The former tropical storm Ernesto has been upgraded to a hurricane after it increased force yesterday afternoon.

Several Central American countries have issued storm warnings with the latest National Hurricane Centre’s (NHC) advice indicating that Ernesto is 140 miles east of Chetumal, Mexico.

Maximum winds have reached 80 miles per hour with the NHC projecting that the storm will pass to the north of Honduras, through the northern tip of Belize and across the southern Yucatan peninsula before regaining hurricane strength when it crosses the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday.

A hurricane warning is currently in place for Belize and parts of coastal Mexico.

Cruise Critic has reported the following changes in cruise itineraries as a result of Ernesto with Carnival Cruise Lines’ senior cruise director John Heald, updating fans of his Facebook page of itinerary changes aboard Carnival ships as the information comes to hand.

Carnival Legend

Currently sailing on a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise out of Tampa, she will visit Montego Bay, Jamaica and will add a third day at sea instead of calling into Belize and Mahogany Bay, Honduras.

Carnival Dream

Departing Port Canaveral last Saturday on a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise, Carnival Dream called into Progreso instead of Belize and will visit Freeport on Thursday and Nassau on Friday.

Click here to read more

Words: Natalie Aroyan