A day after Hurricane Irma pummeled popular Eastern Caribbean ports of call, we are beginning to see the first images of the destruction the category 5 storm left in her path. Below you will find some videos and links to read more about each destination.
St Maarten
The Dutch Prime Minister said there was enormous devastation in St Maarten which cut off electricity and gas. According to a Reuters, most of the communication is being handed by the military. The Dutch navy has two ships HNLMS Zeeland and HNLMS Pelikaan offshore.
Earlier the navy flew a helicopter over the island providing areal footage of the devastation.
The Dutch navy ships Zeeland and Pelikaan would like to moor on St Maarten to deliver emergency aid, but this will depend on a safety check of the port.
Here is a look at Maho Beach near Prince Juliana Airport and the last video recorded from PTZtv.com’s St Maarten webcams.
St Thomas & St John, USVI
According The Virgin Islands Consortium, Irma wreaked havoc in St Thomas and nearby St John with 185 mph winds. Over in St John, the Beach Bar tweeted the following photo and brief update.
Tortola
The Daily Mail Online has a full article with videos of the devastation to the British Virgin Islands.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Compared to the previous destinations, San Juan was spared as it was not directly hit by Hurricane Irma. but the storm did leave more than a million residents without power. Puerto Rico’s governor warned residents that flash flooding and additional rain into the weekend should still a concern.
Now what will this mean for upcoming Eastern Caribbean cruises on the Fantasy that have stops in St Thomas and Tortola? I’m sure this very discussion is underway at DCL, but only time will tell as the destinations focus on rebuilding.
UPDATE 5PM: DCL Issues Update on Future Bahamian and Eastern Caribbean Sailings
Future Bahamian and Eastern Caribbean Sailings
At this time, there are no changes to other sailings on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. However, we continue to closely monitor Hurricane Irma and assess its impact on the ports of call we visit in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Updates regarding any necessary itinerary changes will be posted beginning September 12.
Wow, very sad to see. Just to confirm, no issues with Disney’s Castaway Cay yet?
Hurricane Irma is not even close to Castaway Cay at this time. Although, that does not mean it will not be impacted over the next few days.
We sail the 10/7 Eastern and I will not be surprised to find out our itinerary is changing. So sad for the carribean natives.
We spent our 25th Anniversary on the Disney Dream and St. Maarten. We met a very friendly shop owner, buying many souvenirs from his shop…then lunch at a nice little restaurant right by the Port. I worry about that restaurant, it’s people and that shop owner that made our trip more fun. Prayers to them.
The Dream is leaving Port Canaveral now (12:22 PM) and the Fantasy is just south of the entrance.
Is the Dream dead heading to Cozumel to ride out the Hurricane?
Yes
Looks like the Dream is headed to Cozumel per MarineTraffic.
I’m doubting if they’ll sail all the way to Cozumel, they don’t have any passengers on board and with Hurricane Katia that’s hugging the Mexican gulf coast it wouldn’t make any sense for it to go all the way there, it will just be putting it in danger there, it might just be a error in listing, the Fantasy is listed destination as Port Clinton which is in OHIO, obviously an error. This is just rush in speed unload and then head back out to sea to be safe and ride out the storm in the Atlantic.
Katia is not near Cozumel and is expected to move west into mainland Mexico.
Scott- you & your family please be safe. It doesn’t look like Tampa is out of the woods yet with this storm.
Sharon, thank you. However, we are now living Central Florida near Walt Disney World.
Didn’t realize you had moved. Thanks for the updates on the storm.
do you know where disney fantasy is heading?
Any word on the 9/15 Dream cruise? We were supposed to be flying out of Chicago on Sunday for a week at Disney before the cruise. Flight has now been canceled
Looks like the Fantasy is now leaving PC as well san passengers. Any idea where they are waiting out Irma?
Any news on Castaway Cay?
Any news on the Dec 1st cruise out of PR? Two of our stops include Tortola & St. Maartin. Is it still planned?
Prayers to the families as I have family in the VI.
DCL just altered the next two scheduled Eastern Caribbean cruises. Any additional changes necessary will be made at a later date depending on how the British and US Virgin Islands recover.