Guests setting sail aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Magic have been notified of an itinerary change just five days before embarkation.
The ship’s August 4, 2024 departure is impacted with a change in port orders and times, which can be problematic for any travelers who have made independent arrangements while in port.
Guests were notified with an email letter noting the changes for the 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary, but without any explanation for the adjustment.
“We have made an adjustment to the itinerary for your cruise – the days for port visits to Belize and Mahogany Bay have been swapped and we are extending our port times for Mahogany Bay,” the email read. “Additionally, our visit to Cozumel will now be on Friday, August 9.”
Originally, the cruise itinerary was a departure from Miami, Florida on Sunday, August 4, with a day at sea before the ship was to arrive in Cozumel on Tuesday, August 6.
Wednesday was to have been a visit to Belize, followed by Mahogany Bay (Roatan) on Thursday. Friday and Saturday were days at sea, before the ship returns to Florida on Sunday, August 11.
While Carnival Magic‘s departure from and return to Miami are not changed, everything else about the cruise is now adjusted.
Now, the ship will spend her first two days at sea as guests relax into their Carnival cruise vacation. The ship will call at Mahogany Bay on Wednesday, August 7, followed by Belize and Cozumel on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Saturday will remain a day at sea and the ship will be back in Miami on Sunday.
Any shore tours purchased through Carnival Cruise Line for any of the ports of call will be automatically adjusted for the time and day changes. Guests do not need to call or make any online changes for those adjustments.
If passengers have arranged independent shore excursions, however, they will need to contact their tour operator for changes or cancellations as necessary.
The 128,048-gross-ton, Dream-class Carnival Magic can welcome 3,690 guests at double occupancy, or up to 4,724 travelers when fully booked with all berths filled.
As early August is the end of summer vacation for Florida families and many other school districts, the ship is likely fully booked with plenty of young guests looking forward to the last few days of fun before school starts.
Why the Changes?
While Carnival Cruise Line has not offered any direct explanation for the itinerary change, expected poor weather is a likely cause. An area of tropical development that is currently located just north of Haiti is likely to continue to strengthen into a tropical storm by early next week.
While hurricane development is considered unlikely at this time, even the strong thunderstorms associated with an extensive low-pressure system can create strong winds, heavy rain, and uncomfortable swells.
It is best for a cruise ship to steer clear of such bad weather if possible, and Carnival Cruise Line has still preserved all of Carnival Magic‘s ports of call, albeit in a different order.
Read Also: How a Hurricane Could Affect Your Cruise
The storm system is expected to continue west-northwest across the northern coast of Cuba before turning more directly north just west of the Florida peninsula.
The exact track, intensity, and timing is not yet certain and it is a wise precaution for the cruise line to adjust the sailing itinerary, giving guests as much notification as possible.
Any travelers with Western Caribbean itinerary departures in the next few days will want to stay in close contact with their cruise line for potential delays.
Furthermore, the Port of Tampa Bay may be more strongly impacted and any sailings from that Florida homeport could be adjusted depending on how the storm develops in the coming days.
