What happens if a hurricane blows up around the time of my cruise? Every Cruise Line has its own policy, but they all usually reserve the right to advance, cancel or postpone a scheduled departure. They also reserve the right to change the itinerary, ships or ports of call. Cruising during the hurricane season does increase the chance that your vacation plans will be modified, but it doesn’t necessarily increase any risk to your personal safety. For safety reasons, they might need to change itineraries to be able to sail into safer waters. Cruise ships have sophisticated weather-tracking systems, and they use them to stay in calm waters to avoid the storms. If you plan a cruise during hurricane season, keep track of the weather in the area you are planning to sail. If it begins to turn nasty, keep in touch with the Cruise Line for updates in case they do need to change your cruise’s itinerary. Cruise ships might also have to change ports of call to avoid local political upheavals that would risk the safety of their passengers. Canceling is an option, but it would be the last resort of the Cruise Line. Consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance coverage to protect your vacation dollars. Question Index   What is Trip Insurance? This is also often referred to trip cancellation insurance, but most policies do more than protect you if your vacation is cancelled. Policies are sold that will refund your losses if you have to cancel your cruise beyond the time you could get a full refund from the Cruise Line. They can also offer protection if a delay causes you to miss the ship. They may extend coverage to protect your luggage or other personal belongings. Many offer a very important extension of medical coverage to protect you if you become ill or are injured while on your vacation. As with any insurance, each policy will vary in its cost, deductible, protections and exemptions. You’ll need to read the individual policy yourself to find the best coverage for you. Question Index   Should I buy the Trip Insurance? It is certainly worth your strong consideration. With most cruises, you book far in advance and although we don’t like to think about it, many things can happen in a year’s time that would cause you to miss your cruise. Most Airlines and Cruise Lines state very low liability limits. If they loose or damage your luggage, you’ll probably not receive enough to cover your losses. You should look closely at your own personal medical coverage. You may not have any coverage at all outside the United States. If something would happen on your trip, you might not only be stuck without coverage, but also be in a place that cannot offer sufficient medical aid. The cost of a medical evacuation back to proper medical care is extremely high. When you do consider the trip insurance, be sure to read the fine print. As with any insurance, there are exceptions and in many cases pre-existing conditions are not covered. You want to make sure the policy you buy is a good one for you Go To Next Section:  BOOKING YOUR CRUISE