable with Milton looming on the horizon. Weather on the ship is still fine. 

[cruisellama]

22 minutes ago, Firefly said:

Change of plans on Serenade. We are now heading to Costa Maya. The sunset tonight while sailing between Cozumel and the mainland was memorable with Milton looming on the horizon. Weather on the ship is still fine. 

Mariner is there.  Seems like a safe port to hang out until the storm moves on.

[asquared17]

3 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I am worried about @Neesa. She hasn’t been around here lately and I know she is in that area. If anyone stays in touch with her, let her know we are thinking about her.

+1

i hope she and the fam are okay too

[Scott Wooten]

We are scheduled to leave Friday morning on Adventure OTS out of Canaveral. Not expecting us to leave as scheduled, but hopeful we can leave Saturday morning, That IS, if we can get to the port. We are traveling out of Northeast Georgia and will take I-95 this time instead of the usual I-75/Turnpike route thru Orlando. More than anything, I hope everyone stays safe during this storm. Our cruise can be replaced......safety is priority #1.

 

[OCSC Mike]

21 hours ago, Geezer Of The Seas said:

Seen this movie 20 years ago (Charley), and 8 days without power (eyes beautiful oak trees outside warily).

Yep, we've been here (near Disney) since then as well. Had just finished building our first and only house in Fall 2003 too... great timing!

Stay safe and hopefully you don't lose power for nearly that long this time around. Knock on wood, we're pretty good about not losing power for long (or at all) where we are.

[Shari]

We have friends on the Sun Princess that was supposed to arrive in Ft Lauderdale on the 9th.  They have been informed that their transatlantic cruise is being extended by 2 days due to Hurricane Milton.  They are retired so they are just fine with it.  I feel for everyone scrambling, whether new flights out or who were planning on getting on that ship tomorrow.

[twangster]

Does anyone have a sharpie so we can alter the course?

[WAAAYTOOO]

I just read over on CC that all FL are going to close tonite and not sure when they will re-open.  Grain of salt (source) but if true - YIKES.

[Last2Know]

I'm supposed to sail on Grandeur Saturday (10/12).  Looked at the RCL page for updates but it's not showing anything online https://www.royalcaribbean.com/notices/travel-updates.  So I DM'ed RCL on X and was told they would be contacting passengers via email if a cruise was delayed or had an itinerary change.

[Geezer Of The Seas]

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

Yep, we've been here (near Disney) since then as well. Had just finished building our first and only house in Fall 2003 too... great timing!

Stay safe and hopefully you don't lose power for nearly that long this time around. Knock on wood, we're pretty good about not losing power for long (or at all) where we are.

Been a Floridian for almost 55 years, Mrs Geezer is a native, she's experienced worse than anything I've seen. My 'first' was David in 1979, 9 years after moving to Central Florida. 

Stupid hurricanes..........

[Geezer Of The Seas]

42 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I just read over on CC that all FL are going to close tonite and not sure when they will re-open.  Grain of salt (source) but if true - YIKES.

The storm surge warning was extended south to Port Canaveral and the coast is under a hurricane warning as well. A five foot surge moving up the harbor at PC might be a problem, especially for the navigation channel. Prolonged generally East wind coupled with stout East wind that's been along the Central coast since last weekend. Whole lotta sand gonna move around.......

[Capt JD]

28 minutes ago, Last2Know said:

I'm supposed to sail on Grandeur Saturday (10/12).  Looked at the RCL page for updates but it's not showing anything online https://www.royalcaribbean.com/notices/travel-updates.  So I DM'ed RCL on X and was told they would be contacting passengers via email if a cruise was delayed or had an itinerary change.

Wife and I are scheduled for Grandeur leaving Tampa the 17th. We're not sure what is going to happen at this point. Hoping for everyone's safety in FL though. Meteorologically, this looks like it could be a rough one as it currently sits. 

[smokeybandit]

35 minutes ago, Last2Know said:

I'm supposed to sail on Grandeur Saturday (10/12).  Looked at the RCL page for updates but it's not showing anything online https://www.royalcaribbean.com/notices/travel-updates.  So I DM'ed RCL on X and was told they would be contacting passengers via email if a cruise was delayed or had an itinerary change.

It all depends on when they can re-open the port facilities and ensure the bay channel is clear.

[Last2Know]

34 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

It all depends on when they can re-open the port facilities and ensure the bay channel is clear.

First step will be to see if I can even make it to Tampa from Ocala. 

I'm a fifth-gen Florida native and have seen many a storm come through.  Irma was tough on our area and this one looks to be much worse.  Glad I went ahead and spent some money on trimming back those century-old oaks and hickory trees on the property.

[WAAAYTOOO]

1 hour ago, Last2Know said:

First step will be to see if I can even make it to Tampa from Ocala. 

