After this year's active hurricane season will others be reluctant to book next year?

[FlorenceItaly]

What are your thoughts? Has this made a difference in your booking? I am already booked for Sept 17, 2005, and am committed to friends, so it's a done deal for me, but I am wondering if we will see LOWER fares this time next year???????

Marie

[Roboat]

What are your thoughts? Has this made a difference in your booking? I am already booked for Sept 17, 2005, and am committed to friends, so it's a done deal for me, but I am wondering if we will see LOWER fares this time next year???????

MarieWell, I'll still book next year if I can. I would hope there is just enough fear to keep prices attractive, but not so much to significantly impact the cruise lines ability to stay in business.

[sail7seas]

I sincerely hope we, once again, book at least one set of b-to-b's for the Caribbean next summer. We have cruised the Caribbean between June and November for many years, a great many cruises, and very much hope we do again.

We live in Boston and we book winter cruises as well. It snows in Boston. Air flighs get cancelled all the time. We have to fly to get to FLL to board the ships. We haven't stopped booking winter cruises either.

[Giorgi-one]

We have a family cruise booked for August 20th next year. I figure the worst that can happen is I get a longer cruise if the hurricane hits while we are at sea, or my cruise is cancelled if the hurricane hits right before sail date. Could loose some air fare but I believe that is covered by post departure insurance.

[gliles]

I wouldn't hesitate for a minute. I wish I were on her right now getting a couple bonus days!

But yes, I am sure there are some who would shy away and I can't really blame them. Everyone's circumstances are different. If I had saved up for years for this cruise and it were the only time I could go, had arangements to take care of children, ill family members, pets, the house, etc. then I would be really bummed but alas even though I do work fulltime, I have some flexibility.

[dakrewser]

What are your thoughts? Has this made a difference in your booking? I
No difference at all. Summer is for cruising in Alaska, the Baltic and north Atlantic. Decenber-March is Caribbean season as well as South America, Australia & New Zealand. Spring & Fall we'd likely head for the Med or a US coastal cruise. There's lots of places to go, no need to ask for problems! :)

[mhshapiro]

We tend to avoid the Caribbean during the peak of hurricane season. However, we do have cruises planned for 2005 already. One from Los Angeles to Tahiti on another line in January and another from Ft. Lauderdale to Rome on Westerdam in late April.

[anngie]

I might if we were not in driving distance or if we were not retired.
We have booked cruises lots of times in September and October before. I guess we have been lucky because hurricanes have never been a problem on our cruises.

[jhannah]

Won't make any difference to me. I wouldn't book a Caribbean vacation, cruise or otherwise, duing hurricane season anyway.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have never booked cruises for either August or September out of Ft Lauderdale for the Caribbean. But we have booked cruises for the very end of October, first part of November - haven't had any bad weather.

[Slinkiecat]

It won't make any difference to us. Since we're retired the timing isn't important and cancellations or extensions, delays, etc., mean very little. I hope the industry itself recovers from these disasters quickly as Florida's economy had just recovered the past year from the 9/11 attacks and their effect on the travel industry.

Keep the money flowing in! :)

slinkie

[CaptData]

I've got two cruises booked one in Feb on Maasdam Southern Carb, the other Summit Hawaii in Jan 06. Looking into Jan Feb 07, single cruise or group cruise next.

[peaches from georgia]

Wouldn't change our plans because we wouldn't be cruising in the Caribbean between July-mid October anyway. Did it one time in July and unless it was because you had kids on vacation who could only go then, I can't imagine why any adults would do this cruise in the summer. Waaaay tooooo hot, too many kids, hurricane season, in the case of HAL no choice of ships during the summer, and too many other places to cruise that are more enjoyable in the summer. Which, of course, is exactly why HAL only has the Zuiderdam cruising the Caribbean and the other ships are in more desirable locations.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have to agree with many, we would never consider cruising this time of year in the Atlantic especially since we have so far to travel. We prefer the Caribbean in March or April and the Pacific in the Fall. It would not effect how we choose our cruising this is just how we have always planned our vacations.

