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Upcoming Royal Caribbean Sailings Delayed as Ships Remain at Sea

Catie Kovelman
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Upcoming Royal Caribbean Sailings Delayed as Ships Remain at Sea

After days of waiting for Hurricane Milton to arrive in Florida, which is still reeling from Hurricane Helene, the severe storm has officially made it to the Sunshine State on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. 

But while Milton is in town, the local cruise industry will have to take a break – which is impacting several ships from a variety of cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean.

As the storm drew closer, many of the cruise ports closed to maritime traffic for safety reasons – which will unfortunately prevent several Royal Caribbean ships at sea from returning from their current voyages on time. 

This, of course, has a domino effect – and will delay multiple upcoming sailings. So far, Port of Tampa Bay, Port Canaveral, and Jacksonville’s JAXPORT have all shut down. 

The Port of Palm Beach, Port Everglades, and PortMiami currently remain open – but on a very limited basis for absolutely essential functions and storm preparations (which doesn’t include cruising) and are likely to close completely very soon. 

The storm, which was a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 180 mph as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico, was downgraded to a Category 3 storm shortly before reaching Florida’s West Coast. 

However, according to the National Hurricane Center (NOAA), the storm is still very dangerous and already bringing torrential rains to Tampa Bay and wind gusts to Sarasota – with sustained winds of around 120 mph. 

While modern ships are designed to handle rough waters and stormy weather, docking conditions would be unsafe and it’s in the best interest for the safety and comfort of all onboard to wait out at the storm from a safe distance. 

Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship is one of many that will be delayed in her return to her homeport. 

Utopia of the Seas was due to disembark from her current 4-night Bahamas sailing in her homeport, Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, on Friday, October 11, and set sail on a new 3-night cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, and CocoCay, the cruise line’s private island destination. 

But as the second busiest cruise port in the world will still be closed, the Oasis-Class vessel’s return has been pushed back to Saturday, October 12.

This means the subsequent sailing will be shortened and the port call on Nassau will be skipped. 

“Due to the closure of the Port Canaveral, our previous sailing will be delayed in returning. As a result, our sailing will now take place on Saturday, October 12, 2024, and we’ll have to skip our visit to Nassau, Bahamas,” the cruise line wrote in a letter to impacted guests.

The 5,668-guest ship’s current sailing has also been impacted by the storm already. Not only will cruisers be onboard a day longer than planned, but the order in which they visited the ports of call – CocoCay and Nassau – was reversed to avoid the path of the storm. 

Adventure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas (Photo Credit: Microfile)

Like Utopia of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas is also homeporting in Florida’s Port Canaveral and will have to delay her return from October 11 to October 12. 

The Voyager-class vessel is in the middle of a 6-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary, and was due to begin a longer 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise on October 11. 

Due to the delayed start, the sailing will skip its first port of call on October 14, 2024, which would have been on Willemstad, Curacao, in exchange for a sea day to help make up lost time. 

“We’ve had to shift our boarding day to Saturday, October 12, 2024, departing by 8:00pm. Unfortunately, this means that our itinerary has been revised and we’ll have to skip our visit to Willemstad, Curacao,” the cruise line updated. 

However, the other ports of call will remain on the itinerary as planned – including Oranjestad, Aruba; Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic; and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Independence of the Seas 

The next change coming down the pipeline is for Independence of the Seas, which won’t be able to return to PortMiami as planned on October 10. 

This means the Freedom-class cruise ship will now embark on its subsequent sailing – a 4-night cruise to Labadee, Haiti – a day late on October 11. 

But because of the delay, it will now no longer be possible to visit Labadee – and the 4,375-passenger ship will call on CocoCay, Bahamas, instead. 

“We’ll have to skip our visit to Labadee, Haiti and enjoy a Sea Day instead. To help make up for this last-minute change, we’ve added a stop to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Sunday, October 13th,” Royal Caribbean said.

This change is particularly sad, as the cruise line only recently began sailing back to Labadee after a months-long suspension due to unrest in Haiti. 

Mariner of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz

Mariner of the Seas isn’t quite as impacted as some of the other ships within Royal Caribbean’s fleet, as the Voyager-class vessel is homeporting out of Galveston, Texas.

