From the different perspectives department:

Last week, Carnival Ecstasy left Galveston as Hurricane Ike was headed toward the port. The storm caused both a change of itinerary, to stay away from it, and delayed the return, first while the storm passed and then because the port was closed due to damage. While Carnival worked to find an alternate port for the ship, it went to New Orleans and disembarked passengers who wanted to fly home, and others stayed aboard the ship and ended the odyssey yesterday when the ship arrived in Houston.

Aboard the cruise was a group of 30 from the Wichita Falls Board of Commerce and Industry. (The group does different outings and is called "Just for Fun.") With the hurricane coming only four decided to cancel.

The group has now all returned home, and Tuesday the local news media began carrying the first interviews. It's interesting how they have entirely divergent perspectives. Two articles interview different people from the group, but they have entirely different outlooks. The first was in the local newspaper, the Times Record News. The person interviewed for that one seems to have a very balanced view that understands the situation and is accepting it in a very matter-of-fact manner. The second story is from the Texomas website (an outlet from a combination of three Wichita Falls TV stations) and quotes a gentleman, part of the same group, who enjoyed the company, but isn't at all happy with the way things were handled by Carnival.

These demonstrate why you shouldn't just accept one posting on a bulletin board or one article you read as speaking for the group. (How often have you seen someone say, "Everyone was complaining about it.")

For the record, contrary to what the second article says, it is safer to take the ship out when a hurricane is approaching since it doesn't sail through the hurricane, but rather stays far away from the strongest winds. Carnival was offering full refunds to passengers who asked for them, on the day of sailing, once the storm's path toward Galveston became clear.

Hurricane Ike Updates

Updated September 14 - 6pm EDT

Hurricane Ike has moved inland and is longer causing additional changes to cruise line itineraries.

The Port of Galveston closed to inbound vessels at 11am LT on Thursday (September 11) and to outbound vessels at 11pm LT on Thursday. They have not yet set a time to reopen.

Updated September 14 - 6pm: Carnival has canceled the next sailings of Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy tentatively scheduled for Monday (September 15). Both ships are now sailing to New Orleans. See the individual sailings below for details.

Cruise lines have reported the following itineraries have been changed. (Ships are listed alphabetically.)

Updated September 14 - 6pm: Carnival Conquest departed Galveston Sunday (September 7): The call at Cozumel was lengthened to two days since Conquest cannot return to Galveston as scheduled. The revised itinerary calls at Montego Bay on Wednesday (September 10), Grand Cayman on Thursday (September 11) and Cozumel on Friday & Saturday (9am September 12 - 4pm September 13). Sunday (September 14) will be spent at sea. Conquest will now dock at New Orleans on Monday (September 15), and passengers may disembark on Monday or Tuesday. Passengers may also remain aboard and return to Galveston with the ship when the port reopens, but as yet, there is no estimate when that will be.

Updated September 14: Carnival Conquest originally scheduled to depart Galveston Sunday (September 14): Carnival has canceled this sailing since Galveston is closed and no suitable nearby pier facilities are available.

Updated September 14 - 6pm: Carnival Ecstasy - departed Galveston on Thursday (September 11): The call at Cozumel has been replaced with one at Veracruz. The new itinerary calls at sea on Friday, call at Veracruz on Saturday (September 13 - 8am-6pm) and be at sea on Sunday. Ecstasy will now dock at New Orleans on Tuesday (September 16 - 2pm), and passengers may disembark on Tuesday or Wednesday. Passengers may also remain aboard and return to Galveston with the ship when the port reopens, but as yet, there is no estimate when that will be.

Updated September 14: Carnival Ecstasy scheduled to depart Monday (September 15): Carnival has canceled this sailing since Galveston is closed and no suitable nearby pier facilities are available.

Carnival Fascination - departed Miami on Monday (September 8): Changed from western Caribbean to Bahamas. The new itinerary calls at Nassau on Wednesday (September 10 - 8am-5pm) and Freeport on Thursday (September 11 - 8am-5pm). Fascination will return to Miami as scheduled on Friday (September 12).

Carnival Imagination - departed Miami on Monday (September 8): Substituted a call at Freeport for Grand Turk. Sea conditions also have forced cancellation of the call at Half Moon Cay. The revised itinerary now calls at Freeport on Wednesday (September 10 - 8am-5pm), Nassau on Thursday and Friday (September 11 & 12 - 8am on Thursday-2pm on Friday). Imagination will return to Miami as scheduled on Saturday (September 13).

