CRUISE LINES SCRAMBLE AS STORM NEARS

A growing Hurricane Irma is forcing some drastic changes to cruise ship itineraries as it barrels toward the Caribbean and Florida.

In an unusual move, Norwegian Cruise Line said Tuesday it would bring its two Miami- based ships home early to avoid the storm. The 2,004- passenger Norwegian Sky and 4,248- passenger Norwegian Escape will return to Miami from the Caribbean on Thursday instead of Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Norwegian canceled sailings of the vessels that were scheduled to begin Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Royal Caribbean on Tuesday canceled two sailings to the Bahamas scheduled to begin Friday for the 2,350-passengerMajesty of the Seas and the 2,446- passenger Enchantment of the Seas. The vessels are based in Port Canaveral, Fla., and Miami, respectively.

Several lines have re- routed ships from the eastern Caribbean to the western Caribbean.

Those include Royal Caribbean’s 5,400- passenger Allure of the Seas, one of the world’s three biggest cruise ships. Based in Fort Lauderdale, it had been scheduled to visit the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. Instead, it is stopping inMexico, Jamaica and Haiti.

The Carnival Glory, Carnival Magic and Carnival Splendor, with total capacities of nearly 10,000 passengers, also have new western Caribbean itineraries.

In all, more than 40,000 vacationers are affected.