As the now upgraded Hurricane Ian slowly moves away from the Florida east coast, it’s important to make sure you’re kept updated on all the latest cruise ship cancellations, itinerary changes, and port updates. We’ll continue to update you on all the latest as the situation develops.
Updated September 30, 2022, 10:14 PM EDT.
In This Article…
Hurricane Ian Status
Hurricane Ian has already impacted parts of the Caribbean, including the Cayman Islands and Cuba. The storm has already reached Florida and currently moving across central parts of the state towards the east coast.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s September 30, 8:00 AM advisory, Ian has maximum sustained winds of 85 MPH and is moving north at 9 MPH.
There are still tropical storm warnings in place for most areas of Florida, and Hurricane warnings for South Carolina. Ian is now heading off the Florida east coast out to the Atlantic but will swing around and hit South Carolina Friday afternoon.
Florida Homeports
Before detailing which cruise ships have canceled or changed a sailing, it’s important to know the status of the cruise ports in Florida. The U.S. Coast Guard has set port conditions, depending on how the storm is expected to impact each port.
Port of Charleston (Port Condition ZULU)
Since noon on September 29, the Port of Charleston has been under condition ZULU, which means it’s fully closed and is expecting gale force winds within 12 hours.
PortMiami (Normal)
Since Thursday, PortMiami has resumed normal operations, which means no more gale force winds are expected, and cruises can resume. It also means that any damage assessments have been completed.
Port Everglades (Normal)
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has now reopened fully under normal operations. The port stated, “The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port has notified Port Everglades that Port Condition Normal is in effect after completing their safety and security assessments. Terminal operators can begin landside operations. The Harbormasters Office is currently scheduling ship arrivals.”
Port Canaveral (Port Condition ZULU)
The second busiest cruise port has been under condition ZULU since 12:01, September 28. this means the port is now fully closed, including for cruise operations. The port is currently assessing any potential damage and remains closed.
Port Tampa Bay (Port Condition ZULU)
The Port of Tampa on the Florida west coast is expected to be heavily impacted by Hurricane Ian. The port has been in condition ZULU since September 27 and is expecting gale force winds within 12 hours. All operations are now closed, including cruises.
JAXPORT (Port Condition ZULU)
The port, which is located in Jacksonville and caters to one Carnival cruise ship, was in condition YANKEE since 00:00, September 28. Since noon on September 28, the condition was to ZULU, which means the port is now fully closed and expects gale force winds within 12 hours.
Carnival Cruise Line
These are the latest updates from Carnival Cruise Line. Do make sure to keep checking for official updates via email and text messages, if you are impacted.
Carnival says, “Our Fleet Operations Center in Miami is actively monitoring Hurricane Ian. At present, there is no change to your scheduled voyage. As everyone’s safety is our number one priority, we will continue to monitor the weather and provide you with timely updates if anything changes.”
Carnival Sunrise
Hurricane Ian has impacted all of Flordia, including PortMiami, which is located on the southeast coast. As the port needs time to asses its waterways on Thursday, Carnival Cruise Line is informing booked guests on the Carnival Sunrise September September 29 sailing to arrive at the terminal 3.5 hours later.
Carnival Paradise
On September 27, Carnival Cruise Line announced the cancellation of the Carnival Paradise September 29 sailing out of Tampa, Florida. This is a result of the port being closed due to the Hurricane and the current September 24 voyage waiting out the storm in Cozumel, Mexico, through Wednesday, September 28. The ship is hoping to arrive back in Tampa on Saturday, October 1.
Carnival Elation
On September 27, the cruise line provided an update on the Carnival Elation cruise ship, which is based out of Jacksonville, Florida. The September 24 voyage canceled its scheduled call at Princess Cays in the Bahamas on September 27 and will instead visit Freeport in the Bahamas on Wednesday, September 28. The ship will then safely resume course back to Jacksonville behind the storm and is hoping to return on Saturday, October 1.
With Carnival Elation delayed return home, the September 20 sailing out of Jacksonville has been canceled. It’s also the result of the port being closed as Ian makes its way up north. Guests are being offered a 100% refund and a 25% future cruise credit.
Carnival Liberty
For the current September 26 sailing out of Port Canaveral, the vessel was unable to make a scheduled call at Princess Cays on September 28 due to the weather. Carnival Liberty will attempt a visit to Freeport in the Bahamas on Thursday. The ship will then make its way back to Port Canaveral behind Hurricane Ian and is hoping to dock on Saturday, October 1.
