Although Hurricane Irma may have passed, the destruction left in her wake has created what could be months of rebuilding across the Caribbean and the southern United States. As a result, cruise lines such as Carnival are rerouting itineraries for cruises setting out as early as this week.

Hurricane Irma impacted every sector of society. With this magnitude of storm, even the cruise industry could not sneak by unscathed. As ports slowly begin to reopen along the Florida coast, and the damage is assessed, many major cruise lines are choosing to delay or cancel their scheduled trips.

In the wake of a hurricane, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Especially after the destruction left by Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean, many thousands of individuals are left scrambling to pick up the pieces. This week, Royal Caribbean announced that it would be sending two of its ships to assist with evacuation and aid efforts in the Caribbean. The company is also prepared to assist in Florida, once the extent of the damage is known.

In preparation for Hurricane Irma’s arrival in the U.S., many cruise lines made the decision to stop in PortMiami ahead of schedule to drop off passengers. However, these passengers soon discovered that leaving Florida would be more difficult than they imagined.

When you book a cruise, you never know what kind of weather you will get. If you happen to book your cruise during prime Hurricane season, then there is a risk your plans could get cancelled. This week, many major cruise lines are prioritizing passenger safety and rerouting or cancelling cruises due to Hurricane Irma.

It is very rare to hear of someone deserting a cruise. After all, these are intended to be ideal places for relaxation and ease. However, that may not always be the case. And for three former cruise crewmembers, the opportunity to start a new life in the U.S. may have been all the motivation they needed to desert their positions aboard cruise ships, while those ships were docked in U.S. ports.