Should I cancel my Cozumel cruise due to hurricane Wilma????

I haven't had much cruising experience, and I have a cruise scheduled for 1/2/2006 that will visit Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. I only have til this Monday (10/24) to cancel, and I'm not sure what I should expect from the scheduled ports in the aftermath of hurricane Wilma, which is sitting on Cozumel as I type this. Reports say the damage will be the worst resulting from any hurricane in history. Does anyone have any advice on whether I should reschedule this cruise? Has anyone visited any of these ports so soon after a severe hurricane? Our primary interest port-wise is the dolphin swim in Cozumel, it is the main reason we chose this cruise.

I know the population of these islands will be depending more than ever on their income from the tourists, but we rarely get the chance to take a long vacation like this, so I am anxious to take it at a time when we can most enjoy it! Thanks for all your help!

If the port is not ready to accept the cruise ships they will take you to another port.

There are many of us who will probably tell you that, for us, it's not the destinations, it's the cruising. For me, that means the first glimpse of the ship, finding my cabin, exploring the ship, the four course meals that are served elegantly (and prepared by and cleaned up by someone else!), the turned down beds with the towel animals, the shows, the casino, the other cruisers, the activities, etc. I just love the feeling of peace I get just gazing at the water. I am sure my fellow posters will help me elaborate on this.

It seems like it took Cozumel a few weeks to get up and running after Emily. The people there seem to have an amazing spirit. Your vacation is three months away and that gives those tremendous people a lot of time. Watch these boards - especially the Ports of Call threads on Cozumel and Cancun. This is a much worse storm because of its hovering over the area.

I wouldn't cancel. In any event, Cozumel would only be one day of your cruise. You'd miss so much if you didn't go. I'd take my chances on Cozumel and see if you can add to the recovery effort. If you can't do the Dolphin Swim there, there is a Dolphin Cove in Jamaica.

In the end it has to be your decision...but I would leave the booking as it stands. If the ports and towns aren't ready for visitors then you will go somewhere else. The thing is, this will be a great holiday wherever the ship takes you. The sun will be shining, you'll be in the Caribbean and the cocktails will be brilliant. Enjoy!

Also, bear in mind that a ship's destination can change for all kinds of reasons...whenever you book a cruise you take a risk and if you are really set on a particular destination you may be disappointed. The weather and countless other things can change a ship's itinery, not just Hurricane Wilma. It would be awful to cancel this cruise and then find the itinery of the re-booked ship, changed anyway.

Whatever you decide I hope you have a great holiday!

Last year we were on the NOS after the hurricanes blasted the caymans. The port was closed for months and we were the first ship back after it reopened. We had no idea if it would be open when we got onboard. The cities (like cozumel) that depend on cruise traffic for a lot of income work hard to reopen as soon as possible. It is possible that cozumel could be open for business in January but you won't know for a while. In the case of grand cayman, the only worked on the tourist areas and the locals had to wait until they were done with it to get their homes and local businesses repaired.

As others mentioned, the Cruise ships are a HUGE part of these towns revenue. They will be working very hard to get them open. Its too early to see what the complete damage is, I would put money on the port open by then. Excursions maybe limited though.

Keep the cruise. The ports are a wonderful thing to experience, but when on a cruise it is the cruise that you go for, in my opinion. Now if you were going to a land vacation in that area, I would cancel. They will find another port if this one is not ready for the ships to dock there. It is so sad since this is our favorite stop of all. We hope, as does my 9 yr old son, this beautiful place is not destroyed. These reefs can not be remade, these beaches with the huts cannot withstand a huge hurricane. The people are genuine there and the area is so pleasant to go to. We are also going on a Jan cruise and we are doing eastern this time around. Kind of glad not to have to see the devastation of the western areas.

We're cruising in two weeks - obviously not to cozumel as planned but we are STILL going! I've waited much too long for this cruise and like others have said: it's only one day. I say stick with it!!!

~Connie

IF the only reason to go was Cozumel, then you may want to think about cancelling. If you had any other reason to go on the cruise besides cozumel, GO ON YOUR CRUISE! you will still have a great time, even tho you may get an extra sea day OR may get another port.

This recent news story describes the situation. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23532182.htm

I don't think they are going to rebuild the dock in 3 months. I believe there is a dolphin excursion in Jamaica. You might look into that. The other ports are very nice especially Jamaica. I am cruising on Dec.3, 2005 on the Voyager, one of the stops is Cozumel. I doubt if we are going there. I am hoping for either Costa May or Belize as a replacement stop. We may get some news this week from RCCL.

Don't cancel...go and have a great time. The cruise is really about so much more than the ports of call. As posted earlier, it's about exploring the ship on the first day, the pool deck, the ocean breeze at night, fun and games, wonderfully prepared meals served to you, leisurely reading a book on a quiet deck, listening to the waves hit the hull, the gentle motion of the ship in the water.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. ;)

Have you checked the itinerary for your cruise to see what the change will be. From what Weather Channel's team showed of Cozumel & Cancun with 10 hotels flattened and much of the main drag is flat. I was shocked.

So the cruiselines that were to visit there will not be & should be redesigning the itineraries for those ports.

If it is totally an E Carib now, which many cruiselines see W Carib ports demolished so the go East, I would cancel if I'd been there already.

If the dolphin swim is your main reason for going, perhaps you should consider cancelling. Stop and think about if for a minute. If you go on the cruise and you don't stop at Cozumel how disappointed will you be. Will it ruin your entire experience or do you think you will still have a good time. If you think you can still have a good time, maybe you should go. If you think that skipping Cozumel will result in the entire trip being a disappointment perhaps you should cancel. You need to look at this honestly and determine how much of a deal breaker the dolphin swim in Cozumel really is.