Cruise lines have skipped port calls and changed itineraries as Hurricane Melissa bears down on Jamaica.
The storm has strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with potentially ‘catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding.’
“Numerous landslides are likely through Tuesday,” the National Hurricane Center said.
“Destructive winds, especially in the mountains, will begin by this evening, leading to extensive infrastructural damage.”
Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba could also be significantly impacted as well as parts of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.
Carnival has made adjustments for five ships to avoid the wild weather.
Carnival Celebration is skipping Grand Turk and Amber Cove, D.R., and instead will visit Cozumel.
Carnival Liberty and Carnival Dream’s planned Montego Bay calls are canceled this week while Carnival Sunrise will skip its Oct. 30 stop in Grand Turk, replacing it with Nassau.
Carnival Vista also canceled a stop at Amber Cove later this week
“Safety is our priority, and we continue to track conditions carefully, factoring in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard, and local port authorities,” Carnival said.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas’ Eastern Caribbean itinerary was changed with a Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel and Roatan, Honduras.
Freedom of the Seas canceled a Grand Turk port call.
Celebrity Beyond is now on a Western Caribbean sailing rather than the originally planned Eastern Caribbean cruise.
Disney Wish also reordered its planned stops during its Oct. 27 cruise. The ship will now visit Castaway Cay on Oct. 28, and Nassau on Oct. 29.
