Trends and Issues in the Cruise Line Industry 

Hurricane season is from June to November with its peak from August to October (Kelleher 2017). Hurricanes often affect the ocean that cruises sail on as well the the ports they dock at. Passengers that book a cruise during the hurricane season may receive lower rates than booking during a different time of year however they are at risk for cancelations, not receiving a refund, or a change to their itinerary. Usually, cruise lines will not cancel a cruise because of a hurricane, but it does happen. A cruise line's top priority is the safety of the passenger and crew even if it means canceling a cruise and refunding all passengers. As you can see in the video below, if the cruise line continues to sail during a tropical storm, passengers that decide not to sail most likely will not receive a refund. Passengers that are worried about not receiving a refund may consider purchasing vacation insurance. If passengers are sailing during stormy conditions the chance of becoming sea sick increases due to the rocky seas. There are many ways to prevent and help with sea sickness such as wearing sea bands, taking Dramamine, getting a prescription from your doctor, taking ginger supplements, or simply drinking ginger ale. As you can see in the video below, there may even be a few benefits to sailing through a tropical storm besides the lower rates.