Carnival Inspiration - departed Tampa on Monday (September 8): The revised itinerary calls at Progreso on Wednesday (September 10 - 8am-4pm) and Cozumel on Thursday (September 11 - 10am-8pm). Inspiration will return to Tampa as scheduled on Saturday (September 13).

Carnival Legend - departed Tampa on Sunday (September 7): Canceled call at Grand Cayman and will remain at sea that day. The revised itinerary now calls at Cozumel on Wednesday (September 10), Belize on Thursday (September 11) and Roatan on Friday (September 12). Legend will return to Tampa as scheduled on Sunday (September 14).

Carnival Liberty - departed Miami Saturday (September 6): Instead of an eastern Caribbean itinerary, Carnival sent the ship to the western Caribbean, cancelling the calls at Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk. Carnival Liberty will now call at Grand Cayman on Monday (September 8 - 7am-4pm), Cozumel on Tuesday (September 9 - 10am-6pm), Belize on Wednesday (September 10 - 8am-5pm) and Roatan on Thursday (September 11 - 7am-3pm). The ship will return to Miami as scheduled on Saturday (September 13).

Carnival Miracle - departed New York on Saturday (September 6): Substituted a call at Tortola for Grand Turk. The revised itinerary calls at San Juan on Tuesday (September 9 - 3pm-12m), St. Thomas on Wednesday (September 10 - 7am-8pm) and Tortola on Thursday (September 11 - 6am-1pm). Miracle will return to New York as scheduled on Sunday (September 14).

Carnival Triumph - departed Miami on Sunday (September 7): Canceled call at Grand Cayman and the day (Thursday) will be spent at sea. The new itinerary called at Cozumel Tuesday (September 9 - 8am-10pm) and Ocho Rios on Friday (September 12 - 8am-330pm). Carnival Triumph will return to Miami as scheduled on Sunday (September 14).

Carnival Valor - departed Miami on Sunday (September 7): Canceled its call at Nassau. The revised itinerary will now have sea days Monday and Tuesday, call at St. Thomas on Wednesday (September 10 - 8am-8pm) and St. Maarten on Thursday (September 11 - 7am-6pm). Valor will return to Miami as scheduled on Sunday (September 14).

Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas - departed Ft. Lauderdale Saturday (September 6): The call at Grand Cayman was canceled. The new itinerary calls at Cozumel on Monday (September 8), and the ship will now remain at sea on Tuesday and Wednesday. The ship will return to Ft. Lauderdale on Thursday (September 11).

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas - departed Miami Sunday (September 7): The call at San Juan has been canceled. The revised itinerary will call at St. Thomas on Wednesday (September 10) and St. Maarten on Thursday (September 11). Freedom will return to Miami on Sunday (September 14).

Carnival's Holiday - departed Mobile on Monday (September 8): The revised itinerary calls at Progreso on Wednesday (September 10 - 8am-4pm) and Cozumel on Thursday (September 11 - 9am-6pm). Holiday will return to Mobile as scheduled on Saturday (September 13).

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas - departed Miami Saturday (September 6): The ports will be reordered. The new itinerary calls at Cozumel on Monday (September 8), Grand Cayman on Tuesday (September 9), Ocho Rios on Wednesday (September 10) and Labadee on Thursday (September 11). Liberty will return to Miami on Saturday (September 13).

Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas - departed Miami Friday (September 5): Canceled its call at Coco Cay on Saturday, and will now call at Nassau on Saturday (September 6) and remain at sea on Sunday (September 7). The ship is scheduled to return to Miami on Monday (September 8).

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas - departed Port Canaveral Sunday (September 7): The call at Ocho Rios has been canceled. The new itinerary calls at Labadee on Tuesday (September 9), Montego Bay on Wednesday (September 10), Grand Cayman on Thursday (September 11) and Cozumel on Friday (September 12). Mariner will return to Port Canaveral on Sunday (September 14).

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky - departed Miami Friday (September 5): Canceled its call at Great Stirrup Cay on Sunday (September 7) and will remain at sea. The ship is scheduled to return to Miami on Monday (September 8).

Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas - departs Port Canaveral Monday (September 8): The ports have been reordered. The new itinerary is at sea Tuesday (September 9), calling at Nassau on Wednesday (September 10) and Coco Cay on Thursday (September 11). Sovereign will return to Port Canaveral on Friday (September 12).

For links to other weather information, please see the cruise weather page on our main site at cruisenewsdaily.com.

This item will be updated as changes are received from the cruise lines.