[bombero]

Sounds like there should be a lot of good deals out there next fall.. That's my favorite time to go... Bombero

[sail7seas]

Wouldn't change our plans because we wouldn't be cruising in the Caribbean between July-mid October anyway. Did it one time in July and unless it was because you had kids on vacation who could only go then, I can't imagine why any adults would do this cruise in the summer. Waaaay tooooo hot, too many kids, hurricane season, in the case of HAL no choice of ships during the summer, and too many other places to cruise that are more enjoyable in the summer. Which, of course, is exactly why HAL only has the Zuiderdam cruising the Caribbean and the other ships are in more desirable locations.
Isn't it wonderful to have choices. What you want or like....is not necessarily what I want or like.

It isn't waaaay tooooo hot for us.....we love heat. The ship is air conditioned, the shops ashore are air conditioned. The beach has an ocean in which we swim to cool off.

Too may other places to cruise. Yes, there are. IF that is where one wishes to cruise. I have absolutely no desire to cruise Alaska. It is highly unlikely I will EVER cruise Alaska. It holds no attraction for me. Canada/New England, Indeed. Fabulous. AND we cruised that route this summer.

Europe I like. We have cruised in Europe a number of times. In the present mood of the world, I am not eager to go there right now. Maybe again soon......but not now.


Too many kids.......most of them are just fine and a pleasure to enjoy. The pain in the bucket brats-----I have a very good method of handling the little pains. They don't often bother me very much.

Hurricane Season is six months of the year. We do not choose to stop cruising the Caribbean for six months. We live in Boston. We get snow storms in Boston. Airports close and flights get cancelled when we get a bad snow storm. I suppose by the same thought process, we should also not cruise in the winter. Might run into weather problems. So, We should not cruise in January, February, March as it may snow. I guess it's okay to cruise in April and May.........But then forget cruising June through November as that is Hurricane Season. Forget December, it might snow.

So......according to that thought process of avoiding 'possible weather' folks who live in parts of the world that get snow, they can only cruise the Caribbean in April and May.

But....Forget April. That's Easter. There will be too many kids.

So.......It is May or Nothing!!!

For crying out loud.......life is a risk. One evaluates the level of risk. If one has absolutely no tolerance for any risk at all I have no clue how they get through life.


:) As always.......JMHO
Lucky we don't all think exactly the same. :D Thankfully.

[AV8OR]

If the predicted El Nino occurs (and the impact that it usually has on the hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin) next year may be ideal for cruising the Caribbean between June and December.

[SharonN]

I can't imagine doing the Carribean in the summer. Not because of hurricanes but I really don't like the intense heat/humidity that time of year or the crowds. We've gone in Nov and May and even then it was too warm for me so I think we'll stick with Jan-Mar. for that area. It's a good thing we don't all want to go at the same time or it would really be crowded!

[Cracker Ken]

We were on Zuiderdam last year starting on 8/30 and sailed to the East to meet Hurricane Fabian. We avoided it, and had to skip St. Maarten. Otherwise, it was a nice cruise. This year we booked the Caribbean Princes for 9/4, but we had to cancel since the storm was heading towards our house (and it passed over here today - still on the back side of the storm as I type this). We plan to book something for about the same time next year. The heat, not a problem, we live in the heat.

Ken

[sail7seas]

Sharon.....

One of the BEST parts of cruising the Caribbean in the summer is there are NO crowds. There are very few ships sailing the Caribbean during the summer in comparison to other times of the year....therefore, NO crowds. :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We did a couple of cruises in the Caribbean in the summer - WAY too hot for us. Even more so for DH now. A couple of his prescriptions make him sweat a lot and he will react to the heat - so no more summer Caribbean.

