Key Aspects:
- Carnival Cruise Line has described the itinerary change process when hurricanes force ships to divert.
- Safety is always the first priority and any changes are made to keep guests, crew members, and ships safe.
- Many behind-the-scenes steps and scheduling changes are necessary when itinerary changes happen.
With the Atlantic hurricane season now underway, exactly how do cruise lines monitor storm systems and their impact on the fleet? Carnival Cruise Line has offered a rare insight into just what happens when a storm threatens, from the onshore team to what happens onboard as an itinerary is changed.
Cruise Hive has already reported on forecasts for the 2026 hurricane season, which looks to be slightly slower and calmer than an average season, but even one storm can dramatically impact cruises.
“Carnival has all the tools needed to see where a tropical storm is developing, where it is going and what the projected track is likely to be,” said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador. “We are proud to have something called the Fleet Operations Center at the Mothership in Miami.”
Heald describes some of the weather-monitoring equipment of the Fleet Operations Center (FOC), which includes a 74-foot-long wall of 57 LED screens showing the fleet’s status and individual details on all 29 ships in the Carnival fleet.
The FOC is manned 24 hours a day by maritime and safety experts to ensure constant updates and the most detailed information possible to ensure the safety of every Carnival ship.
When a tropical storm or hurricane forms, those experts confer with the “senior beards” as well as the ship’s captain to decide on the safest and best course of action.
“Although itinerary modifications happen from time to time, any decision to change an itinerary is always done with the interest of guest and crew safety,” Heald explained. “Hurricanes are as reliable as a blind yak and can suddenly change their tracks and so we wait, gather advice and see what we need to do, often within a day or so notice.”
“Above all, we want to deliver the itinerary the guest booked which is why we want to wait and see what happens with the storm before officially announcing any changes.”
When Itineraries Have to Change
Once it is determined that a change is necessary, either because a port of call will be directly impacted by a storm or the ship would need to sail through the storm’s path for a scheduled itinerary, there needs to be a decision on where the ship can go instead.
At that time, Carnival’s management team will begin contacting port authorities to ask for berths at specific days and times, depending on the ship’s size, location, sailing route, and distance from alternative ports.
Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season – What You Must Know
If no port is available, the ship may need to enjoy a day at sea instead. This is a very safe option, as the ship can easily sail away from rough weather to provide the smoothest, most comfortable experience for the thousands of guests and crew members onboard.
Onboard Adjustments
Once a ship is rerouted or the decision is made for a day at sea, there are many changes that need to be made onboard and to ship operations to accommodate the change, though guests may never know.
Heald detailed what has to change that may impact the onboard experience.
First, the shore excursions team contacts tour operators in the new port of call to book spaces on available excursions to give guests options for enjoying the new destination. At the same time, any tours for the original port have to be cancelled.
If any crew members had been joining the ship or ending their contracts in the now-cancelled port, they must be contacted and rescheduled as necessary. Similarly, any comedians or other entertainers joining or leaving the ship must have their schedules and flights changed to the new destination or shifted to another port.
A new Fun Times newsletter must be written, along with changes to scheduling on the Carnival Hub app.
The last step is to prepare a letter to deliver to guests’ staterooms to inform them of the change and why. At the same time, emails and texts will be sent to guests to alert them to the changes.
“When that new itinerary is given to guests, 99 percent will accept the decision,” Heald noted. “They may be disappointed but they understand.”
Heald does ask that any guests who may be upset and angry at such changes not take their frustration out on crew members who had no say in the decision.
“Let’s hope it’s a very quiet hurricane season this year but, if we should be forced to change ports of call, then, please, don’t shout and swear at a staff member who, only 10 minutes before, was hosting a Harry Potter themed trivia,” he said.
Above all, safety is the top consideration for such changes, and Carnival Cruise Line will always make any itinerary change decisions with the safety of the guests, crew, and ship as the first priority.
