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Royal Caribbean International has disclosed modifications to the Eastern Caribbean route of the Icon of the Seas as it embarks on its ongoing journey today, from August 11 to August 17, 2024, due to adverse weather conditions along the original path.
As per the announcement, the cruise company, in collaboration with its Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, has opted to adjust the ship’s course to ensure the safety and pleasure of all travelers.
“In light of the unfavorable weather, we have revised our itinerary to offer you a more delightful sailing experience. We will now explore some of our beloved destinations in the Western Caribbean,” Royal Caribbean conveyed in an email dispatched to passengers. “We sincerely apologize for the short-notice alteration due to the weather conditions.”
The 7-night round-trip journey, which commenced from PortMiami on Saturday, August 10, 2024, was initially scheduled to visit Basseterre, St. Kitts, on August 13; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on August 14; and the cruise line’s exclusive spot Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas on August 16 before concluding in Miami on August 17.
The route, which also encompassed three days at sea, will now focus on destinations in the Western Caribbean. Cozumel, Mexico, will be its first stop on August 12, followed by Roatan, Honduras, on August 13, and Costa Maya, Mexico, on August 14.
The colossal cruise vessel, the largest globally, with a weight of 248,663 gross tons, will spend only two days at sea but will still indulge in a day at CocoCay on August 16. The cruise company has extended the stay at the destination by two additional hours, now arriving at 7 a.m. and departing at 5 p.m.
Development of Tropical System
As the 5,610-passenger Icon of the Seas set sail on its journey to Eastern Caribbean destinations on August 10, 2024, the meteorological conditions in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have garnered heightened scrutiny.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a Tropical Weather Outlook drawing attention to the potential emergence of a tropical depression near the Lesser and Greater Antilles, comprising the islands of Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, and Hispaniola.
As per the NHC, showers and thunderstorms are currently displaying indications of organization around a broad area of low pressure situated approximately 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. The conditions favor a high probability of tropical depression formation in the coming days.
The NHC cautions that the system could potentially approach or pass over the Leeward Islands, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, with a 70 percent chance of system formation within the next 48 hours and 90 percent within the subsequent seven days.
Setzer expressed via tweet about the circumstances, “A vast, although not notably well-organized tropical wave continues its westward movement across the Atlantic early Sunday. Sustained convection near a distinct center would likely be essential before we witness tropical depression/storm formation.”
He added, “Although it is still premature to pinpoint precisely when/where the shift occurs, the specifics will be crucial in determining the regions affected such as the northern Leeward, [Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico], and Hispaniola.”
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Royal Caribbean assured passengers by stating, “Please be aware that being aboard is one of the safest options because we possess greater speed and can maneuver away from any adverse weather.”
Travelers have been presented with alternatives for onshore excursions at their new destination. All previously arranged excursions have been annulled and reimbursements have been issued through the original payment method to travelers.
Any passenger who had pre-booked independent itineraries outside of the cruise vessel is advised to terminate those arrangements and utilize the correspondence from the cruise line for insurance purposes to obtain a refund.
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