[jhannah]

I have absolutely no desire to cruise Alaska. It is highly unlikely I will EVER cruise Alaska. It holds no attraction for me.Oh, please give it some more thought. Alaska is absolutely fabulous. The scenery is breathtaking, and the ports are quaint in a "taking you back" sort of way. And watching (and hearing) glaciers calve is a unique experience. I'd bet you would be very pleased with an Alaskan adventure.

[FlorenceItaly]

Oh, please give it some more thought. Alaska is absolutely fabulous. The scenery is breathtaking, and the ports are quaint in a "taking you back" sort of way. And watching (and hearing) glaciers calve is a unique experience. I'd bet you would be very pleased with an Alaskan adventure.

Sail - Yes, please reconsider. I believe ALASKA is another one of those places everyone should experience. The beauty is breathtaking...pictures, do not do it justice, one must experience it.

Marie

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Oh, please give it some more thought. Alaska is absolutely fabulous. The scenery is breathtaking, and the ports are quaint in a "taking you back" sort of way. And watching (and hearing) glaciers calve is a unique experience. I'd bet you would be very pleased with an Alaskan adventure.
I have to agree with Jim, Prior to our Alaska cruise I was always a Beach/ Tropical person. We have spent many a vacation in Hawaii and for cruising I could not imagine any thing but warm beautiful weather. We are originally from Iowa so cold and snow are the last place I would go. Plus I am definitely not the Out Doors adventuresome type person, with that said last year we were talked into booking an Alaskan Cruise with some friends that had never cruised but if they did, wanted to go to Alaska. To the surprise of both DH and myself we LOVE Alaska. We especially liked that we went in early May, NO kids and lots snow capped mountains. It was truly breath taking. It was more than a cruise. We are so hoping that the Noordam will go to Alaska in her first season. If not we still plan to cruise Alaska in May 2006 again.

[iluvcruzin]

Fares are usually cheaper during the Fall so I'll continue booking during this season. If it gets cancelled, I usually purchase travel insurance or the cruiselines seem to offer something. I have a Fall cruise booked for October next year without any worries. Usually by the end of October the seas have calmed down. I'm hoping the same will be for this year too.

[atonal1]

Because I teach, I have to cruise in the summer or during Thanksgiving/Christmas breaks. After avoiding Charlie this year, I'll schedule my summer cruises in mid June or early July. I've never had to avoid hurricanes during those two months.

[bookworm0911]

People tend to have short memories, so I don't think a couple hurricanes this year will make a big difference in Caribbean bookings next year. I think the big reason there are so few ships in the Caribbean and, given a choice, fewer pax wanting to sail there July-Sept. is the heat. Most of the posters who said they wouldn't sail at that time, such as dakrewser, KK, peaches from georgia, and others had the hot weather as their main reason. I feel the same. When I cruise in the Carib I want to enjoy being outside at the pool or walking in the ports.

The heat is why so many retirees flee their homes in FL during the height of the summer and head north, and the Caribbean is worse. :p

[sail7seas]

Seems there are alot of folks here 'urging' reconsideration for an Alaska cruise. I must admit it truly does not hold enough intrigue for me to make it worth the travel to get there from Boston. IF one really, really wants to see/do something, then they 'put up' with the horrible air travel. BUT if one is ambivilent about the trip......putting up with the airlines for such long flights is torture IMO I am more apt to rebook the Greenland, Iceland cruise. Glaciers there; wildlife.....easier for us to get to and home.


But, I shall give it more thought. :)

[gliles]

S7S -

I have never done Alaska but have wanted to. I am just afraid that I would be bummed about the cooler weather. I love the Caribbean. I guess since we usually sail out of MIA or FLL, it wouldn't be that much more difficult to get to SEA...some day maybe.

[Himself]

It is no secret that this is the Caribbean Hurrican Season. Becuase this year is active doesn't mean next year will be. It doesn't even mean that next month will be active.

