After Matthew

Hurricane Matthew tonight is weakening and just beginning to move past Jacksonville, but is still menacing the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. Their ports won't be open until at least Sunday. Miami, Port Everglades and Palm Beach reopened today, and Port Canaveral may open tomorrow. That still leaves operations from all but South  Florida under a cloud of uncertainty.

Cruise lines did resume operations today at Miami, but causing a cloud of uncertainty there was that the condition of all Bahamian ports and their attractions is still unknown, or how soon they will be able to open back up for business.

Adding even more uncertainty is the growing probability that Matthew is going to loop back around and strike the Bahamas again as a tropical storm on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The complete story appeared in the October 7 edition of Cruise News Daily.

The Next Concern

Hurricane Matthew is moving steadily and in the short term is following the predicted path, so most cruise line changes today are a result of the ports not reopening as quickly as originally expected.

Most of the media coverage is now focused on the storm itself as it moves toward the Florida coast, but there's more to the story that they'll soon be excited about.

Details appeared in the October 6 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

There She Is - Miss Carnival Vista

Carnival Cruise Line reported yesterday that Miss USA, Deshauna Barber, has consented to serve as godmother to Carnival Vista. She will officially name the 133,500-ton vessel in New York on November 4.

The naming will be part of an overnight gala event aboard Carnival Vista honoring Operation Homefront featuring a concert by seven-time Grammy award winner Carrie Underwood. The overnight event is by invitation only with most of the invitations going to hundreds of military families.

The complete story appeared in the October 6 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Port Closures Change Two More Royal Caribbean Ships

(October 6, 3pm) - The closure of Miami and Port Canaveral are causing two more changes for Royal Caribbean ships.

Due to the expected continue closure of Port Canaveral, Royal Caribbean has canceled the October 8 sailing of Majesty of the Seas (which was originally to depart on October 7). Passengers may elect to receive a full refund or a future cruise certificate for 150% of the fare they paid for this cruise. To receive the future cruise credit, passengers must contact Royal Caribbean before their refund is issued with a week.

Port Miami will open later in the morning on Friday, so Empress of the Seas' departure will be delayed Friday night. Embarkation is not expected to begin before 5pm, and passengers are requested not to arrive at Port Miami before 5pm.

Disney Fantasy Updated for Canaveral Closure

Disney Cruise Line's reservation office has closed until the storm moves past the Central Florida and plans to reopen on Saturday morning (October 8).

Disney has decided to keep Disney Fantasy at sea for an extra day anticipating that Port Canaveral will remain closed on Saturday. Disney Fantasy will now return on Sunday, October 9.

The late return of Disney Fantasy has caused Disney to shorten the October 8 sailing. It will now sail from Port Canaveral on Sunday, October 9 and be a six-night western Caribbean cruise. It will include calls at Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Castaway Cay. Disney says passengers who sail on this will receive a prorated refund and an onboard credit. Passengers who do not wish to sail on the revised itinerary can call Disney on Saturday to reschedule on a future cruise at a discount or request receive a full refund.