July 18, 2005 –– Hurricane Emily means bad news for cruise ship passengers that planned on a visit to the Western Caribbean, but good news for St. Thomas. Two ships –– the Carnival Glory and the Explorer of the Seas –– were diverted to St. Thomas from the Western Caribbean because of the storm.
Hurricane Emily is currently roaring through the Gulf of Mexico after walloping the Yucatan Peninsula.
Marine manger Mark Sabino, of the West Indian Co. Ltd., said Monday that the Explorer of the Seas cancelled its scheduled call on St. Thomas because of the storm threat. He said the Mariner of the Seas also canceled last week because of the hurricane.
"We lost and gained," Sabino said.
The Carnival Glory will join the previously scheduled Navigator of the Seas in port on Tuesday. The Navigator will arrive at 10 a.m. from Nassau. It will leave at 8 p.m. for St. Maarten.
The Carnival Valor and the Carnival Legend were already scheduled for Wednesday, but will be joined by the Explorer of the Seas. The Explorer of the Seas arrives from San Juan at 8 a.m., leaving for St. Maarten at 6 p.m.
Sabino said the Explorer of the Seas carries up to 3,800 passengers. The Glory of the Seas has a capacity of up to 3,500 passengers.
"And they can be quite full," he said.
