Bermuda’s final four cruise visits of the month have been cancelled as Hurricane Franklin bears down on the island’s environs.

The Norwegian Joy, which cancelled over the weekend, has been followed by the Vision of the Seas.

Both ships are regular callers on the island, with maximum passenger capacities of nearly 5,000 and 2,500 respectively.

Also pulling out are the Carnival Magic and Carnival Legend, with capacities of 4,700 and 2,600.

All four vessels had been scheduled for the West End, leaving Dockyard empty this afternoon.

Two ships booked for Friday — the Insignia and the Norwegian Joy — remain on the calendar, however.

Carnival Magic, due to arrive at Dockyard tomorrow for a two-night stay after leaving Norfolk, Virginia yesterday, cited Franklin as it changed course.

Passengers were notified before the vessel left port that the destination had been switched to the Bahamas.

An e-mail stated: “Our fleet operations centre is actively monitoring Hurricane Franklin, now located in the Atlantic.

“Due to the projected path of the storm, we must modify the itinerary for your cruise. Regrettably, we will not be able to visit Bermuda.”

Franklin lay 475 miles southwest of Bermuda this afternoon and was tracking north as a major hurricane, whipping up swells expected to be felt as far away at the US East Coast

The storm grew on Saturday into the second hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.

Its closest point of approach is expected to be late Wednesday morning, when it is forecast to come pass more than 200 miles northwest of the island.