Helene is affecting some Florida travel.
The National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast on Tuesday has the system entering the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday afternoon and strengthening into a Category 3 hurricane. It is expected to make landfall in the Big Bend region Thursday evening and also affect Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Miami-Dade and Broward were put under a tropical storm warning on Wednesday and can see rain bands through Thursday and into Friday.
Major airports remain fully operational, but two Miami-based cruise lines have changed itineraries. Royal Caribbean changed five cruises, moving them out of the storm’s path. and Carnival changed at least two sailings.
MORE: Tropical Storm Helene could hit Florida Gulf coast with 15 feet of surge as Category 3
Here’s what is happening so far with travel to and from Florida:
Airports
Florida’s largest airports are staying alert for potential impact:
Tampa: As of Wednesday morning, Tampa International Airport remained open and fully operational, said Emily Nipps, director of communications. An airport tracker showed zero canceled flights on Sept. 24 as of 7 p.m., and 45 delays out of 345 total flights. But from Wednesday on, she recommended travelers check with their airlines for flight status and latest schedules as the carriers decide what they do.
Orlando: Orlando International Airport was also fully open on Wednesday and had few delays.
Miami: Miami International Airport had 92% of arrivals and 88% of departures on time as of Tuesday afternoon, said Greg Chin, communications director for Miami-Dade Aviation Department. Only flights to and from Grand Cayman were canceled due to the storm.
How can you check your flight status?
Miami International Airport has two online trackers you can use.
One of the flight trackers shows a list of all expected arrivals and departures with options to use a drop-down menu to narrow results. It displays the carrier, flight number and where the plane is going to or coming from. It also gives real-time updates on the flight’s arrival or departure status, which concourse the terminal is in and the location of baggage claim.
The other online tool lets you track by flight or route. If you know the carrier, the date and the flight number, this tool might be easier to use because it will only show information for your flight.
FLL’s flight tracker works by flight or route. You’ll need to know the date, along with the airline carrier and flight number or the departure and arrival airport. The tool also gives people the option to see a list of all expected arrivals and departures and details on the flight’s terminal and baggage claim, too.
Tampa International Airport — and Orlando International Airport — both have similar online trackers on their websites.
You can also check your flight status with the airline directly, which might be easier to do through the airline’s app. But you can also check via the airline’s website.
Seaports
Florida’s ports are preparing for the storm:
Tampa: Port Tampa Bay issued an advisory on Sept. 23, saying that the U.S. Coast Guard expects the possibility of gale force winds that could affect maritime operations within 48 hours. The port said “the storm will cause an impact to our cruise schedule” and advised travelers to call their cruise companies for updates. Carnival said under the current scenario, the Port Tampa Bay has already advised that their current cruise schedule for the next several days will be affected.
Space Coast: Port Canaveral remains open as usual, but but “anticipates possible limited waterside and vessel shore side port operations will follow as conditions change,” according to a statement from Steven Linden, communications and public affairs director for the port.
Cruises
Several ports of call have been changed:
Royal Caribbean: Cruise line changed five cruises sailing in the Western Caribbean, said Nathaniel Derrenbacher, manager of corporate communications for the carrier.
▪ Independence of the Seas’ 9/21 sailing that left PortMiami: Cozumel, Mexico, replaced with Nassau, Bahamas.
▪ Grandeur of the Seas’ 9/23 sailing: Cozumel, Mexico and Costa Maya, Mexico replaced with Nassau, Bahamas and Freeport, Bahamas.
▪ Serenade of the Seas’ 9/22 sailing: Cozumel, Mexico, and Costa Maya, Mexico, replaced with Freeport, Bahamas, and Nassau, Bahamas.
▪ Wonder of the Seas’ 9/22 sailing: Cozumel, Mexico, Roatan, Honduras, and Costa Maya, Mexico, replaced with St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
▪ Mariner of the Seas’ 9/21 sailing: Cozumel, Mexico replaced with a day at sea.
Carnival: Cruise line altered these itineraries to sail away from the storm’s projected path, said spokesman Matt Lupoli.
▪ Carnival Paradise: Cozumel on Sept. 24 canceled and replaced by Costa Maya.
▪ Carnival Valor: Cozumel on Sept. 24 canceled.
▪ Carnival Breeze and Carnival Horizon: Trips are being monitored for potential changes, Lupoli said.
MSC Cruises: One trip is affected.
▪ MSC Seascape: The cruise, which departed PortMiami on Sept. 21, was supposed to stop in Falmouth, Georgetown and Cozumel. Passengers who had shore excursions booked in one of those places have been refunded, said Sidney Sterling, director of media relations for the carrier. The ship decided to replace those calls of port with Grand Turk, Puerto Plata and Nassau.
Norwegian Cruise Lines: The company says it has no ships sailing in the area affected by Helene.
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