MONTREAL — Looking to stay one step ahead of tropical storm Maria, Air Canada Vacations has issued a travel advisory for the D.R., alerting all passengers with a scheduled departure on Sept. 18 that all flights are cancelled. Affected passenger files will automatically be eligible for rebooking at a later date.

Maria is currently charting the same path as Irma as it gains strength up the northeast Caribbean’s Leeward Islands. Puerto Rico has already declared a state of emergency as it braces for Maria. Forecasters say Maria could become a major hurricane by Sept. 19.

ACV customers scheduled to travel between Sept. 18 and Sept. 24, 2017 to the D.R. may rebook an alternate Air Canada Vacations package by Oct. 15, 2017 for travel until April 30, 2018. Customers are responsible for any price differential resulting from selection of a higher-priced alternative.

ACV passengers travelling to Antigua, Barbados, Fort de France, Guadeloupe, St. Lucia between Sept. 18 and Sept. 20 may rebook an alternate ACV package by Oct. 15, 2017 for travel until April 30, 2018.
Again, customers are responsible for any price differential resulting from selection of a higher-priced alternative.

Meanwhile Sunwing has issued an update for its Cuba program in the wake of Irma.

Sunwing’s scheduled flights to Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco and Camaguey are expected to resume on Nov. 1, 2017.

“Together with our destinations teams, we are in the process of conducting detailed evaluations on each hotel. Until we have more complete information, it remains too early to give an accurate assessment as to the reopening date of any specific hotel. We expect to be able to share preliminary information by early next week. Customers scheduled to travel to any of these three destinations up to and including Oct. 31, 2017 may book an alternate date or destination, or obtain a full refund in cash,” says Sunwing.

To Varadero, Sunwing’s regular flight service resumed today from Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa as per the airline’s original flight schedule.

All Sunwing-featured Varadero hotels are welcoming Sunwing guests from today onwards with the exception of the following properties:

• Expected to be ready within the next week: Be Live Turquesa, IBEROSTAR Varadero, Blau Varadero, Islazul Delfines, Club Kawama, Roc Barlovento, Club Tropical, Royalton Hicacos, Hotel Playa de Oro, Sol Sirenas Coral Resort, IBEROSTAR Bella Vista, Starfish Varadero, IBEROSTAR Laguna Azul, Tuxpan Hotel
• Not expected to be ready until later (exact dates will be advised once confirmed): Blau Marina Varadero, IBEROSTAR Playa Alameda, Blau Privilege Cayo Libertad, Melia Marina Varadero Brisas del Caribe, Naviti Varadero, Club Karey Varadero, Paradisus Princesa del Mar, Hotel Bella Costa, Paradisus Varadero, Hotel Gran Caribe Sunbeach, Villa Sotavento, Hotel Los Cactus, Hotel Atlantico (Havana by the Sea)

“Customers travelling to a Varadero hotel not scheduled to reopen before their travel date have been re-protected in an alternate hotel, but may choose to rebook to an alternative resort, date or destination, or obtain a full refund in cash.

“All other Varadero customers scheduled to travel up to and including Sept. 21, that no longer wish to travel, they may rebook to an alternative date or destination, or obtain a full refund in cash. Regular policies are in effect for Sept. 22 departures onwards.”

Where the price of the chosen alternate varies, customers will pay or be refunded the difference in price as appropriate, notes Sunwing.