Cruise lines send ships to help evacuate St. Vincent as volcano threatens island
Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Cruise Line are sending empty ocean liners to the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent to assist with the evacuation of thousands of people as an eruption from La Soufriere volcano appears likely.
“An explosive phase of the eruption may begin with very little warning,” the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center said in a statement to the Associated Press.
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Carnivals' Legend and Paradise vessels along with Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Reflection (RC and Celebrity have the same parent company) are expected to dock at the island Friday to help transport some of the 16,000 people who live within the volcano's red zone and have been forced to evacuate.
Related: The 8 classes of Carnival Cruise Line ships, explained
Islands that will be accepting evacuees include St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua.
The pandemic is complicating evacuation efforts because the cruise lines will require people boarding the ships to be vaccinated, as will the nearby islands where the evacuees will be taken. St. Vincent officials are talking with their counterparts on other islands so that ID cards would be accepted, as not every island resident has a passport.
The timing of the rescue operation worked well for the cruise lines, which have largely remained out of service since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Carnival announced earlier this week that it had pushed back its return to service by canceling all of its June sailings. Royal Caribbean announced on Thursday that it's canceled all June cruises, with some exceptions in places such as the Bahamas and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Related: When will cruise ships resume sailing? A line-by-line guide
Seismologists who monitor the volcano alerted island authorities about a possible eruption after noting seismic activity around 3 a.m. Thursday, suggesting magma was rising closer to the surface. Currently, the volcanic alert level sits at orange, which means an increased likelihood of an eruption.
Scientists have been closely monitoring the volcano for seismic activity since December, when an effusive eruption occurred. During an effusive eruption, lava flows steadily out of a volcano, rather than spewing out as during an eruption.
La Soufriere last erupted in 1979. It is one of 19 active volcanos in the eastern Caribbean.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
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Why We Chose It
There's a lot to love about the Amex Gold card. It's been a fan favorite during the pandemic because of its fantastic rewards rate on restaurants (that includes takeout and delivery in the U.S.!) and U.S. supermarkets. If you're hitting the skies soon, you'll also earn bonus points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders) and up to $120 in annual dining statement credits at eligible partners, there's no reason that the foodie shouldn't add this card to their wallet. Enrollment required.Pros
- 4x on dining at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1x)
- 3x on flights booked directly with the airline or with Amex Travel
- Welcome bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first six months
Cons
- Weak on travel outside of flights and everyday spending bonus categories
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber/food credits
- Few travel perks and protections
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees