Royal Caribbean redirects cruises in the Caribbean due to the threat of Hurricane Rafael

Royal Caribbean cruise line has adjusted the itineraries of four of its ships in the Caribbean to avoid encountering Hurricane Rafael.

The decision has been made in response to the alert issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in the United States, which forecasted that Rafael would reach Category 2 before approaching Cuba, as indeed occurred.

Reportur noted that among the affected cruises is the Radiance of the Seas, which departed on November 2 from Tampa Bay and has altered its itinerary.

Originally, there were plans to stop in Bimini, Freeport, and CocoCay; however, these destinations have been replaced with stops in Cozumel, Roatán, Belize, and Costa Maya in the Western Caribbean.

The Freedom of the Seas, which departed on November 3 from Fort Lauderdale, has also adjusted its itinerary. The ship will reverse the days of its stops in Labadee, Haiti, and George Town in the Cayman Islands to avoid areas potentially affected by Hurricane Rafael.

For its part, the Vision of the Seas, which departed on October 31 from Baltimore, has canceled its stops in the Bahamas and CocoCay, spending more time in Bermuda and making a stop in Port Canaveral, Florida.

Another ship that has had to alter its route is the Brilliance of the Seas, which departed on November 2 from New Orleans. This cruise has canceled its stop in Grand Cayman and will instead dock in Belize City, aiming to ensure the safety of its passengers.

Hurricane Rafael will reach the Cuban coast this Wednesday with winds of up to 154 km/h, significantly affecting the western Caribbean before heading towards the Gulf of Mexico and the southern coast of the United States.

In light of the potential increase in the storm's intensity, authorities and cruise lines are continuing to assess the situation to make necessary adjustments to their routes.