However, the 4,000-passenger ship is in the middle of a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise, which brings her closer to Milton and will delay her return to Galveston as she alters course to avoid the storm. 

That said, she will still arrive in the Texas port on October 10 as planned – just several hours later than expected. 

While this will delay the embarkation process, the ship will still set sail on a 4-night Western Caribbean sailing on October 10 as planned – but with a later departure time. Guests were issued new arrival windows accordingly. 

Assuming no further changes are made, there should be no impact on the one and only port call on October 12, which is a visit to Cozumel, Mexico. 

A Bonus Change: Symphony of the Seas 

While the above changes have all been for upcoming sailings, Symphony of the Seas may be tweaking its current 7-night Bahamas itinerary. 

According to guests onboard, the ship is skipping its planned call on Labadee for tomorrow, October 10, and expediting its return to Cape Liberty, New Jersey, to avoid Hurricane Milton. However, Royal Caribbean has not yet confirmed these changes publicly.

“Symphony of the Seas has cancelled Labadee for tomorrow. Captain announced they are full speed ahead back to Cape Liberty to get ahead of Milton,” a current passenger shared on Facebook. 

Read Also: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather

Labadee was already a late addition to the itinerary. The cruise was supposed to call on CocoCay and Nassau, but switched to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Labadee because of Hurricane Milton.

Compensation for Impacted Guests 

While Royal Caribbean is not able to control the weather, it understands that these last-minute changes to long-awaited vacations are disappointing. 

While compensation is being provided for some, what will be given is dependent on the nature of the change and the specific ship’s situation.

For the delays that remove a day from the cruise on Utopia of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Adventure of the Seas, the family-friendly brand will prorate the sailing and provide a refund for the missed day in the form of an onboard credit. 

They will also refund any pre-paid shore excursions in the same fashion. If any funds are remaining at the end of the sailing, the rest will be refunded to the card on file within 14 business days. 

Additionally, Royal Caribbean will reimburse up to $200 for domestic airfare changes and $400 for international changes for change fees for flights and transfers booked outside of Royal Caribbean – at least for the Utopia on the Seas sailing.

Impacted cruisers are advised to check with the cruise line to see what their options are and what compensation will be provided, if any, for their specific situation.

MSC Cancels Sailing, Updates Itineraries for Hurricane Milton

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Cancels Sailing, Updates Itineraries for Hurricane Milton

As Hurricane Milton impacts continue across Florida and the Sunshine State’s homeports, MSC Cruises has made the difficult decision to completely cancel the Thursday, October 11, 2024 departure of MSC Seashore.

This cruise was to have been a 3-night itinerary departing from Port Canaveral, but as of Wednesday evening, the port is at Condition Zulu and closed to all marine traffic.

“In consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard and Port Authorities, and due to the uncertainty of the reopening of Port Canaveral, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this sailing,” MSC Cruises confirmed in their latest hurricane update.

While the port will be thoroughly assessed as soon as it is safe to do so, the storm’s influence is expected to extend well into Thursday and it is unlikely that Port Canaveral will reopen on that day.

The now-cancelled sailing for the 170,412-gross-ton, Seaside EVO-class ship was to have visited Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. A full refund will be issued to all booked guests – up to 4,540 travelers at double occupancy, or as many as 5,632 guests if the ship has been fully booked.

The ship’s next cruise, a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary to Ocean Cay, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, is planned to depart Port Canaveral on Sunday, October 13, without any changes or disruptions.

In addition to the cancellation for MSC Seashore, MSC Magnifica‘s October 7, 2024 sailing has also been disrupted. The ship is on a 4-night cruise that left PortMiami on Monday and was to have visited Ocean Cay and Nassau.

Instead, the ship was rerouted to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic to steer clear of the hurricane’s influence. MSC Magnifica‘s return to Miami on Friday, October 11 is not expected to be affected and there are no changes for the next sailing’s embarkation time or itinerary at this time.

As storm conditions can change, guests should still remain in contact with MSC Cruises for further updates as they are made available.

MSC Seashore Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: Solarisys / Shutterstock

Other Cruise Cancellations Due to Milton

MSC Cruises is not the only cruise line forced to cancel itineraries due to the storm’s influence. Three other vessels from three other cruise lines have also made the preemptive decision to cancel full sailings due to the timing, location, and impact of Hurricane Milton.

