The up to 2,980 passengers that embarked on Carnival Freedom on January 23, 2025, were expecting to be sailing toward the Bahamas by 3:30 p.m. EST. 

However, the planned departure time came and went, and the Conquest-class ship remains docked in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida several hours later – presumably due to an environmental issue.

The 110,000-gross ton ship was supposed to be operating a 4-night sailing to Nassau, Bahamas, and Princess Cays, Bahamas (the private island destination belonging to the Carnival-Owned Princess Cruises) – but the extensive delay has called the itinerary into question. 

Cruise Hive reached out to Carnival for comment and received the following statement: “Carnival Freedom’s team managed an environmental matter Thursday, delaying the ship’s departure from Port Canaveral. Guests are being kept informed.” 

The Carnival spokesperson did not specify what exactly went wrong, but current passengers have reported that the ship was leaking oil – which of course has to be quickly resolved and cleaned to minimize contamination and potential harm to marine life and their ecosystems.

“Captain said ‘environmental issue’…ship is supposedly leaking oil and they are having to clean up,” one current guest shared.

“I saw what looked like a lot of fuel in the water at 1pm when we boarded,” another passenger added. 

Others shared videos of what looked like a dark shiny sheen on the ocean’s surface – which can be indicative of an oil spill – and have reported sightings of divers and spill control teams.

“They are loading the divers back up and spill control has just arrived 8pm,” another guest updated at around 8pm EST. 

It’s unclear what caused the alleged leak – as anything from maintenance issues to damage can result in a spill – but guests that disembarked this morning (January 23) from the previous 5-night Eastern Caribbean sailing reported very rough seas on the journey back to Port Canaveral. 

How Will the Carnival Freedom Itinerary Be Affected?

At this stage, it’s a bit too early to tell how Carnival Freedom’s itinerary may change – or if the sailing could be cancelled altogether due to the environmental situation. 

Carnival has not specified how long it will take to make necessary repairs or complete the clean up process – nor has the Miami-based cruise line actually confirmed the issue at hand.

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That said, current guests are reporting that the 2007-launched ship won’t be going anywhere until tomorrow, January 24, at the earliest. 

This means that tomorrow’s planned call on Nassau – where the ship was supposed to be docked from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. local time – will likely be cancelled, or at the very least, shortened.

“They just told us the issue isn’t fixed and we won’t get another update until tomorrow morning. Which SUCKS because we booked Atlantis tickets for tomorrow,” an impacted passenger wrote on Reddit, referencing one of Nassau’s most popular offerings.

“I am currently on the Carnival Freedom which is stuck in port at Port Canaveral with propulsion issues. Will be leaving at least one day late at this point. They are not telling us much,” another guest wrote in an email to Cruise Hive.

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Current guests are understandably frustrated – not only because they are not getting the experience they paid for, but also because Carnival is not allowed to open the casino or its shops while in port. 

Given the delay and expected itinerary change, it wouldn’t be surprising if Carnival offers compensation – but it’s unclear what form that will take at this time. 

Others demanded that Carnival Freedom be sent back to dry dock for further maintenance – she was last there for refurbishments in 2023 – or insisted that she be removed from service entirely, calling back to when she caught fire in 2024 as another example of when things went wrong.

This also isn’t the first time a Carnival ship has been held up by an unexpected environmental situation. Carnival Magic was delayed in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, by discharged soot back in 2023, but that delay only lasted a few hours and did not impact the itinerary.

Lanyards are a popular and practical accessory for many cruise passengers, but a recent conversation among Carnival cruisers has revealed some tips about safety – and lanyards may not be so safe.

The discussion began innocently enough with a cruise guest reaching out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, about whether or not lanyards were still in vogue. The guest hasn’t cruised in several years, and wasn’t sure about the current fashion.

“I’m going on the Mardi Gras in March and want to know if you use a lanyard for your card,” the guest asked. “My husband refuses to put one on a lanyard, he wears one to work every day, so doesn’t want to do it. Do people still do this?”

Heald posted the question as part of his daily Facebook poll. After more than 62,000 votes, 24% of respondents (approximately 15,000 voters) do use a lanyard, while just 10% (approximately 6,200) prefer not to use one.

I’m in agreement with the original poster; having to wear lanyards at work, I don’t want to be wearing one while on vacation. Some travelers do find them very convenient, however, for not only carrying the Sail & Sign card, but also for tucking an extra credit card, cash, or driver’s license into the lanyard pocket.

