Florence Forecast Forces Cruise Ship To Sail To Maine & Canada Instead Of Bermuda

BOSTON (CBS) – Cruise passengers who had planned to sail to Bermuda will instead be visiting Bar Harbor and other locations up north thanks to Florence.

The hurricane-turned-tropical-storm has forced Norwegian Cruise Lines to alter its itinerary. The latest forecast shows Florence strengthening into a Category 3 hurricane and tracking just south of Bermuda next week.

"The safety and security of our guests and crew is always our top priority," Norwegian Cruise Lines said in a statement. "Due to Hurricane Florence in the Eastern Atlantic, we have modified Norwegian Dawn's itinerary."

The Norwegian Dawn, departing from Boston on Friday, will skip Bermuda entirely. Instead, the ship will call in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Bar Harbor, Maine.

"Our on board team is prepared to ensure the best vacation experience possible given these weather related necessary changes," the cruise line said. "We will continue to closely monitor the storm and provide additional updates as they become available."

The news was a bitter pill for vacationers all decked out for sunshine. Most took the news in stride.

"We'll make sunshine wherever we go," one woman said.

"I don't care," another woman said. "We're on vacation. We're all together and we're going to have fun, make the best of it."

Other passengers were disappointed, like Elaine and Keith Bornn who drove from Canada to Boston.

"Seriously? But I've been to all these places," said Keith. "We've been about five months planning it and it's what, seven hours to drive down yesterday."

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines are telling passengers on social media that no decision has been made yet on trips to Bermuda, but they are actively monitoring the storm.

In:
• Hurricane Florence