Key Aspects:
- Carnival Sunshine will skip the visit to Bimini and has moved the time in Nassau to later on Wednesday, September 30, for her now-modified itinerary for the September 27 (now 28) departure.
- The ship is delayed in returning to Norfolk due to the nor’easter impacting the Atlantic coast and will not arrive until Monday, September 28.
- These itinerary changes are necessary due to the delayed departure, and the ship will now use the shorter self-mustering safety briefing.
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed the modified itinerary plans for Carnival Sunshine‘s September 27, 2026 sailing that will now be departing a day late, on Monday, September 28, due to the nor’easter influence impacting multiple ships along the US Atlantic coast.
The 3,002-guest Carnival Sunshine is currently returning to her Norfolk, Virginia homeport from an 8-night Canada itinerary that departed Saturday, September 19. Because of the rough weather, the cruise line has already confirmed that the ship altered course and slowed to provide a safer, more comfortable experience for guests and crew members.
This has delayed Carnival Sunshine‘s return by a full day. The next cruise will now operate as a 5-night Bahamas itinerary departing on Monday, September 28 instead of the original 6-night schedule that was to have departed on Sunday.
Guests have been informed of the necessary itinerary modifications to accommodate the delayed departure.
“Because we are sailing a day later than planned, we will not be able to visit Bimini and the call on Nassau will now be from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM Wednesday, September 30,” the email notification confirmed.
Carnival Sunshine was already scheduled to visit Nassau on Wednesday, but her original port time was 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If guests had pre-booked tours for Nassau through Carnival Cruise Line, the email notes that those tours will be adjusted to the revised schedule. If any tours cannot be changed, they will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. Carnival shore excursions for the now-cancelled visit to Bimini will also be cancelled and refunded.
There is no change for the ship’s visit to Celebration Key from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, and she is expected to return to Norfolk on schedule on Saturday, October 3.
Compensation for the Shorter Cruise
Carnival Cruise Line is compensating guests for the now-shorter sailing with a one-day, pro-rated refund of their cruise fare that will be returned to the original form of payment.
In addition, there is also a one-day, pro-rated refund of any applicable amenity packages, such as beverage packages and WiFi access, as well as pre-paid gratuities.
Read Also: All Cruise Ships Impacted By Powerful Nor’easter
The email notes that refunds for amenities and gratuities will be posted to guests’ onboard accounts by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 29.
Embarkation at the Same Time But Safety Drill Changed
Guests have been advised that their arrival time appointments will not change, only the day of embarkation has changed.
“Please plan to arrive at the cruise terminal during your originally selected Terminal Arrival Appointment timeframe,” the email said. “All guests must be on board by 3:00 PM, as the ship will depart shortly after embarkation is complete.”
As a small silver lining, Carnival Sunshine will no longer have the full, in-person muster drill that had originally been announced for Sunday’s embarkation. Instead, the self-mustering process will be used on Monday, though all guests must still complete that check-in at their muster station before the ship can depart.