Others enjoy the fashion statement a lanyard can make, and may change daily to coordinate with different theme nights or outfits. Carnival even sells official lanyards, bedazzled options, and a wide range of colors to suit all preferences.

Furthermore, Carnival Cruise Line’s Sail & Sign cards all come with holes already punched in a corner, making them easy to clip onto even the simplest lanyard. If a card does not have a pre-punched hole, guests can easily visit the Guest Services desk to ask for one to be put in the card if desired.

Could Lanyards Be a Security Risk?

Another commenter raised concern about lanyards, however, that brings safety into question.

“I do not wear a lanyard when it’s super windy on deck (almost lost one overboard once when the wind ripped it off my neck) or if I’m dressed up for dinner (I think it looks weird),” the guest noted.

“I also won’t wear it while in port – I know a lot of people do, but I feel it’s a bit of a safety/security issue to have your cards out for all to see. Especially for those who also have their driver’s license and [credit card] shoved in a clear pocket around on it.”

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Heald responded to the guest’s thoughts, noting that this might indeed be something to consider.

“Thank you and interesting point there – do you wear your Sail and Sign card on a lanyard when you are walking around ports,” Heald mused. “I mean, I don’t think we have ever advised you not to and I am sure it’s fine to do but this made me think for sure.”

The security concern is a valid one, particularly since so many popular cruise ports do have some travel advisories and tourists may be at risk for increased crime. Using a lanyard in port is a very obvious sign that one is a tourist and could be an easy target for burglary.

Many additional guests chimed in offering their own tips, such as ensuring a lanyard is tucked inside a shirt or jacket while in port, or else putting it securely in a bag or backpack so it is not visible or easy to grab.

Along with the idea that an easy-to-see lanyard and ship card might make one at greater risk for crime, other travelers noted that obvious tourists are also subject to more high-pressure sales pitches. This can make visiting any port of call less enjoyable.

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Other guests note that wearing a lanyard in port doesn’t make someone appear to be any more of a tourist than snapping photos, shopping in the port areas, or getting on tour buses.

One guest even notes that for her, the lanyard is actually more of a safety measure than using a bag.

“I’m afraid if it’s not around my neck and my purse/bag gets stolen, or I accidentally leave the bag on the back of a toilet, I won’t be able to get back on the ship!” she said.

Clearly, there are logical reasons both to use a lanyard or to avoid one, depending on what any individual cruiser’s preferences may be. Travelers should always be mindful of their safety when in ports of call, and always be sure their ship card is secure.

Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests booked aboard the January 25, 2025 departure of Carnival Magic with notification that their sailing will have a delayed embarkation. As a consequence, all terminal arrival appointments have been revised.

The impacted cruise is an 8-night Eastern Caribbean sailing with visits scheduled for Amber Cove, San Juan, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas, before the ship returns to Miami, Florida on Sunday, February 2.

“Saturday, January 25, the ship will be returning from a chartered voyage, and we will need some extra time to disembark guests and offload special equipment before accommodating your arrival,” the notification read. “Consequently, embarkation for your cruise has been revised. Please delay your Terminal Arrival Appointment by two hours.”

Carnival Magic‘s current sailing is the ShipRocked Cruise, a special event featuring more than 35 different rock artists and bands, including returning performers as well as those on their first ShipRocked sailing.

The 6-night sailing is filled with concerts, meet-and-greets, photo ops, theme nights, and more, along with all the typical activities and entertainment onboard.

The chartered cruise departed PortMiami on Sunday, January 19, with calls to St. Thomas and Half Moon Cay on the itinerary.

The “special equipment” that needs to be offloaded before the next embarkation can begin is likely extra sound and stage equipment used for the various concerts during the ShipRocked cruise.

Furthermore, the ShipRocked debarkation may be a bit more logistically challenging to ensure the onboard artists can leave the ship smoothly before fans begin debarkation.

Because of the delay, guests on Carnival Magic‘s January 25 departure will now simply move their Terminal Arrival Appointments to two hours later than planned.

For example, if a guest initially selected an appointment of 12:30-1 p.m. to get checked in and board Carnival Magic, now they will need to arrive from 2:30-3 p.m. All guests must arrive at the cruise terminal no later than 4 p.m.

Carnival Cruise Line is also advising travelers that seating is limited within the cruise terminal and it is not possible to accommodate guests who arrive ahead of their revised appointment times.

