by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:38 AM ET, Tue October 9, 2018
Update: October 9, 2018 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Travelers continue to keep a close eye on Hurricane Michael as it churns toward the panhandle of Florida and is projected to become a Category 3 storm before making landfall.
Cruise passengers should be paying extra attention to the storm, as several cruise ships were forced to alter itineraries in response to the hurricane. For Carnival Cruise Line, the routes were changed for the Carnival Miracle, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Glory and Carnival Freedom.
As for the Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory, they will be sailing reverse itineraries.
Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas was also caught in the storm near Cuba, and passengers onboard shared video on social media of the storm impacting the voyage:
For tourists and residents along the Gulf Coast, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for around 12,000 people, including people in Panama City Beach and other low-lying areas.
Airlines continue to issue waivers for impacted travelers as Hurricane Michael strengthened into a Category 2 storm and continued moving toward the Florida panhandle Tuesday.
According to the New York Times, the hurricane was measured with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour and located around 395 miles south of Panama City. Forecasters believe the storm will be a major hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center said Michael could make landfall as a Category 3 storm between the Alabama-Florida border and Mississippi-Alabama border, but will then turn northeast and move over the Atlantic Ocean Thursday night.
Florida Governor Rick Scott also issued a state of emergency for 26 counties.
As for the airlines that are waiving change fees, top carriers such as American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United have implemented flexible rebooking policies for customers scheduled to fly to or from several cities in the storm's path this week.
Impacted travelers are being advised to call their airlines or travel agents.
Several airports along the Gulf Coast have started canceling flights ahead of the storm, with Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport in Florida even announcing it will close indefinitely Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. ET until the storm has passed.
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