How Hurricane Dorian Affects the Bahamas and US Travelers

[ad_1]

(CNN) – Hurricane Dorian requires travelers to stay safe and redefine their plans in the affected areas.

While devastating for locals on the passing of the storm, the hurricane also causes problems for travelers to damaged or threatened areas of the Bahamas, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Devastation in Abacos and Grand Bahama

"There are no words to express the sorrow we feel for our fellow Bahamians in Abaco and Grand Bahama," said Dionisio's Aguilar, Minister of Tourism and Aviation, on Wednesday. Bahamas.

Hotels in Abaco and Grand Bahama are closed, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Also closed: the Grand Bahama International Airport, the Freeport Harbor on Grand Bahama Island and the Leonard Thompson International Airport (MHH) in Marsh Harbor, Abaco.

An aerial view of the damage caused by Hurricane Dorian is visible on the island of Great Abaco on September 4th.

Scott Olson / Getty Images South America / Getty Images

"Now is the time to get together for our brothers and sisters in need and help our country get back on its feet," said Aguilar, highlighting www.bahamas.com/relief, a site offering proven ways to provide support.

Most other Bahamas islands are open to trade.

"We also urge travelers to continue to visit the Bahamas Islands that have not been affected by Hurricane Dorian, as this will greatly help our people," said Dr. Aguilar.

Nassau, other islands open to trade

The capital of the Bahamas, Nassau, and Paradise Island, a neighboring island, receive visitors and hotels remain open.

The Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau is open, but visitors should check with their airline for flight status. Nassau ports are also open and operational, although cruise line schedules can be modified.

Eleuthera, Harbor Island and Andros also welcome visitors, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

The islands of southeastern and central Bahamas are largely unaffected, including Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklins / Crooked Island, Ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua.

Transportation and travel

Aviation Tracking Website FlightAware.com records the number of flight disturbances during the day and the next day. Passengers whose routes are likely to be affected must check airline policies online and be sure to check the status of their flights before traveling to the airport.

Orlando International Airport resumed service at noon Wednesday after the suspension of operations as the storm advanced. It is still up to the airlines to resume or not the flights according to the needs of personnel and equipment. Passengers are therefore invited to check their reservation.

The airports of Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Florida, are expected to remain closed until Thursday.

Flights to Brunswick, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, have also been suspended.

Change of schedule of cruise ships

Cruise ship routes have also been affected.

Carnival Cruise Line has adapted routes for many ships from Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Miami and Charleston. A complete list on the cruise line website is updated regularly.

CocoCay Island, owned by Royal Caribbean, is closed. Originally, it was planned to reopen Wednesday, but this has now been delayed and it is hoped that it will be open on Saturday. Royal Caribbean also offers routine operational updates online.

Royal Caribbean says "closely monitor" Dorian, shorten and extend some boat routes if necessary, although "being on board a ship is one of the safest places in case of a storm".

This may seem hard to believe for non-cruising enthusiasts, but Brian Major, editor-in-chief for the American content company travAlliancemedia of the US content company travalliancemedia, tells CNN Travel that cruise ships will always change their route to avoid the storm and ensure the safety of the passengers.

"The ships are very clever to avoid these storms," says the major. "It will affect some people's holidays, which is unfortunate, but it's better than sailing to a hurricane."

According to the Major, the cruisers should keep in touch with their cruise line and contact their travel agent if they think they are not able to get to the port or they are worried about the port closure.

"These situations always highlight the importance of travel insurance," he adds.

Accommodation

Many hotels on the hurricane crossing were stranded and travelers were evacuated to temporary shelters.

Marriott International "will continue to monitor the trajectory of Hurricane Dorian, and our hotels in the planned path have implemented storm preparation protocols," said the hotel in a statement.

Hilton issued a statement along the same lines, encouraging customers to call 1-800-HILTONS (800-774-1500) for up-to-date hotel information.

Some hotels have posted plans on websites or social networking pages detailing their closing and closing dates, including the chic The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort south of Charleston, which indicates its intention to close Monday and reassess his status. Thursday.

Other hotels outside the hurricane pass operate as emergency shelters. Evacuees who can travel to Statesboro, Georgia, can visit VisitStatesboro.org for information on available hotel spaces.

Relief efforts

The hotel Atlantis Bahamas said on Twitter On Tuesday, he works with chef Jose Andres, his non-profit organization World Central Kitchen and the Bahamas Red Cross to provide relief to residents affected by Dorian. The organization of Andres uses kitchens of hotels and other places to serve food to people in need.

Additional relief is likely to be needed in the coming weeks: the American Red Cross reports that 19 million people live in areas of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina that may be affected by the storm.

Walt Disney Company, led by Disney Cruise Line, announced Tuesday its intention to donate $ 1 million to relief and reconstruction efforts in the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean has also announced a contribution of one million dollars to relief efforts.

Katia Hetter and Fernando Alfonso of CNN contributed to this story.

[ad_2]

Source link