Tropical Storm Beryl continues to disrupt cruise ship plans, and this time it's impacting cruises from Galveston, Texas.
Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas will be delayed returning to port by one day, meaning the current sailing will be extended by one day and the next sailing shortened by a day.
Royal Caribbean Group Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer confirmed the delay due to the arrival of Tropical Storm Beryl to the Texas area, along with the closure of the port.
"Mariner of the Seas will be delayed one day on her arrival," he posted on X/Twitter.
The 139,863 gross-ton, Voyager Class cruise ship is homeported in Galveston, Texas and departed on her current sailing July 4 on a 4-night Western Caribbean itinerary was scheduled to visit Cozumel on July 6.
Beryl reached Category 4 status and impacted many parts of the Caribbean, especially Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It has since weakened to a Category 2 by the time it made landfall Friday on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and is now down to a tropical storm as it moved across the peninsula.
The cruise ship will remain outside of the bad weather as the tropical storm moves inland, "She will stay well south of Beryl & out of the bad weather today and Monday."
Royal Caribbean subsequently informed guests booked on Mariner of the Seas of the change in itinerary. Guests booked on the July 8th sailing will now sail on July 9th.
"Due to Tropical Storm Beryl's track through the Western Caribbean, our previous Mariner of the Seas sailing is delayed in returning to Galveston, Texas. As a result, our sailing will now take place on July 9, 2024."
"Unfortunately, this means we will not be able to visit Costa Maya, Mexico."
Royal Caribbean added they are continuing to monitor the weather, in case any changes are needed.
Royal Caribbean cruise ships always seek to avoid hurricanes and tropical storms, and in this situation where the embarkation port is impacted, there is little choice but to wait the storm out.
Royal Caribbean's changed plans are also reflected in the Port of Galveston shutting down operations.
"The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended vessel operations and is expected to close the port to vessel traffic at 4 p.m. today in advance of tropical storm conditions," said in a statement by the Port of Galveston.
Tropical Storm Beryl Update
The National Weather Service forecast shows Beryl moving NW at 12 mph with 60 mph sustained winds.
As of 10 a.m. Sunday, Beryl was located 195 miles south-southeast of Matagorda and it had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to intensify to a Category 1 hurricane just before landfall near Matagorda Bay Monday morning.
The hurricane impacted the itineraries of several other cruise ships last week, including Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas.
