JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While Hurricane Irma is still days away from approaching the United States, cruise lines aren't taking any chances -- they're changing travel plans to make sure passengers stay safe during their trips.
It does not appear that any Jacksonville cruises will be impacted by Irma. The Carnival Elation, for instance, is home-ported along the St. Johns River. But that ship is currently in dry dock and will be all month long.
Farther south, Carnival Cruise Line has begun taking precautions with its voyages. The cruise line has already adjusted trips from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Baltimore in response to Irma.
"A lot of people go on a cruise and think, 'These are the islands I'm going to go to,'" said Scott Lara, manager of Air Sea Travel, a Jacksonville-based travel agency. "There's a hurricane out there. The cruise lines have the option to go ahead and change those ports of call."
In fact, ports of call in the potential path of Irma, such as the Bahamas and San Juan, have been replaced on itineraries by places like Belize and Mexico, which are well out of harm's way.
"The cruise lines have state-of-the-art technology to make sure that their ships, their crews and, most importantly, their passengers are protected," Lara said.
When booking a trip, Lara noted, it's crucial to purchase travel insurance. That expense could save thousands of dollars if your plans change.
A Carnival spokesperson told News4Jax the company is keeping a close eye on Hurricane Irma and will continue adjusting plans as needed to avoid the storm.
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