Hurricane Matthew Updates

Hurricane Matthew will likely cause major disruptions to travel, including cruise itinerary changes or even cancellations, air travel delays across the country (even in areas not affected by the storm) and other changes, delays and cancellations on both land and sea.

Premier Custom Travel is in continuous contact with our travel partners and we will post updates on this page, categorized by type of travel and supplier, as we receive them.

Be sure to refresh/reload this page for the latest information. Last update: Friday, October 7th, 2016 – 11:33am CDT

HURRICANE MATTHEW UPDATES

To see the latest information on the storm, please visit the National Hurricane Center’s Hurricane Matthew page.

AIR TRAVEL

The current path of Hurricane Matthew will likely cause delays and cancellations at Bahamian airports and airports across the US Eastern seaboard, especially in Florida. Many airlines are allowing passengers to make changes to tickets involving these destinations at no charge. Contact your airline for more information. To see updated airport and flight information, please visit our Airport & Flight Information page.

CRUISE

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE – We continue to closely monitor the storm system and projected path of Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storm Nicole which has now developed in the Atlantic.

Carnival Victory – 10/6/16 departure
Based on the latest forecast track and no discernible shift in the storm’s path towards the central east coast of Florida as we had hoped, it is anticipated that the Brevard County area, including Port Canaveral, will suffer the strongest effects of Hurricane Matthew throughout the day on Friday. Port Canaveral is presently closed to all marine traffic and we expect it to remain closed until the storm has passed and port officials have had the time to complete their assessment and make a determination on when the port is safe to re-open.

Given the above, unfortunately, we will be forced to cancel Carnival Victory’s cruise that we had hoped to operate tomorrow. Guests will receive a full refund as well as any pre-paid gratuities, Carnival shore excursions and any FunShop purchases. Refunds will be applied to the original form of payment within three weeks. We will also provide a 25 percent discount off a future two or three day cruise.

Carnival Sensation – 10/6/16 departure
The Greater Miami area will be experiencing the strongest effects of Hurricane Matthew late Thursday evening and in the early morning hours of Friday. Once conditions become safe on Friday, port officials will begin their assessment and make a determination of when the port is safe to reopen. This could take some time and, assuming the port reopens on Friday, embarkation would take place late afternoon/early evening. We will stay in close contact with port officials and will provide you an update after 10:30 AM tomorrow. If PortMiami re-opens on Friday, we will operate a three-day cruise, visiting Nassau on Saturday pending a post-storm assessment of the port.

Guests who opt to sail on the shortened voyage will receive a pro-rated refund equal to the amount of one day of their cruise fare as well as pre-purchased shore excursions for Key West and Cozumel. Refunds will be applied to the original form of payment within three weeks Also, gratuities will be adjusted to reflect the shortened cruise.

As previously indicated, should guests scheduled on this voyage wish to cancel, they may do so with a full refund. Guests will receive a full refund as well as any pre-paid gratuities, Carnival shore excursions for Key West and Cozumel and any FunShop purchases. Refunds will be applied to the original form of payment within three weeks.

Carnival Fantasy – 10/7/16 departure
The Greater Miami area will be experiencing the strongest effects of Hurricane Matthew late Thursday evening and in the early morning hours of Friday. Once conditions become safe on Friday, port officials will begin their assessment and make a determination on when the port is safe to reopen. This could take some time and, assuming the port reopens on Friday, embarkation would take place late afternoon/early evening. We will stay in close contact with port officials and will provide you with an update after 10:30 AM tomorrow.

Given the uncertainty Hurricane Matthew has caused, should guests wish to cancel, they may do so with a full refund. Guests will receive a full refund as well as any pre-paid gratuities, Carnival shore excursions and any FunShop purchases. Refunds will be applied to the original form of payment within three weeks.

If PortMiami reopens on Friday, we will operate the scheduled itinerary with an overnight call in Nassau, pending a post-storm assessment of the port.

Carnival Ecstasy – 10/8/16 departure
The Port of Charleston will likely be closed on Saturday and, as a result, Carnival Ecstasy is not expected to arrive until Sunday. If the port re-opens on Sunday, we will operate a six-day cruise departing Sunday with an overnight stay in Nassau as well as a call in Freeport, pending post-storm assessments of our destinations. Guest who sail will receive a pro-rated refund equal to the amount of one day of their cruise fare as well as a refund for pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions for Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay. Refunds will be automatically processed to the original form of payment within three weeks. Gratuities will be adjusted to reflect the shortened cruise.

We anticipate having another update available on Carnival Ecstasy’s itinerary on Saturday afternoon. We certainly understand the impact this unexpected change has on your travel plans. Should you wish to cancel, you may do so with a full refund.

Carnival Elation – 10/8/16 departure
The Port of Jacksonville will close as of tomorrow morning. Carnival Elation’s arrival scheduled for Saturday may potentially be delayed. We will remain in contact with port officials and update you accordingly as additional information becomes available.