Read Also: List of All Cruise Ships Impacted by Hurricane Milton

With uncertainty about when homeports may reopen, Carnival Cruise Line has also cancelled the October 10 departure of Carnival Paradise from Port Tampa Bay, a 4-night Western Caribbean itinerary. The unique geography of Tampa Bay and the heavy impact the region is experiencing makes this the most logical and safest decision for the cruise line.

Disney Cruise Line has cancelled the next voyage for their newest ship, Disney Wish, a 3-night Bahamas “Halloween on the High Seas” itinerary that was to have sailed from Port Canaveral on Friday, October 11.

Likewise, Margaritaville at Sea has cancelled the next sailing for their Palm Beach-based ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, which was to have left on a 2-night Bahamas getaway to Freeport on Wednesday, October 9.

Many other vessels, including ships from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Princess Cruises, are also experiencing severe itinerary adjustments with port cancellations or time adjustments.

Cruise Hive will continue to provide storm-related updates as they are confirmed, and all cruise travelers should stay in close contact with their respective cruise lines for notifications on delays, itinerary changes, and other adjustments to their upcoming sailings.

Carnival Cruise Ships Delayed Out at Sea, Latest Update Released

Melissa Mayntz
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Carnival Cruise Ships Delayed Out at Sea, Latest Update Released

With Hurricane Milton now impacting all of the Florida peninsula and many of the Sunshine State’s cruise homeports closed, Carnival Cruise Line is working to keep guests updated on which ships are affected and how their sailings are being adjusted.

Many guests are worried about upcoming sailings, and with ships being forced to return late, following departures are starting to be impacted.

Carnival Paradise, sailing from Port Tampa Bay, will not be returning on October 10 as planned, and her next voyage – a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel – has been cancelled.

It is not known when the ship may be able to return to Tampa, as that area of Florida will be the hardest hit by the storm and the entire port and marine channel must be thoroughly assessed before the cruise terminal can reopen.

Carnival Elation, homeported from Jacksonville, will also not be returning to her homeport as originally scheduled on Thursday, October 10. A post-storm assessment must be completed for the St. Johns River before the cruise ship can safely navigate back to the terminal, and there is no estimate yet on when that may be completed after the storm.

Carnival Glory, currently sailing a 4-night Bahamas itinerary, will not be able to return to Port Canaveral as scheduled on Friday, October 11. At this time, it is estimated that the ship will be able to dock on Saturday, October 12, but there is no confirmed time for docking or debarkation.

Because Carnival Glory‘s next cruise must be shortened from its original 3-night Bahamas visit to Bimini, guests booked on that sailing have the option to cancel for a 100% future cruise credit if preferred. The ship will sail with the shortened itinerary.

Likewise, Carnival Sunrise will not be able to return from her 5-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary to PortMiami as planned on Thursday, October 10. The ship is estimated to return sometime on Friday instead.

Carnival Valor, sailing a 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary from New Orleans, was unable to visit Cozumel as part of her planned schedule, but instead spent the day at sea. The ship will be returning to Port NOLA as planned on Thursday, October 10, but will arrive in the afternoon rather than the morning.

Carnival Pride‘s 7-night sailing to Bermuda was shifted slightly to provide an earlier visit to that tropical destination in order to ensure the ship is well out of the storm’s path. The ship should be returning to Baltimore, Maryland without any delays on Sunday, October 13.

“As the safety of our guests and crew is our priority, we will continue to monitor the storm, factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard and the local port authorities to provide timely updates as more information becomes available,” the cruise line said in its most recent weather-related update.

Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has also been busy keeping many worried guests updated on Hurricane Milton on his hugely popular Facebook page.

Hurricane Milton Update

Hurricane Milton is close to making official landfall on Florida’s west coast, just south of Tampa Bay. According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm has maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour (mph), making it a Category 3 hurricane.

The wind field has increased significantly and impacts from the storm are being felt from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle. Hurricane-force winds can be felt up to 35 miles from the center of the storm’s eye, while tropical-storm-force winds extend up to 255 miles from the center.

