While Tropical Storm Helene has not fully developed into a hurricane, it appears set to follow a path up the Gulf Coast, gaining steam as it goes.
That puts a number of cruise ships in its path, and MSC and Royal Caribbean have already changed the routes for some ships.
Related: Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas cancels its next sailing
The National Hurricane Center has been monitoring the developing storm.
"The system is moving toward the northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h). This general motion is expected later today and tonight (Sept. 24), followed by a faster northward to north-northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday," the agency wrote.
"On the forecast track, the center of the system is forecast to move across the northwestern Caribbean Sea through tonight, and then over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday."
The federal agency said the system almost certainly would develop into a hurricane.
"Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is expected during the next few days, and the system is forecast to become a hurricane on Wednesday and continue strengthening on Thursday as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico," it added.
MSC and Royal Caribbean change itineraries
"A developing tropical system in the western Caribbean is prompting cruise lines to adjust itineraries," Doug Parker reported on his popular Cruise News Today YouTube series.
"Now MSC Cruises has already changed the route of MSC Seascape to avoid the storm's potential path originally set for Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The ship will now stop in Grand Turk, Porta Plata and Nassau with an additional day at sea."
Carnival Cruise Lines, he added, said that its fleet-operations center is monitoring the information and "is tracking the storm and working with their captains and bridge teams for any necessary action."
Update (9:58 a.m.): Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald said that multiple Carnival ships have been forced to change their itineraries.
The Fleet Operations Center at the Mother Ship are continuing to monitor the weather. Yesterday the port of Cozumel was closed which meant the Carnival Valor was not able to call and spent a Fun day at sea instead where the crew made sure the guests had the best of times.
Carnival Paradise has been diverted to Costa Maya today instead of Cozumel.
There are no further changes to any cruises at the time of me writing [this. However] our Chief Communications Officer Chris and his team will keep update you via text alert, emails and I will share the news here as well.
Heald noted that safety was the first priority.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line warns about an unexpected onboard cost
Margaritaville at Sea has not commented on any changes to its MAS Islander sailings, which sail out of Tampa, but the ship might well be affected by the storm.
Royal Caribbean has already changed itineraries for two of its ships Wonder of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.
"Captain has just announced that we will be canceling all current stops on the Western route to go to the East route. We will be going to St. Thomas and St. Maarten," one Wonder of the Seas passenger told Royal Caribbean Blog.
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Serenade of the Seas will also swap out its itinerary.
"Just like Wonder, Serenade will swap out her original Western Caribbean itinerary for something else. In this case, the ship will head to The Bahamas," the blog, which is not affiliated with the cruise line, reported.
Serenade will now visit Nassau, Bahamas on September 24 and Grand Bahama Island on September 25.
Mariner of the Seas is also making some port changes.
"In order to stay safe and well clear of this tropical system, we have decided to skip our visit to Cozumel and enjoy a Sea Day instead," read a letter that was shared with the Royal Caribbean Blog.
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