Cruise ship cancels Fiji call due to Cyclone

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Crystal Symphony did not call at Lautoka , Fiji , due to the impending arrival of Cyclone Evan . According to a live from poster on the Cruise Critic Crystal board , they will have an unscheduled call at Bay of Islands and an extra day in Auckland.
The cyclone is due to hit Fiji at noon ( NZ time) today , 17 Dec 2012.
They are in Bay of Islands today......

[Debsta]

Carnival Spirit, which left yesterday, 16 December, has also had a complete itinerary change and will no longer head to Fiji for the very first time in it's Australian cruising season but instead to islands in the Vanuatu group. This change was made 2 days ago. Good on Carnival for having the foresight to organise the changes, rather than storm chase!

Things are not looking good for Fiji this morning, particularly, as TC Evan has now had a slight easterly deviation with the eye now looking like having a dead hit on the main tourist areas including Mamanuca and Yasawa group of islands and Nadi and surrounds Nadi. It's reported as the worst cyclone to hit in a very long time with winds up to 230 km/h.

Not good for the beautiful Fijian people

[Kiwi Kruzer]

The long term forecast is that once it passes Fiji it could move south,
and head for NZ .
If so , it would be here for Christmas..

[badgerbill]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kruzer

The long term forecast is that once it passes Fiji it could move south,
and head for NZ .
If so , it would be here for Christmas..

Latest tracking map has it doing just that lets all hope they are wrong....be hoping and praying for an easy time for the lovely Fijians.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Looks a bit damp in the Bay today...

[fnqboatie]

Poor Fiji might not be a happy place to visit for a while after too. Cat 4 cyclone with sustained wind at 200km/h and gusts to 250km/h will make a mess anywhere.

[Debsta]

It's just been upgraded to Category 5 as she is about to slam into the Yasawa & Mamanuca Islands, Nadi and Lautoka

[The_Big_M]

Originally Posted by badgerbill

Latest tracking map has it doing just that lets all hope they are wrong....be hoping and praying for an easy time for the lovely Fijians.

That forecast also has it dying down before it reaches NZ. Not a good time for Fiji though.

[bobhsv]

Here is an up to the second satelite pic. You can see the eye, amazing, but scary.

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohe...s/shwvgms.html

Jen

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Originally Posted by bobhsv

Here is an up to the second satelite pic. You can see the eye, amazing, but scarey.
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/sohemi/sohe...s/shwvgms.html
Jen

Now that is scary.

[fnqboatie]

1 ship casualty at Fiji!

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=220337

[Debsta]

Current infared image - the eye is over Lautoka



https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...56342471_n.jpg

[JacintaH]

Originally Posted by Debsta

Current infared image - the eye is over Lautoka



https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...56342471_n.jpg

goodness Mother Nature can be a cow at times.

note to self, while packing this weekend to join Solstice pack Kwells despite what the weather watcher at our house says.

[timtam2]

I am so sad. Just 2 weeks ago I was in the Mamanucas. I am so worried for the people whose livelihoods depend on tourism and for my beautiful island paradise that is going to be obliterated....

[JacintaH]

Photo taken from Fiji

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

[Debsta]

Chilling words from Lautoka:

Message from Lautoka resident, "No house has been spared ... Please let the worse be over .. If this is the beginning then God help us" - Mark Hanrahan on Twitter #cycloneevan

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Originally Posted by Debsta

Carnival Spirit, which left yesterday, 16 December, has also had a complete itinerary change and will no longer head to Fiji for the very first time in it's Australian cruising season but instead to islands in the Vanuatu group. This change was made 2 days ago. Good on Carnival for having the foresight to organise the changes, rather than storm chase!

Things are not looking good for Fiji this morning, particularly, as TC Evan has now had a slight easterly deviation with the eye now looking like having a dead hit on the main tourist areas including Mamanuca and Yasawa group of islands and Nadi and surrounds Nadi. It's reported as the worst cyclone to hit in a very long time with winds up to 230 km/h.

Not good for the beautiful Fijian people

You're famous again Deb...

your post made the Cruise Critic News page..

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5123

[Debsta]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Kruzer

You're famous again Deb...

your post made the Cruise Critic News page..

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5123

Again? Wooohoooooo I'm a star I should start getting paid for this

[Debsta]

Latest word is Pacific Dawn left Mystery Island today and is going to Fiji, first stop Suva then Port Denarau. Should be interesting to hear the feedback Whether they can get off and whether there are any shore tours........remains to be seen