| The official Caribbean hurricane season stretches | | | | sail around the worst of a storm. And today's ships |
| from June 1 - November 30. It's rare to see a large | | | | are extraordinarily safe and with the advanced |
| storm in either June or November and most major | | | | weather tracking available today, bad weather is |
| hurricanes occur between August and October, with | | | | something they can avoid. The downside is that the |
| the peak season usually being September. | | | | cruise line always reserves the right to reschedule |
| The upside is that prices are lower for the Caribbean | | | | port calls and change itineraries for weather-related |
| during this time and resorts are less crowded. So | | | | reasons and therefore you may not get to visit the |
| what do you do if you want to get away during | | | | places you had hoped to. |
| hurricane season? | | | | Pick a Resort That Offers a "Hurricane Guarantee" |
| Buy Travel Insurance | | | | Recently, many of the largest resorts and resort |
| You must buy the trip cancellation insurance before | | | | chains, have started instituting a "hurricane |
| the storm is announced, otherwise it will be deemed | | | | guarantee," offering guests their money back for |
| a pre-existing condition, so always purchase insurance | | | | days lost to bad weather. For example, in the unlikely |
| the same day you book your trip to be safe. Most | | | | event that hurricane force winds (as defined by the |
| travel insurance policies will cover a trip disrupted | | | | U.S. National Weather Service) directly hit the Sandals |
| because of a hurricane when you are forced to | | | | or Beaches resorts while you are a guest, interrupting |
| arrive late or leave early for your trip, but you'll be | | | | the use of all the included activities, Sandals or |
| reimbursed only for the affected days until the | | | | Beaches Resorts will offer a free replacement |
| airport or resort reopens. You will usually be | | | | vacation to be taken at any Sandals or Beaches |
| reimbursed for the days you are forced to stay at a | | | | Resort of your choice. Go to for more resorts that |
| resort during a hurricane, but be sure to always read | | | | offer hurricane guarantees. |
| the fine print on your policy to make sure you know | | | | Make The Best Of It |
| what they will actually cover. | | | | If you do get caught on vacation during a hurricane, |
| Try to Avoid the Storms | | | | try to make the best of it. As long as there is no |
| Track hurricanes online with weather websites during | | | | danger present, relax indoors and focus on other |
| the season. Some good sites include: | | | | activities. |
| The National Weather Service - National Hurricane | | | | My husband and I got caught in the Mayan Riviera, |
| Center | | | | Mexico during hurricane Keith in 2000. He was my |
| Hurricane & Storm Tracking for the Atlantic | | | | boyfriend t that time and unbeknownst to me, he |
| & Pacific Oceans | | | | planned to propose on our second evening there. We |
| Hurricane News and Information | | | | got dressed for dinner and arrived at the hotel |
| Tropical Storm Center | | | | restaurant to find it boarded up. We went to the |
| Pick Your Location Well | | | | hotel lobby, everyone was being evacuated from the |
| When planning a trip to the Caribbean during hurricane | | | | hotel to one farther up the coast. We ran back to |
| season, it is good to know that hurricanes are less | | | | our room, packed and got on the next bus out - not |
| likely the further south you go. The islands of Aruba, | | | | the evening my husband had planned! |
| Bonaire, Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and | | | | When we checked into our room at the new hotel a |
| St. Vincent, including the islands below them, are the | | | | few hours later, he still had the engagement ring |
| least hit by hurricanes. However, as Grenada | | | | burning a hole in his pocket. The winds were blowing |
| discovered in 2004 with Hurricane Ivan, never say | | | | and it was raining so the romantic walk on the beach |
| never and keep in mind that hurricanes are | | | | he had been hoping for was out. He couldn't put it |
| unpredictable. | | | | off any longer so he dropped to one knee and |
| Go on a Cruise | | | | proposed then and there. It was definitely a |
| The good thing about cruises is that they can usually | | | | memorable evening, hurricane and all! |