Carnival Glory – 10/8/16 departure
The Carnival Glory cruise departing on Oct. 8 remains as scheduled. At this time, there are no changes to the ship’s itinerary. Should any changes becomes necessary, we will provide an update accordingly.

Carnival Magic – 10/8/16 departure
The Carnival Magic cruise departing Oct. 8 remains as scheduled at this time. Should any changes become necessary, we will provide an update accordingly.

Carnival Splendor – 10/8/16 departure
The Carnival Splendor cruise departing Oct. 8 remains as scheduled. At this time, there are no changes to the ship’s itinerary. Should any changes become necessary, we will provide an update accordingly.

Carnival Sunshine – 10/8/16 departure
The Carnival Sunshine cruise departing on Oct. 8 remains as scheduled. At this time, there are no changes to the ship’s itinerary. Should any changes becomes necessary, we will provide an update accordingly.

Carnival Valor – 10/8/16 departure
The Carnival Valor cruise departing Oct. 8 remains as scheduled. At this time, there are no changes to the ship’s itinerary. Should any changes become necessary, we will provide an update accordingly.

Carnival Conquest – 10/9/16 departure
The Carnival Conquest cruise departing on Oct. 9 remains as scheduled at this time. Should any changes becomes necessary, we will provide an update accordingly

Carnival Pride – 10/9/16 departure
We are monitoring the storm very closely and will be in a position to let you know about any needed itinerary changes by Saturday morning. Given our experience with hurricanes and their propensity for unexpected shifts, this time allows us the opportunity to make the best decisions for your vacation once we have greater clarity on the timing of the forecasted track.

We apologize for the tremendous inconvenience the storm is causing and thank you for your understanding.

Additionally, to stay up to date on any changes that may affect your sailing, we encourage you to sign up for text alerts by texting the codes below to CRUISE (278473).

Carnival Fantasy 10/7 CCL2
Carnival Magic 10/8 CCL3
Carnival Sensation 10/6 CCL4
Carnival Pride 10/9 CCL5
Carnival Valor 10/8 CCL6
Carnival Victory 10/6 CCL8
Carnival Elation 10/8 CCL9
Carnival Glory 10/8 CCL10
Carnival Splendor 10/8 CCL11
Carnival Conquest 10/9 CCL12

DISNEY CRUISE LINE – **Please note the Disney Cruise Line Contact Center is currently closed due to the anticipated weather conditions associated with Hurricane Matthew in Central Florida. We will reopen on Saturday morning, October 8.**

Based on the projected path of Hurricane Matthew, as well as its expected impact on the Bahamas, Disney Cruise Line is making the following adjustments to itineraries:

Disney Fantasy – The October 8 sailing of the Disney Fantasy is being altered to a 6-night western Caribbean cruise departing on Sunday, October 9, from Port Canaveral. This sailing will include stops in Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Castaway Cay. Guests who remain on the revised itinerary will receive a pro-rated refund equal to the amount of one-night of their cruise fare and an onboard credit. Travel Agents who would like to rebook their impacted clients on a future sailing at a discount OR cancel their sailing for a full refund are invited to call the Disney Cruise Line Contact Center on Saturday, October 8.

The October 1 sailing of the Disney Fantasy is being extended by one day given the uncertainty around the impact Hurricane Matthew will have on Port Canaveral. We are planning to disembark in Port Canaveral on Sunday, October 9. We are working with the guests onboard to assist them with their travel arrangements.

Disney Dream – The October 3 sailing of the Disney Dream is being extended by one day, as Port Canaveral will not be available for the ship’s scheduled arrival on Friday, October 7. We are now planning to disembark in Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 8, once the Coast Guard has determined that the port is safe for cruise ship operations. We are working with the guests onboard to assist them with their travel arrangements.

The October 7 sailing of the Disney Dream from Port Canaveral is being cancelled. Refunds will automatically be processed back to the original form of payment used for cruise bookings. Travel Agents with bookings are invited to call the Disney Cruise Line Contact Center beginning Monday, Oct. 10, to book a future cruise for impacted clients at a discount.

We are hopeful that the October 10 Disney Dream sailing will be able to complete its planned itinerary to Nassau and Castaway Cay. Should that not be possible, we are always prepared to visit alternate ports or spend days at sea.

Disney Magic – The October 7 sailing of the Disney Magic from New York is being changed to a Canadian itinerary, with plans to visit Sydney, Nova Scotia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Saint John, New Brunswick. Guests who remain on this revised itinerary will receive an onboard credit. Travel Agents who would like to rebook their impacted clients on a future sailing at a discount OR cancel their sailing for a full refund are invited to call the Disney Cruise Line Contact Center. While we always strive to deliver magical cruise vacations, nothing is more important to us than providing a safe experience for our guests and crew. We will continue to closely monitor Hurricane Matthew and provide updates as necessary.

