Popular Florida Cruise Port Closed for Business – as of TODAY!

With Hurricane Matthew wreaking havoc across the Caribbean, residents and holidaymakers in Florida are now preparing themselves for the storm of the decade.

We’ve heard reports over the last few days of the damage and destruction caused to Jamaica and Haiti with news reaching us today that Port Canaveral will now close for all incoming and outgoing cruise ships.

Port Canaveral CEO John Murray today issued an evacuation order for landside operations.  The deadline to evacuate is noon on Wednesday.

“This is a serious storm and the protection of people and property is our primary concern,” said Murray. “We expect high winds and storm surge throughout the port and have urged the Port community to prepare their facilities so business can resume as quickly as possible after the storm.”

He also stated that under the Captain of the Port order, no vessel traffic–including cruise and cargo ships, as well as recreational and commercial fishing boats –will be allowed in harbor until after the storm passes and the order is lifted.

As of yet, no update has come directly from the cruise lines with RCI issuing the following advise:
Royal Caribbean International continues to closely monitor the path and progress of Hurricane Matthew to ensure guests have an enjoyable and comfortable cruise. Given the storm’s current location and projected path, we are rerouting some of our ships to ensure the safety of our guests and crew.

Allure of the Seas
Allure of the Seas will be able to visit its original ports of call however; we are modifying her call dates and times. Allure of Seas revised itinerary:

– Sunday, Oct. 2 – Depart from Port Everglades, Florida at 4:30 p.m.
– Monday, Oct. 3 – At Sea
– Tuesday, Oct. 4 – Cozumel, Mexico at 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
– Wednesday, Oct. 5 – At Sea
– Thursday, Oct. 6 – Falmouth, Jamaica at 7:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
– Friday, Oct. 7 – Labadee, Haiti at 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
– Saturday, Oct. 8 – At sea
– Sunday, Oct. 9 – Arrive at Port Everglades, Florida at 6:15 a.m.

Freedom of the Seas
Freedom of the Seas will now be calling on San Juan, Puerto instead of her scheduled call to CocoCay, Bahamas. Freedom of the Seas revised itinerary:

– Sunday, Oct. 2 – Depart from Port Canaveral at 4:30 p.m.
– Monday, Oct. 3 – At sea
– Tuesday, Oct. 4 – San Juan, Puerto Rico at 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
– Wednesday, Oct. 5 – Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas at 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
– Thursday, Oct. 6 – Philipsburg, St. Maarten at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
– Friday, Oct. 7 – At sea
– Saturday, Oct. 8 – At sea
– Sunday, Oct. 9 – Arrive at Port Canaveral, Florida at 6:00 a.m.

Enchantment of the Seas
Enchantment of the Seas will not be able to call to either port in the Bahamas. Instead Enchantment of the Seas will now call to Cozumel, Mexico. Enchantment of Seas revised itinerary:

– Monday, Oct. 3 – Depart from Port Miami, Florida at 4:00 p.m.
– Tuesday, Oct. 4 – At sea
– Wednesday, Oct. 5 – Cozumel, Mexico at 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
– Thursday, Oct. 6 – Key West, Florida at 1:15 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
– Friday, Oct. 7 – Arrive at Port Miami, Florida at 7:00 a.m.

Majesty of the Seas
We are rerouting Majesty of the Seas. Majesty will now call to Freeport, Bahamas and overnight in Key West, Florida, instead of her scheduled calls to CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. Majesty of the Seas revised itinerary: 

– Monday, Oct. 3 – Port Canaveral, Florida at 4:00 p.m.
– Tuesday, Oct. 4 – Freeport, Bahamas at 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
– Wednesday, Oct. 5 – Key West, Florida at 9:00 a.m.
– Thursday, Oct. 6 – Depart from Key West, Florida at 9:00 a.m.
– Friday, Oct. 7 – Port Canaveral, Florida at 7:00 a.m.

If you have not done so already, we strongly suggest guests complete their online check-in as soon as possible, including the section requesting your preferred method of contact while traveling. You can access online check-in atwww.royalcaribbean.com/onlinecheckin.

Royal Caribbean International will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will provide updates as soon as they become available.

Are you due to sail from any of the Florida ports in the next few days or have you been caught up in t he storm in the Caribbean?  Hoping everyone stays safe!

Lx