Margaritaville at Sea extended the Margaritaville at Sea Islander’s current cruise by one day due to Tropical Storm Debby in the Gulf of Mexico. Early Saturday evening, the storm went from a tropical depression to a named tropical storm.
Margaritaville Island Remains at Sea
The ship, which left Tampa on July 30 for a four-night Caribbean cruise, was initially scheduled to return on Sunday, August 4. However, Port Tampa Bay announced Saturday afternoon that it would stop cruise operations on August 4 because of the storm, extending the cruise by a day.
The cruise began in Tampa on July 30 and had scheduled stops in Key West and Cozumel, Mexico.
| Due to the storm, the next cruise will depart from Tampa Bay on August 5. The revised itinerary includes visiting Cozumel, Mexico. The scheduled stop in Key West has been canceled due to the weather conditions. The new plan consists of two days at sea. |
Cruise Passenger Compensation
Margaritaville at Sea is offering various compensations to passengers affected by the changes:
- Onboard Credit: Each cabin will receive a $100 onboard credit usable for purchases and services on the ship.
- Refunds for Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses: Passengers will be refunded for any differences in taxes, fees, and port expenses due to itinerary changes.
- Reimbursement for Pre-paid Excursions: Full refunds will be given for pre-paid excursions to Key West, including any pre-booked tours or activities.
- Pro-rated Refunds for Packages: Packages priced by the number of sailing days, such as beverages, Wi-Fi, and gratuities, will be pro-rated and refunded.
- Option to Reschedule: Guests can reschedule their cruise without any change fees, using the amount paid for the current cruise as future cruise credit.
Two Royal Caribbean ships, Enchantment of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas made it out ahead of the storm on Saturday afternoon.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted that the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be very active. The agency anticipates between 17 and 25 storms this year, with 8 to 13 expected to become hurricanes.
Buying travel insurance is essential when cruising during hurricane season. It provides coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, and delays caused by severe weather. Trip insurance can also cover unexpected expenses like additional accommodation, meals, and transportation if your itinerary changes due to a storm.
