Why are cruise ships discharging passengers in Miami?

[annabanana]

Passengers will just get stuck at the airport while the ship gets itself out of the way of the storm...

Shouldn't those ships departing for safety take those thousands of people with them?

[MineralMan]

1. That's an excellent question, indeed.

I have no rational answer, though.

[Not Ruth]

2. IMHO they took advantage of guillable passengers to lessen risk to the cruise line

[underpants]

3. Because they are soul draining money machines that give less than a crap about their customers

[Johonny]

6. +1

[dsc]

4. Some of them might have driven to get the ship

those would likely have wanted to go to Miami to have their car, the ones who flew though they should have taken to Charleston.

[California_Republic]

5. I thought they might move too slow

But their speeds are about 25 mph

[Lee-Lee]

7. It looks like they are giving passengers the option of

discharging in Miami or going back out to sea with the ship or another away from the hurricane.

Probably the best way to avoid litigation on everything from damaged cars to missed tickets to anything else. They are giving people the choice to be returned to where they originated or stay with the ship safely out at sea instead of just making them all do one or the other.

[Demtexan]

8. I think I would go back to sea.

Who would want to be in Florida right now.

[annabanana]

10. Ditto. You could be secure in the knowledge that

they will do everything they can to keep those big expensive floating assets safe.

[Demtexan]

12. Plenty of food and water.

Nice dry bed.

Not a hard sell to me.

No way to get out Florida now.

[Phoenix61]

9. They are returning to the port they departed from

A lot of folks drive to the boat and may want to get their car and leave.

[TeamPooka]

11. If they flew into Miami for the cruise then they already have tickets home too. If they drove

then they probably want to get their cars out of there

[Demtexan]

14. If their flights are not canceled.

If they can find gas.

The highways packed.

It would be the boat for me.

[brooklynite]

13. The cruise ships are effectively going out to see in hurricane conditions...

...and probably don't want the liability of carrying passengers.