On Thursday heavy fog forced Port of Tampa Bay in Florida to close. As a result the Carnival Paradise was unable to dock. The Carnival ship was originally scheduled to arrive in Tampa at around 8am but instead the ship stayed out at sea. Cargo ships and local vessel were also affected by the thick fog which coated the area.
Carnival Paradise was coming to the end of a 5-day western Caribbean cruise. The ship did dock at 9:30pm but due to the long delay Carnival decided to commence disembarkation on Friday morning, January 29. The next scheduled sailing will be a 3-day cruise to nowhere and check-in for the voyage begins at midday until 2pm.
Carnival posted on their website the following:
We realize this is an unexpected change in your travel plans and apologize for this disruption to your cruise. Guests who sail with us tomorrow will receive a 50% refund of their cruise fare (refunded within the next 2 weeks) and a 50% discount on a future 2 to 4 day Carnival cruise*. Gratuities will also be adjusted to reflect the shortened cruise.
However, should you wish to cancel (and we hope you don’t), please contact 1800 CARNIVAL to request a refund of your cruise fare.
We’re sorry but refunds will not be provided for flight changes, hotel accommodations, meals, transfers or other incidental costs resulting from this weather delay.
Carnival Paradise is a Fantasy class vessel at 70,370 gross tons and carrying 2,060 passengers at double occupancy.
