An uncertain economy coupled with unpredictable weather in the late summer has forced the cancellation of cruise ship visits to the Island this year.

The mammoth ships usually come into Oak Bluffs several times during late September and early October. But representatives from Norwegian Cruises and Royal Caribbean told town officials last month they were cancelling.

Although the floundering economy played a role in the decision, cruise officials said the main factor was the Island’s unpredictable weather during the shoulder season. Last year, the lines were scheduled to make port at the Vineyard nine times, but poor weather forced them to scale back to only three visits.

“Mother Nature is not always kind in late September and October,” said Scott Dario, owner of Martha’s Vineyard Tours, which works with the cruise lines to provide sightseeing tours for passengers. “The weather [in previous years] has forced the cruise lines to skip the Vineyard altogether, leaving the passengers disappointed because that stop was not replaced.”

Mr. Dario said a group of Vineyarders traveled to the Sea Trade Cruise Shipping convention in Miami last month to meet with representatives of Norwegian Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises. The group included Mr. Dario’s father Jack Dario, representing Vineyard Sightseeing, Ken Goldberg of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce and Noreen Baker of the RM Packer Co.

A third liner, Holland American, was also approached about coming to the Vineyard.

Nancy Gardella, executive director of the chamber of commerce, said in previous years the Vineyard has paid to have a booth at the convention. But budget constraints prompted a change in strategy, and a group of Island representatives was sent instead.

Ms. Gardella said although the ships will skip the Island this summer, the meetings with cruise line officials were very positive. “It was very encouraging . . . it was clear to everyone the Vineyard is still in high demand,” she said.

Ms. Gardella said cruise lines were asked to consider coming in spring and summer, instead of fall. They also suggested the Vineyard be used as an alternative when stops at regional locations like Newport, R.I., or Bar Harbor, Me. are cancelled.

“We tried to tell them that we have more than just sightseeing tours. You can also take a guided kayak trip or rent a bicycle or go to the beach,” she said.

Renee Balter, member and past president of the Oak Bluffs Association, said she is optimistic the cruise ships will return. “We did okay without the cruise ships for a long time. And I think we will do okay without them again,” she said.

Ron DiOrio, chairman of the Oak Bluffs selectmen, was also upbeat.

“Certainly losing the cruise ships will hurt some business, but those ships have always been the icing on the cake . . . I think the economy will get better, it is just a matter of when. So in the meantime we need to do some planning so we can get through this and come out okay,” he said.