Ship lines scramble over storm

[Jason]

Ship lines scramble over storm

Carnival, Royal Carribbean make changes

Source: Wayne T. Price, Florida Today

PORT CANAVERAL -- - Two of the cruise lines operating from Port Canaveral are changing ship itineraries because of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Carnival Cruise Lines' Glory, which left Port Canaveral on Sunday, originally was supposed to visit Cozumel on Monday, followed by Belize today, Costa Maya on Thursday and Nassau on Friday before returning to Port Canaveral on Saturday.

Instead, it remained at sea Monday and will be in St. Thomas today, St. Maarten on Wednesday. The ship will spend the remaining two days at sea before returning to Port Canaveral on Saturday.

"At Carnival, our number one priority is the safety of our guests and crew," the company said in a statement Monday. "We have made these important itinerary changes to ensure that we operate our ships in the safest and most comfortable conditions."

Royal Caribbean International's Sovereign of the Seas, which left Monday from Port Canaveral, reversed the order of its itinerary. The ship now will visit Nassau on Wednesday and Coco Cay on Thursday, before returning to Port Canaveral on Friday morning.

Disney Cruise Line said it didn't have any itinerary changes for its ship, Wonder, which left Port Canaveral for a seven-day cruise to the Bahamas on Thursday.

That could change if the weather worsens because of Ernesto, the company said.

In a statement, Disney said its "captains are always prepared to alter the ships' itineraries to navigate away from inclement weather for the safety and well-being of our guests."