It is essential to permit enough time for guests from the previous cruise to clear the cruise terminal and parking areas before arriving travelers can be welcomed.

At this time, there is no expected impact to Carnival Magic‘s January 25 itinerary. All her ports of call are intact and no port times have been changed.

Even leaving Miami slightly later than planned will not be a problem, as the first day of the sailing is a day at sea and it will be easy for the vessel to make up any lost time on her way to Amber Cove.

Why No Earlier Notification?

While guests who must now delay their boarding for Carnival Magic by two hours may be understandably upset, the delay is relatively minimal. This is especially true when compared to fog-related delays that may be several hours, or could even last a full day as happens occasionally in ports like Tampa or Jacksonville.

Still, given that the ShipRocked cruise was planned and chartered months ago, it’s interesting that Carnival Cruise Line did not account for the extra debarkation time in advance.

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Extra notice would have given travelers the opportunity to arrange for later pre-cruise flights or hotel check-outs if necessary, or find some other way to enjoy the time in Miami before boarding the ship.

Personal hint – Bayside Marketplace, just on the base of Port Boulevard next to the cruise terminals, is a great place to spend a couple of hours with the Skyview Miami Observation Wheel, local shopping and restaurants, boat tours, and a huge candy store to explore.

Whenever guests do board Carnival Magic, the ship’s nearly 1,400 international crew members will be waiting to provide exceptional service and ensure that everyone aboard has a truly magical cruise getaway.

Girl Scout Cookie season is beginning, but not onboard Carnival cruise ships. Following a request to set up shop on a ship, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has confirmed that the sales will not be permitted, with tremendous support from other guests.

Whether the classically original Trefoils, the ever-popular Thin Mints, or the crispy Samoas, Girl Scout Cookies are undoubtedly popular, and many devoted fans stock up on their favorites every year.

Guests onboard Carnival’s fleet, however, will not be stocking up onboard. One guest reached out to Heald requesting permission to set up a table to sell cookies during their sailing, but was quickly denied.

The guest was unhappy with the decision, and didn’t hesitate to let Heald know their thoughts.

“Girl Scout cookies are an innocent little thing and refusing my girls to be able to sell theirs is probably the most non-Christian thing I’ve ever heard,” the guest commented. “All we want is to allow them to do this twice during the cruise in a public space like the foyer.”

Quite obviously, the guest has not considered the implications that if their girls were permitted to do this, then every Girl Scout setting sail during cookie season ought to be able to do the same. This would be overwhelming and potentially open the figurative door for all types of onboard sales.

“I have nothing against Girl Scout cookies, but if you allow them to sell, then you have to allow all other groups to do the same,” another guest noted. “The whole ship would be one big garage sale. No thanks. I can buy my Girl Scout cookies from the kids in my neighborhood.”

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Other guests pointed out the wide-ranging amount of fundraiser sales done by other groups, such as youth sports leagues, church groups, school classes, charity organizations, and more. If one group gets permission to sell onboard a cruise, it would be difficult to establish a policy prohibiting other sales.

Heald posted the idea of Girl Scout cookie sales onboard as part of his daily poll on his Facebook page, with very conclusive results.

Of the more than 49,000 votes (as of this writing), 36% or roughly 17,700 respondents agree that not permitting cookie sales is the right decision. Fewer than 1% think such sales should be allowed.

No Soliciting Permitted

Heald has addressed the idea of private sales and solicitations previously, when the idea of adding business cards to the popular game of cruising ducks was suggested.

“Why can’t we put business cards with the ducks we hide on every cruise?” a guest asked Heald in February 2024. “Where is the harm in this? Why does every cruise line but yours allow for us to give the gift of laughter with the ducks we hide and get no return for doing this?”

At that time, Heald confirmed that while business cards attached to the rubber ducks weren’t explicitly forbidden, Carnival Cruise Line does indeed have a no soliciting policy.

This is actually part of Carnival’s Cruise Ticket Contract, which every guest agrees to when they book their cruise vacation.

“Guests shall not solicit anyone on the Vessel for any commercial, professional, illegal, or illicit purposes,” section 9(a) of the contract reads.

Of course, there is no policy prohibiting travelers from bringing their favorite Girl Scout cookies onboard as a snack or a special treat for crew members, so long as the cookies are sealed in their original packaging.

And if any guest does bring Girl Scout cookies onboard, don’t forget the milk (Carnival already has all your favorite types of milk) to enjoy that delicious treat in style!