HIMSELF

[Nliedel]

*If* I sailed in Hurricane season (it corresponds with HOT weather and this little pink duck does not *do* hot, thank you very much), I would not hesitate to book in hurricane season and encourage people to do so. I have said it a lot but how many times do all the ports get closed like that? I cannot ever remember it happening. Fances was MASSIVIVE compared to most storms. I am just thrilled she did not intensify. I wonder if my parents Condo in Naples is OK?

[SharonN]

Sorry S7S you're right the ports probably aren't as crowded during the summer but the ships are more likely to be with the kids because of vacation time. Since we can take our vacations whenever we want (outside of work project schedules of course) we usually do it any time but summer. That doesn't work for Alaska but we've done both of those cruises in early Sep. You really should rethink that one. I could probably go to Alaska every year but like to keep it as our special every 10 year trip. That was our first cruise for our 10th in 1986 and we went back for our 20th in 1996 (our first HAL cruise). Already starting to research for our 30th in 2006 though I can't decide whether to take a traditional HAL cruise (with a Balcony or suite this time!) or to try one of the smaller ones (America West Steamboat or Glacier Bay Wilderness).

[dakrewser]

Too may other places to cruise. Yes, there are. IF that is where one wishes to cruise. I have absolutely no desire to cruise Alaska. It is highly unlikely I will EVER cruise Alaska. It holds no attraction for me. Canada/New England, Indeed. Fabulous. AND we cruised that route this summer. Oh, you really need to re-think that. AS a born and bred New Englander, I once felt the same way. I love driving Mt. Washington, the backwoods and coast of Maine, the Maritimes and more. But after being talked into one of the final voyages of the Nieuw Amsterdam (Vancouver to Seward), we were so knocked for a loop that we went out and booked another Alaska cruise(r/t Seattle) the next year.

The first trip included a few days to drive from Seward to Anchorage by way of Talkeetna (and its annual Moose Dropping festival). The second included a 3-night pre-cruise in Seattle and Victoria.

Alaska makes Maine look like New Jersey in terms of breathtaking scenary and density of population. Anchorage itself isn''t much, but the rest of the state is, well, truly awe inspiring. Watching the sun go behind Denali at midnight while the eagles are soaring overhead, its something you can't experience any where else in the world.

European cruises are for history and culture. Caribbean and Mexican cruises are for staying on board and pampering. But Alaska, Alaska is for the sheer majesty of nature.

[dakrewser]

I have never done Alaska but have wanted to. I am just afraid that I would be bummed about the cooler weather.
Alaska ports during the summer are normally warmer than the northwest coast (San Francisco, Seattle). It looks colder because of the snow and ice (and walking on a glacier is colder), but most towns and cities aren't on the tops of the mountains.:)

[gliles]

Alaska ports during the summer are normally warmer than the northwest coast (San Francisco, Seattle). It looks colder because of the snow and ice (and walking on a glacier is colder), but most towns and cities aren't on the tops of the mountains.:)
Thanks Dave, having never been to Alaska, I am going to sound really ignorant. Shorts during the day? I have enough trouble packing for a 7-day Caribbean cruise and staying within my baggage limit ;) I can't imagine packing lots coats adn sweaters for a vacation, it just doesn't compute!

[dakrewser]

Thanks Dave, having never been to Alaska, I am going to sound really ignorant. Shorts during the day? I have enough trouble packing for a 7-day Caribbean cruise and staying within my baggage limit ;) I can't imagine packing lots coats adn sweaters for a vacation, it just doesn't compute!
At midnight, watching the sun go down behind Denali, we were wearing shorts and T's. Rain gear and a light sweater should do you just fine.

-dave

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have enough trouble packing for a 7-day Caribbean cruise and staying within my baggage limit ;) I can't imagine packing lots coats adn sweaters for a vacation, it just doesn't compute!
Gretchen, I thought the same thing, I was just sure I would never have enough room with the same amount of luggage, but guess what I did. I think we maybe took one more carry on than usual that we shoved jackets into. Because we went in May I did not bring shorts and it was really nice during the day we were told we were lucky this year for weather.