September 22, 2019
(4:30 p.m. EST) – Tropical Storm Karen, which appears to be heading toward Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, is causing some cruise ship itinerary changes.
The National Hurricane Center is forecasting the storm could arrive at the Virgin Islands by Tuesday, September 24. A tropical storm watch, with accompanying heavy rainfall, tropical storm force winds and flash floods, is in effect for the islands, as well as Puerto Rico.
The U.S. Coast Guard is expecting that ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands will be closed to marine traffic by 2 a.m. Monday September 23.
Here are the cruise ship changes reported so far. Cruise Critic will continue to update this story as needed.
Carnival
Carnival Fascination has changed its planned stop in St. Thomas on September 23. Instead, the ship will go to St. Maarten on Monday, a day earlier than anticipated. Other changes include moving up a planned stop in St. Kitts by one day and adding a stop in Dominica on September 25 before resuming the planned itinerary. Carnival Fascination left Puerto Rico on September 22.
Royal Caribbean
Passengers are reporting on Cruise Critic that Symphony of the Seas has changed its planned stops in St. Maarten and Puerto Rico for Tuesday September 24 and Wednesday September 25, replacing them with Cozumel and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The ship left Miami on Saturday, September 21. Cruise Critic has reached out to the line for confirmation.