MSC CRUISES – MSC Divina departing from Miami, Saturday, October 8, 2016: As the safety and security of our guests and crew is MSC Cruises’ number one priority, we are working closely with the relevant local authorities responsible for the monitoring of Hurricane Matthew and are following the guidance provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. As of now, MSC Divina is regularly scheduled to embark guests on Saturday.

The USA office is closed as of 12pm EST on Wednesday, October 5th until further notice. Please be patient as a limited number of call center agents will be available to assist you.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE – At Norwegian Cruise Line, the safety and security of our guests and crew is of the utmost importance. We are closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Matthew in the Caribbean.

All of our ships are currently sailing as scheduled. Our nautical operations team has identified alternate routes for ships that are scheduled to sail near where the storm may pass in the coming days, in the event that itineraries need to be adjusted to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all of our guests and crew.

At this time, there is no change to embarkation for Norwegian Sky on Friday, October 7 and Norwegian Escape on Saturday, October 8. Should there be any changes, guests will be advised via phone and text messages and updated information will be posted.

OCEANIA CRUISES – As we are closely monitoring the track of Hurricane Matthew, the safety and wellness of our team members and passengers is of utmost priority. Due to hurricane conditions expected in the South Florida area, our Miami Reservations Center will be closed on Thursday, October 6th and possibly on Friday, October 7th.

Our Omaha Reservations Center will be open for reservations only. However, please note hold times may be longer than normal.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL – Royal Caribbean International continues to closely monitor Hurricane Matthew. Due to the storm, PortMiami and Port Canaveral are planning to close to all marine traffic on Thursday and anticipate to reopen on Friday and Saturday (respectively).

Empress of the Seas
Empress of the Seas next sailing will now depart on Friday, October 7, 2016. Boarding on Friday will take place as soon as we receive notification from PortMiami authorities. To compensate for the missed day, Royal Caribbean will provide each stateroom with an onboard credit in the amount of one day based on the cruise fare paid, which will be credited to guests’ onboard accounts. As a gesture of goodwill, we will also be providing all sailing guests with a 25% future cruise credit. We encourage guests sailing on Empress of the Seas to monitor this website tomorrow for any additional updates.

Majesty of the Seas
Majesty of the Seas next sailing will now depart Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Due to the revised itinerary, Royal Caribbean International will provide each stateroom with an onboard credit in the amount of one day based on the cruise fare paid, which will be credited to guests’ onboard accounts. As a gesture of goodwill, we will also be providing all sailing guests with a 33% future cruise credit. A letter with more details and information about the updated itinerary will be provided at boarding.

If you have not done so already, we strongly suggest guests complete their online check-in as soon as possible, including the section requesting your preferred method of contact while traveling.

Royal Caribbean International will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will provide updates as soon as they become available.

SILVERSEA – Silversea is keeping a close watch on Hurricane Matthew as the storm nears the Eastern coast of the United States. Our first priority is the safety of our guests and our staff.

As we make preparations in our Miami office for the impending storm, please be advised there may be some delays in replying to inquiries via phone or email. We will address any and all matters as quickly as possible. We thank you in advance for your patience while we prepare for the storm and advise you to stay safe if you reside in the area of potential impact.

LAND VACATIONS

WALT DISNEY WORLD – Based on the most recent forecasts for Hurricane Matthew, several destinations, special events and experiences at the Walt Disney World® Resort are closed or have been cancelled.

CLOSURES, CANCELLATIONS AND MORE
• All 4 Walt Disney World Theme Parks are closed through Friday, Oct. 7,
2016.
• Disney’s Blizzard Beach® Water Park is closed through Friday, Oct. 7, 2016.
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon® Water Park is closed through Friday, Oct. 7, 2016.
• Disney Springs™ is closed through Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. Characters in Flight at Disney Springs is closed through Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016.
• Mickey’s Not-­So-­Scary Halloween Party has been canceled through Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. For re-­booking, refunds and other options, please call beginning at 9 a.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – including our Campsites and Cabins is closed through Friday, Oct. 7, 2016. All performances of Hoop-­Dee-­Doo Musical Revue and Mickey’s Backyard BBQ through that date have been canceled as well.
• Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has been canceled through Friday evening, Oct. 7, 2016.
• Select spa locations – including La Vida Health Club at Disney’s Coronado Resort, Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Senses – A Disney Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Ship Shape Massage Salon Fitness – are closed through Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016.
• Events scheduled through Oct. 8, 2016 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – including the Disney Cross Country Classic 2016 and Baseball Canada

National Team Fall Training sessions – have been canceled.

FOR CURRENT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT GUESTS

Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel at the present time are advised to remain indoors through the duration of the storm. For more information – including important safety measures they can take, Guests should speak with the nearest Cast Member.

While we continue to take every necessary precaution throughout Hurricane Matthew, please be aware of the following – in the instance that a Guest’s vacation plans have been directly affected:

• Most Disney Resort hotel restaurants will remain open. However if Guests wish or need to cancel or modify a dining reservation affected by Hurricane Matthew,
cancelation fees imposed by Disney will be waived for all Guests.