As a result, Carnival Liberty’s following September 30 departure from Port Canaveral is canceled as the port will be closed. Guests will receive a full refund and an addition of a 25% future cruise credit.
Celebrity Cruises
With Florida having many major cruise homeports, Celebrity Cruises is also impacted by the major Hurricane Ian.
Celebrity Infinity
The Celebrity Infinity’s seven-night sailing out of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, which departed on September 24, has replaced calls to Belize and Cozumel with a visit to Nassau in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti.
Disney Cruise Line
These are the latest updates from Disney Cruise Line as major cruise homeports close across the state of Florida.
Disney Wish
With Hurricane Ian hitting Florida and heading north, it has resulted in the closure of Port Canaveral. It means that the Disney Wish September 26 sailing out of the port will be extended with an expected return on Saturday, October 1.
This has resulted in the cancellation of the Disney Wish September 30 three-night sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida. The cruise line is providing a full refund of the cruise along with a 20% future cruise credit.
Norwegian Cruise Line
These are the latest updates on Norwegian Cruise Line ships that are impacted by Hurricane Ian. The cruise line is sending out communications to travel agents and booked guests.
Norwegian Getaway
On September 27, NCL released an update that Norwegian Getaway’s September 29 sailing out of Port Canaveral in Florida has been canceled due to Hurricane Ian and the closure of the port. The cruise line is providing a full refund and, in addition, a 25% future cruise credit.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises has its operations in the U.S. based out of Florida, especially the hugely popular Port Canaveral. At least one ship has already been impacted by Ian.
MSC Seashore
MSC Seashore, which is departing Saturday, September 24 – on a 7-night roundtrip Western Caribbean sailing from Miami, will no longer be making the same port visits as originally planned. Now, everything about the ship’s itinerary has been changed to route the vessel around Hurricane Ian.
MSC Seashore visited Ocean Cay on Sunday, September 25, as the first port of call rather than the last, and with a shorter visit time of 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Monday, September 26, the ship spent the day in Nassau from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
One day at sea followed, then an overnight visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic on Thursday. After another day at sea, the cruise will conclude in Miami as planned on Saturday, October 1, with no change in the ship’s anticipated arrival time or debarkation.
MSC Divina
With Hurricane Ian impacting the majority of Florida, the MSC Divina is also affected. The vessel’s September 29 sailing out of Port Canaveral has been canceled. As a result, guests who were booked on that sailing guests will receive a full refund, if they choose not to rebook.
This does mean that the September 25 sailing has been extended from a four-day itinerary to a five-day cruise. The hope is for MSC Divina to be able to arrive back in Port Canaveral on September 30.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s chief meteorologist James Van Fleet has been keeping guests updated with the latest developments on cruises impacted by Hurricane Ian.
Independence of the Seas
Royal Caribbean issued an update for Independence of the Seas on Wednesday evening. Due to Port Canaveral needing time to assess any potential damage after Hurricane Ian passes, Mariner of the Seas’ September 30 sailing has been altered.
The ship will now be departing on October 1 instead, and the call at Nassau in the Bahamas has been canceled. The new shorter sailing will only include a visit to the cruise line’s private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean is offering a full refund to those guests who no longer want to cruise. Those who still cruise will receive onboard credit back for the value of two days.
Allure of the Seas
The Allure of the Seas’ September 25 six-night voyage out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been impacted. The cruise line is making sure guests and crew remain far away from any Hurricane impact. The Oasis-class cruise ship skipped a call in Roatan, Honduras, on Tuesday, September 27. The vessel will still include Costa Maya and Cozumel before returning back to Florida on October 1.
Mariner of the Seas
The Mariner of the Seas’ five-night voyage, which departed Port Canaveral on September 24, has been adjusted. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship skipped a visit to Labadee, Haiti, on September 26 and instead had a day at sea. The ship is scheduled to arrive back home on September 29, but if the port remains closed, guests could expect a delayed arrival.
In a further update on Mariner of the Seas, the ship’s September 29 four-night sailing is now adjusted. The cruise line is now planning to begin embarkation on Saturday, October 1, due to Port Canaveral’s damage assessment time after the storm has passed. The ship will only visit Perfect Day at CocoCay cay, as the call in Nassau is canceled.
Liberty of the Seas
The Royal Caribbean-operated vessel canceled a call at Cozumel in Mexico on Tuesday, September 27, on its seven-night sailing, which departed Galveston, Texas, on September 25.
