HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC) — Hurricane Maria has forced a cruise ship to cancel its visit to Bermuda, while three other vessels are expected to arrive in Hamilton a day later than scheduled.

The Royal Gazette newspaper reported yesterday that treacherous sea conditions caused by Maria, which earlier inflicted massive damage during its deadly rampage across the Caribbean, have prompted the container ship Somers Isles to delay its arrival in Bermuda until Thursday, while another cargo vessel, the Bermuda Islander, is expected to arrive a day late on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Royal Caribbean liner Anthem of the Seas, which was expected to arrive in Dockyard Tuesday from Cape Liberty, a New Jersey port, for a one-night stay, has cancelled its trip to Bermuda altogether.

The car ship Kariyushi Leader was expected to arrive in Hamilton from Haiti tomorrow, but has put back its arrival by a day to avoid the bad weather surrounding Hurricane Maria.

A Category 1 hurricane, Maria is still considered a potential threat to the island by the Bermuda Weather Service. At 6.00 am yesterday, Maria was 421 nautical miles west of Bermuda, heading north at seven miles per hour with winds of 80 mph and higher gusts.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Center said it was expected to turn north-northeast later yesterday. Its closest point of approach to Bermuda in the next 72 hours is 288 nautical miles to the north-northwest on Friday.

Meteorologists are also watching Hurricane Lee, which is not currently considered a threat to the island.

The Category 1 hurricane was 646 nautical miles east of the island at 6 am, moving west-southwest at eight miles per hour (mph). It is expected to turn away from the island towards the north-east later in the week.