Key Aspects:
- Carnival Elation and Carnival Venezia have both had itinerary adjustments due to Hurricane Erin.
- Itinerary impacts are being felt in the Eastern Caribbean, the Bahamas, and at private islands, especially where there are no dock facilities.
- Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 2 but still has a massive wind field with impacts felt hundreds of miles from the storm’s center.
As Hurricane Erin turns more toward the north at her closest point to the Bahamas, Carnival Cruise Line has adjusted two more ships to ensure the safest and most comfortable sailings.
The cruise line’s meteorologist consultant, Amy Sweezey, has provided the latest update for the fleet, noting that safety is always the foremost consideration.
“Safety is Carnival’s priority, factoring in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, the U.S. Coast Guard and local port authorities,” she said.
In total, five different Carnival ships have now faced at least some changes from Hurricane Erin. This includes Carnival Vista, Mardi Gras, and Carnival Sunshine, which we’ve already covered on Cruise Hive.
The cruise line is committed to ensuring guests on every ship have the safest, most comfortable, and most enjoyable experience possible.
Some of these changes may seem last-minute. Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald explained recently, however, that such changes are often made while en route or even the same day to ensure the most accurate information.
Carnival Elation and Carnival Venezia are the latest ships to have itinerary adjustments for the storm.
Carnival Elation
Sailing from Jacksonville, one of the line’s smallest ships, Carnival Elation, will not visit Half Moon Cay on August 20 as planned. Instead, the Fantasy-class vessel will visit Freeport.
As Half Moon Cay does not yet have a dock, it is impossible for a visiting ship to safely use tender boats when the sea is more active. Even with Hurricane Erin now 245 miles northeast of Half Moon Cay, higher waves make using tenders unsafe.
Carnival Elation is currently sailing a 5-night Bahamas itinerary and should be able to call on Celebration Key on Thursday, August 21 as planned. The ship will return to Jacksonville on Saturday, August 23.
Carnival Venezia
Carnival Venezia set sail from New York on Tuesday, August 19, for what was to have been a 9-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary.
While the ship will still be sailing in the same region, the calls to St. Thomas on August 23 and San Juan on August 23 have been cancelled. Instead, Carnival Venezia will visit Celebration Key on Saturday, August 23.
The visit to Grand Turk on Monday, August 25, is unchanged, and the ship should be able to return to New York as planned on Thursday, August 28.
Hurricane Erin Update
As of the National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. update on Tuesday, August 19, Hurricane Erin is rated as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour.
She is now moving north-northwest at 10 mph, with her track exactly as expected between Bermuda and the US coast through Wednesday and Thursday.
The biggest concern from Hurricane Erin is the size of her wind field. Hurricane force winds extend 80 miles from the center, while tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.
Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season – What You Must Know!
This means the storm’s total diameter is more than 450 miles. Significant swells can be felt even further away.
Cruise guests booked on any sailing in the Bahamas or Eastern Caribbean over the next couple of days, as well as Bermuda, should stay in close communication with their cruise line for any further updates and changes.
