PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Cruise lines are changing course and now some travelers are scrambling to possibly change plans ahead of Tropical Storm Dorian.
“I have a pretty big trip planned and I’m concerned about getting out Saturday morning,” said Tim Jones, who has a flight out of Fort Lauderdale.
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Jones has been planning a vacation to Boston and Maine with friends and family for more than a month. Now, he’s fearing Tropical Storm Dorian may wreck his 12-day trip.
“These plans are set in stone. I don’t really know if I can get out of them, so one way or another I have to figure a way to get out of Florida and up to Boston to make this trip happen,” Jones said.
Florida is still in the cone of uncertainty from Dorian, and other travelers are also concerned. Travel Leaders of the Palm Beaches fielded calls on Tuesday.
“One of the main concerns for most everybody is to leave town with the storm coming through,” said travel consultant Mary Hurley-Lane.
Hurley-Lane says some people are booking flights to get out of town, but most clients are concerned about a vacation they already had planned for Labor Day weekend.
“The biggest issue right now is it’s too early to make a determination that would allow the clients to change their reservations without penalty,” Hurley-Lane said.
Possible impacts from Dorian are still days away, so Hurley-Lane advises travelers to wait and see if the airlines issue waivers, which will allow you to change your flight free of charge. She is also encouraging travelers to buy insurance if you’re booking a flight this weekend.
“We all know living here in Florida, in a moment's notice the storm could dissipate or go in an opposite direction,” Hurley-Lane said.
That’s the forecast Jones is now hoping for.
“I hope that it just turns and stays out to sea for everybody, that would be an awesome scenario,” he said.