As Hurricane Matthew heads north through the Caribbean, thousands of Port Canaveral cruise ship passengers have received notices in the past 24 hours saying their itineraries have changed.
- Thousands have received itinerary changes due to Matthew
- US State Department issues travel warnings
- Cargo routes not impacted, Port Canaveral officials say
Christine Patton's trip with a few girlfriends on Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas included a port of call in the Bahamas — that is, until Matthew caused a change in plans.
"We found out by text message on our way down here," said Patton of Tennessee. "We had been talking about it, because we knew Nassau wasn't going to happen."
The Majesty of the Seas, which was scheduled to leave Monday, is now headed to Key West to avoid the dangerous approaching storm. The U.S. State Department has issued travel warnings for Americans in the Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica.
Disney and Carnival cruise lines, which also are based at Port Canaveral, are also altering plans on some of their ships.
The Disney Dream, which was scheduled to depart Port Canaveral on Monday and head to the Bahamas, will try to avoid Matthew by going to Mexico in the western Caribbean.
"Disney is pretty good. They take care of you, so we’re not really that concerned," Disney Cruise Line passenger Sam Williams said. "We know they’re not going to let anything happen to us. I’m concerned about it being maybe a little rough, but other than that, Disney is good.”
The Carnival Elation in Jacksonville is also avoiding Nassau and heading to Key West, then back to Freeport in the Bahamas behind the storm.
Port Canaveral officials said cargo routes have not been impacted.
"We are going to have an amazing time despite Matthew," Patton said.