Cruise lines change course to avoid Hurricane Helene

(This story was updated to add new information.)
Cruise lines are changing Caribbean itineraries in an effort to avoid Hurricane Helene.
The storm, already a Category 2 hurricane, was forecast to strengthen before making landfall in the U.S. on Thursday. “A catastrophic and deadly storm surge is likely along portions of the Florida Big Bend coast, where inundation could reach as high as 20 feet above ground level, along with the destructive waves,” the National Hurricane Center said Thursday morning. The storm could also bring “life-threatening storm surge” to the rest of the Florida Peninsula’s west coast, damaging hurricane-force winds are expected in parts of northern Florida and southern Georgia.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise ship, which left from Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, replaced a planned visit to Cozumel, Mexico, on Tuesday with Costa Maya.
Carnival Valor, meanwhile, scrapped its scheduled stop in Cozumel on Tuesday. The sailing also departed Saturday from New Orleans, Louisiana. Carnival Horizon canceled a visit to Grand Cayman on Wednesday and will visit Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on Thursday rather than Cozumel. The ship left from Miami on Sunday.
“As the safety of our guests and crew is our priority, we will continue to watch the storm and factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard and the local port authorities to provide timely updates as more information becomes available,” the cruise line said in a statement.
Carnival advised passengers with cruises in the projected path of the storm to keep an eye on their emails and sign up for text message alerts.
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Five Royal Caribbean International itineraries have been impacted so far, according to the line’s parent company Royal Caribbean Group:
MSC Cruises’ MSC Seascape ship, which sailed from Miami on Saturday, also changed several ports of call, according to a spokesperson. The ship visited Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos on Monday in place of Falmouth, Jamaica, and replaced its Tuesday visit to George Town, Grand Cayman, with Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. The cruise will also visit Nassau on Thursday rather than spending the day at sea.
MSC Seashore, which left from Port Canaveral on Sunday, will return on Friday, one day later than scheduled. The ship’s following sailing will be shortened by one day.
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy also canceled its Tuesday call at George Town, replacing it with a sea day. The ship left from Port Canaveral on Saturday.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].