Norwegian Cruise Line has modified itineraries for the Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Sky to avoid Hurricane Irene. Norwegian Jewel arrived in Great Stirrup Cay the morning of Aug. 23 as originally scheduled.

As a strengthening Hurricane Irene is now battering parts of The Bahamas and takes aim at the East Coast, millions of vacationers are changing plans - or crossing fingers that they won't have to.

As a service to our readers, TravelWeekly.com will be keeping track of the list of hurricane insurance guarantees here. Check back often for the most current information.
Travelers headed to the Caribbean are protected at a number of resorts should hurricanes interrupt, cancel, delay or ruin a tropical vacation.

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season (June 1-Nov. 30) is now underway and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration expects an above-average season that will include 18 named storms. Six of the storms will strengthen into Category 1 hurricanes (winds at least 74 mph), and three to six will become major hurricanes with winds of at least 111 mph (at least Category 3), NOAA forecasted.

Tropical storm Tomas is steadily moving toward Jamaica and Haiti as a tropical storm, resulting in a slew of cruise ship itinerary changes and prompting a number of storm watches and warnings.

 

Tropical Storm Paula weakened to a tropical depression over Cuba on Friday after whipping the island’s capital and its western tobacco-growing province with driving rain and high winds. There were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or serious damage, indicating the island nation was spared the destruction it suffered from several powerful hurricanes in 2008.