UPDATE – APRIL 15:
Technicians have fixed the ship! Carnival has also added a port of call to the altered itinerary, read all the details here.
PREVIOUSLY:
Carnival Cruise Line has changed one of its ships itineraries due to a technical issue which is affecting propulsion.
Carnival Fantasy is experiencing a technical issue which is affecting the ships maximum cruising speed. The Carnival ship was originally scheduled to depart yesterday, April 13 on a 5-day cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. The ship was delayed departing its homeport in Mobile but did end of setting off on a cruise to nowhere instead later in the evening.
Carnival Fantasy will just sail out at sea for the same amount of days as originally scheduled but with no call in Cozumel. During this time technicians will continue to work on the problem while onboard and we do hope it is resolved before the next sailing which departs Mobile. Alabama on April 17.
Carnival Cruise line provided Cruise Hive with the following statement:
Carnival Fantasy departed Mobile yesterday evening on a ‘cruise to nowhere.’ The ship is experiencing a technical issue with its propulsion system which is affecting the vessel’s maximum cruising speed. Technicians continue to work to address the issue, however, given the ship’s speed limitation, it was not be possible to maintain the scheduled itinerary which included a visit to Cozumel, Mexico. Instead the ship will remain at sea throughout the cruise which will return on Monday.
Guests had the option of cancelling, receiving a full refund and disembarking or staying on board and sailing on the cruise to nowhere. Guests sailing on the modified itinerary will receive a 50 percent refund of their cruise fare and a $50 onboard credit as well as a 50 percent credit towards a future cruise.
We sincerely apologize to our guests for this disappointing modification to the planned itinerary and our team looks forward to going above and beyond to ensure they enjoy an extraordinary vacation.
Carnival has given an option for guests to cancel the cruise which includes a full refund. For those guests who chose to stay onboard are receiving a 50 percent refund of their cruise fare along with a $50 credit added to the onboard Sail & Sign account. Guests will also be getting 50 percent credit towards a future cruise with Carnival.
Cruise Hive will follow developments on the Fantasy class cruise ship which is 70,300 gross tons and can carry over 2,000 passengers.