I'm a fifth-gen Florida native and have seen many a storm come through.  Irma was tough on our area and this one looks to be much worse.  Glad I went ahead and spent some money on trimming back those century-old oaks and hickory trees on the property.

Be safe.  Good luck with travel and hopefully, the cruise.

[Gadget Hackwrench]

5 hours ago, twangster said:

Does anyone have a sharpie so we can alter the course?

Here you go, Tampa Bay created these new road signs to be deployed in the ocean to help hurricane Milton understand where to go.

[Last2Know]

Email arrived this evening. 

[MarvinS]

We're currently on Adventure, and due back into Port Canaveral Friday morning.

We were at Labadee today.  It was great being back here, and had a wonderful day.  We went on one of the zip-line excursions, and as we headed up the hill in the truck, I could see SEVERAL security personnel each carrying machine guns at the perimeter of the compound, so felt very secure and had no concerns visiting here!  Royal Caribbean was certainly taking security very seriously.

The Captain notified everyone Tuesday morning of a change in itinerary.  We were suppose to have a sea day on Wednesday and be at CocoCay on Thursday, but that's been cancelled with a new stop at Turks & Caicos on Wednesday (tomorrow) and a sea day on Thursday with a slightly delayed scheduled arrival of 8AM on Friday (delayed from 6AM) into Port Canaveral (assuming the port is open).  Here's the letter we received:

 

[Ampurp85]

I hope everyone is staying as safe as they can. I also hope @Neesa is okay.

My mother left Arcadia yesterday for Jacksonville to try to ride out Milton. They didn't feel much from Helene, but they were afraid during this one. 

[PL8SWPR]

10 hours ago, MarvinS said:

We're currently on Adventure, and due back into Port Canaveral Friday morning.

We were at Labadee today.  It was great being back here, and had a wonderful day.  We went on one of the zip-line excursions, and as we headed up the hill in the truck, I could see SEVERAL security personnel each carrying machine guns at the perimeter of the compound, so felt very secure and had no concerns visiting here!  Royal Caribbean was certainly taking security very seriously.

The Captain notified everyone Tuesday morning of a change in itinerary.  We were suppose to have a sea day on Wednesday and be at CocoCay on Thursday, but that's been cancelled with a new stop at Turks & Caicos on Wednesday (tomorrow) and a sea day on Thursday with a slightly delayed scheduled arrival of 8AM on Friday (delayed from 6AM) into Port Canaveral (assuming the port is open).  Here's the letter we received:

 

 

 

Good to hear they think there is a chance through port will be open on Friday. 

[Pooch]

My daughter told me to stop watching weather reports.  She says she’s as prepared as she can be, food water backup battery chargers flashlights kitty food.  She’s in a first floor apartment but is friendly with the tenant above.  If they get flooding, she’ll go upstairs.  If a tree lands on the roof the neighbor will come down.  She’s been in Florida (despite my best efforts to get her to move) for 14 years now.  First time I’ve been really worried.  Ok no I actually worry about her every day but….

[Firefly]

Serenade docked in Cozumel this morning at Punta Langosta downtown. Captain Stig informed us we will stay docked overnight and enjoy a  second day in Cozumel tomorrow. Can’t complain at that. The independent snorkeling excursion I had booked was cancelled for today due to wind and rough seas, so hopefully tomorrow is better since we opted to reschedule. Everything on the ship is going great despite the uncertainty of where/when we will be able to return to FL. 

[Smokey79]

On Utopia. We’re heading to Nassau but we’re taking a really wide route. Weather is great and the wind is manageable. No updates at all from RC but right now Port Canaveral has us scheduled to be there at noon Friday. I figure that’ll change as things progress. 

[steverk]

I'm on Radiance right now. We're supposed to transit the Panama canal in a few days and dock in Tampa on the 21st.

The captain mentioned the storm this morning but said nothing about impacts to our itinerary. I doubt, and hope, there won't be any impacts. 

Everyone in Florida, we're thinking about you. 

[SplashOfWater]

Captain on Utopia just announced we'll be going to Labadee tomorrow and returning to Port Canaveral on Saturday.

[Jill]

So I’m sitting here just north of St Augustine waiting for Milton. We were supposed to be on Utopia right now in one of the new Sky Junior Suites. I should’ve left the Facebook group lol. They’re skipping Nassau tomorrow and going to labadee. So they got cococay, sea day, labadee and sea day. 
 

I had @Sharla cancel us on Sunday as we were in the cone and all coastal and St. John’s river areas are under mandatory evacuation. We also live on an horse farm and having large animals   outside in these storms is stressful so I probably would’ve worried the entire time. Apparently we’re getting 100% refund from Royal. They extended that to many people. We’ve sailed 8 times in October the last 10 years and this is our first with a hurricane.