Key Aspects:
- Carnival Miracle guests have been notified about a possible fog-related delay on Sunday, December 7.
- The cruise line will issue further updates to incoming guests on Sunday morning.
- This alert is on the same day three Royal Caribbean ships were delayed 8 hours returning to Tampa.
The dreaded season of fog has hit Port Tampa Bay once again, as cruise lines are forced to devise alternative plans and adjust for delayed arrivals. One of those ships just may be Carnival Miracle.
On the same day when three Royal Caribbean cruises were delayed by 8 hours due to dense fog, Carnival also sent an advisory to guests booked on Carnival Miracle‘s December 7 sailing out of Tampa that their embarkation could be delayed.
“Fog may impact the Tampa area overnight, and this could affect the arrival of the ship and your embarkation. We will continue to monitor the weather and provide another update by 9:00 AM (ET), Sunday, December 7,” the email explained.
“Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received our final update.”
The cruise line has not confirmed when that final update may be issued, as there is no way to know whether or not Carnival Miracle will have any significant delays until the morning’s fog is evaluated.
If the port is closed, the ship might be delayed just a couple of hours, or nearly a full day.
The 85,942-gross-ton, Spirit-class Carnival Miracle is currently sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary that departed the Sunshine State on Sunday, November 30.
Her next sailing is likewise a 7-night cruise, with visits planned for Cozumel, Belize, Roatan, and Costa Maya.
Carnival Miracle is still new to her Tampa homeport, having just arrived following her transatlantic cruise on November 22. The next sailing is just her third Tampa departure.
How Likely Is Fog on Sunday Morning?
The National Weather Service is forecasting fog south of Interstate 4 in western Florida on Sunday morning, December 7.
While much of Tampa Bay is expected to be in the “limited” fog area with only isolated areas of low visibility, the mouth of the bay is in the “elevated” forecast with dense fog expected.
Because ships must pass through that dense fog just where the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is located, it is critical that visibility be sufficient for safe navigation.
It’s important for cruise guests to note that even if the port is open, fog might cause traffic congestion and delays for anyone driving to the port. In that case, it’s important to schedule extra time for driving and to be patient with potential delays.
In addition to Carnival Miracle, Margaritaville Islander, Norwegian Dawn, and Celebrity Constellation are also due for docking in Tampa on Sunday morning.
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While the Carnival, Margaritaville, and Norwegian ships remain well outside Tampa Bay en route to their homeports, satellite tracking shows that Celebrity Constellation has accelerated her sailing and should be docking late Saturday night, ensuring she is not delayed for Sunday morning’s debarkation.
If Carnival Miracle Is Delayed
At this time, there is no confirmed delay for Carnival Miracle. The fact that Carnival Cruise Line has already sent out a fog advisory alerting guests to the possibility, however, is a good indication that such a delay is likely.
This would mean that 2,124 guests onboard the ship would be delayed in returning to Tampa, perhaps until the late afternoon or early evening.
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Guests waiting to embark on the ship on Sunday would then have to push their embarkation back not only until the ship can safely dock, but even later to permit for customs clearance and debarkation of previous guests.
This would also mean that parking facilities are not able to accommodate incoming guests earlier in the day, nor would the cruise terminal be open for check-ins at the previously planned arrival appointment times.
Carnival Cruise Line will email or text guests with updates as they are confirmed. It is possible that several updates may be necessary throughout the day as conditions in Tampa Bay change.
All guests, whether currently onboard Carnival Miracle or hoping to board on Sunday, should be patient with the situation and understand that weather-related delays are well outside the cruise line’s control.
