If you go to the Caribbean, one of the most important things you should look at is when you are going to travel. Hurricane Season in the Caribbean lasts from June to November, with the peak months occurring from mid-August to mid-October. With an average of about ten hurricanes a year in the Atlantic Ocean over a six month period, chances are good that you will avoid a hurricane. Yet because there is always a chance that a hurricane will strike, many travelers (like us) avoid the Caribbean during the summer and fall. However, because of this, you can usually find better deals for that time of year. Is it worth the gamble? Maybe; but if you go, you should keep several things in mind: 1. Get trip cancellation insurance. Since you will probably buy tickets long before accurate weather reports are available, you'll want the peace of mind that if a hurricane strikes you'll be able to recover the money you spent on airline and cruise tickets as well as hotels reservations. For more information on how what types of insurance to get, go to the Frommers site. 2. Read the fine print on hurricane guarantees. Not all guarantees offer full coverage. Some offer partial reimbursement, others offer "rain checks" for a future visit, and others only cover those days affected by the storm. 3. Play the odds. Because of their geographical location, some islands are hit by storms much more often than others. If you are going to travel during hurricane season, it would be a good idea to know which islands to avoid, and which ones are statistically safer. 4. Keep track of the weather. It's always tempting to take a vacation from the outside world when you're on vacation; particularly when you are somewhere as exotic as the Caribbean. However, storms can crop up after you've already reached your destination; or they can veer off their projected course and head towards you. It would be wise to keep tabs on the weather while you're there just to be safe. 5. An island doesn't have to be directly in the path of the hurricane to be affected. Hurricanes sprawl out for hundreds of miles. Even if the island you are visiting isn't along the hurricane's projected path, doesn't mean it won't be affected by torrential winds and rains. If you are prone to seasickness, and your cruise ship is on the outskirts of a storm, this may be problematic. 6. It's actually safer to book a cruise than an island resort. Since a hurricane usually moves at 8-10 knots, and a cruise ship up to 22 knots, a cruise ship can outrun a hurricane. If foul weather is projected, a cruise ship can just change its itinerary. It may still ruin your shore excursion plans, though, so once again, read the fine print.
For more cruise-related hurricane information go to: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=884
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