KINGSTON, Jamaica — Airlines and cruise ship companies are monitoring the progress of a tropical disturbance approaching the Lesser Antilles.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Thursday that the system of low pressure has a 50 per cent chance of developing into a tropical depression, or possibly a storm within 48 hours.

Jennifer de la Cruz is a spokeswoman for Carnival Cruise Lines. She says the Florida-based company currently has one ship whose itinerary will be slightly modified to steer clear of the system’s predicted path. The ship is the Carnival Splendor.

Major carriers such as American Airlines say they are watching the system but there were no itinerary changes on Thursday afternoon.

Regional airline LIAT says air traffic in Caribbean spots north of Antigua is likely to be disrupted.