Prior to our cruise, a page on the Disney Cruise Line page provided Wilma updates which stated that the cruise would embark on schedule-- from Ft. Lauderdale instead of Port Canaveral. It seems only the perfect storm (placed centrally between Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral) would deter Disney from launching the cruise, and after stalling around Cancun, Wilma certainly did not qualify. So the only major risk of having our vacation ruined was if Alaskan cancelled any flights, and again, Wilma was too slow to have any effect on anything except our itinerary.

Now Christine and I were particularly interested in a Western Carribean cruise, so it was a little disappointing to have the itinerary changed, but not nearly any sort of hardship considering what the poor folks who are in a terrestrial resort in Cozumel or Cancun must be experiencing (not to mention the actual residents).

Which brings me finally to my point: If you intend to travel near the Carribean any time during hurricane season, seriously consider a cruise. With flexible options for ports of departure (and arrival), and the ability to change itineraries on a moment's notice, a cruise is practically its own travel insurance. The cruise companies take every effort to reshuffle their ports of call to accomodate the best weather and cruising conditions.