Don't let hurricane season blow your vacation plans away

If you're looking for a great price on an island vacation, you can often find slashed rates for Caribbean cruises, resorts, and vacation packages in the off-peak summer and fall months. But you should be aware that this period is also hurricane season, with the highest chance of storms in August, September, and October. Should the risk of encountering a hurricane prevent you from taking advantage of these low rates? Not if you choose your vacation wisely and protect your investment.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that in 2004 you'll see 12 to 15 tropical storms, with six to eight of those storms turning into hurricanes. With fewer than 10 hurricanes forecasted for a six-month period throughout the Atlantic, the chances that your vacation will be interrupted by a natural disaster are fairly low, making low-season Caribbean discounts sound rather appealing. However, if a hurricane does happen to hit, read on to learn how you can salvage your trip and vacation dollars.

Where do hurricanes hit?

NOAA reports that most hurricanes and tropical storms are likely to hit between the latitudes of nine and 21.5 degrees North, roughly corresponding to the southern tip of Florida, the western edge of Latin America, and the northern tip of South America. This area encompasses the entire Caribbean; however, the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao are typically outside the hurricane belt. If you want to take advantage of low-season rates without taking a risk, you'll do well to plan a vacation on one of these ABC islands.

Cruise vacations

If you are planning to visit the Caribbean during the summer and fall, a hurricane is least likely to interrupt your fun if you opt for a cruise vacation. Unlike resorts, cruise ships are outfitted with advanced weather-forecasting technology and are mobile, allowing them to identify hurricane-force winds and sail away to calmer waters. Should a hurricane hit, you will still get a complete vacation.

We spoke with representatives from Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to find out their hurricane policies. Both spokeswomen told us that should a hurricane prevent a ship from calling at a scheduled port, the captain will almost always decide to alter the ship's itinerary, either swapping the days scheduled for each destination or diverting to alternate ports not included on the original itinerary.

However, sometimes you get a vacation very different from the one you booked. For example, Royal Caribbean's Jaye Hilton tells of a time when Bermuda was hit hard with storms and the Bermuda cruises had to switch to Canada itineraries. In less extreme cases, the captain may substitute an island or port-of-call not on your original itinerary, or you might get a less desireable extra day at sea. If you have your heart set on a specific itinerary, you're less likely to be disappointed if you book your cruise for a less risky time of year.

This is especially true because cruises won't refund your money just because you're unhappy with your vacation. As cruise contracts account for itinerary switches, you will receive no additional compensation should your cruise take you to destinations other than the ones you originally selected. Furthermore, you will receive no reimbursement and little help if your flight to your departure port is delayed due to weather and the ship sets sail without you. However, if you book your flights through your cruise line, the line's travel agents will usually make the arrangements and cover the expenses of getting you to the next port-of-call to join the cruise. You might not get the lowest priced flight this way, but you may get greater peace of mind.