Hurricane Milton, October 9, Advisory 19
Hurricane Milton, October 9, Advisory 19

For comparison, the Florida peninsula is roughly 150 miles wide at its widest point, and 385 miles long from north-to-south.

Read Also: List of All Cruise Ships Impacted by Hurricane Milton

As Hurricane Milton makes landfall, the storm is expected to weaken significantly but is likely to remain at official hurricane strength as it crosses the peninsula on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. Significant rainfall, localized flooding, and storm surge all remain as ongoing hazards at this time.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with everyone impacted by this severe hurricane, as well as all those at sea waiting to ride out the waves before returning home.

List of All Cruise Ships Impacted After Hurricane Milton

Melissa Mayntz
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List of All Cruise Ships Impacted After Hurricane Milton

Even though what is now post-tropical cyclone Milton has finished with Florida, the aftermath still heavily impacts the cruise industry, including ports and upcoming cruise ship itineraries.

The following updates are the confirmed changes directly from cruise lines, and include all vessels currently sailing in the Gulf of Mexico and other areas. We are constantly updating this article, so do keep checking back for the latest.

Carnival Cruise Line

With ships based from four Florida homeports as well as Galveston and New Orleans, it is no surprise that itinerary changes impacted several Carnival cruise ships. Upcoming sailings have also got delayed embarkations.

Carnival Paradise

Carnival Paradise is homeported from Tampa currently on a 4-night sailing to Cozumel, Mexico. The visit to Cozumel was not possible, and instead, the ship substituted Costa Maya as an alternative port.

Port Tampa Bay has been closed at Port Condition Zulu since 8 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, however, and the ship will be unable to return as planned on October 10 – just when Hurricane Milton is predicted to be impacting Tampa Bay the most.

UPDATE: October 9

The October 10 sailing was to have been another 4-night Cozumel sailing but has now been cancelled, as it is unknown how soon Port Tampa Bay will be able to reopen. This is similar to what happened to the ship’s planned September 26 departure following the extended port closure after Hurricane Helene.

Carnival Elation

Carnival Elation from Port of Jacksonville departed on a 5-night sailing on October 5 with plans to visit Nassau and Princess Cays. Those visits were successful, but due to the storm’s track and development, the ship will be unable to return to Jacksonville as planned.

Carnival Cruise Line has notified booked guests on Carnival Elation‘s October 10 departure that the sailing must be shortened, but without firm detail as to how quite yet as plans are still being finalized.

The October 10 sailing was to have been a 4-night Bahamas sailing visiting Freeport and Nassau, and it is likely that one of those ports will now be dropped. Guests who no longer wish to sail on that shortened itinerary will receive a 100% future cruise credit for another Carnival sailing.

UPDATE: October 10

In Carnival’s latest advisory it has now been confirmed that the October 10 sailing will be departing from Jacksonville on Saturday, October 12 instead. The vessel will sail a 2-day cruise to nowhere, as Cruise Hive detailed here.

Carnival Glory

In Carnival’s October 9 update, it was detailed that Carnival Glory will no longer be returning to Port Canaveral as scheduled on Friday, October 11. The ship is now expected to return home on October 12.

UPDATE: October 10

The following October 11 sailing will now be shortened, but the cruise line has yet to finalize plans. The rough plan is to dock in Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 12.

Carnival Sunrise

Even though PortMiami is further south, there is still an impact. Carnival Sunrise will not be able to return to Miami as scheduled on Thursday, October 11. The plan is for the ship to return a day late on October 12.

UPDATE: October 10

Carnival Sunrise’s October 10 sailing will now set sail on October 11 instead. The ship will operate a 3-day sailing, and the good news is that the ports will remain as originally scheduled.

Carnival Pride

Carnival Pride‘s current 7-night sailing to Bermuda, which departed Cape Liberty, New Jersey on Sunday, October 6, was the first of the cruise line’s ships to change itinerary due to Hurricane Milton.

The ship’s planned visit to King’s Wharf, Bermuda, was moved up a day and shortened by six hours in order to keep the ship clear of expected impacts to the tropical destination. The return to Cape Liberty and the next sailing are not impacted at this time.

Carnival Valor

Carnival Valor’s October 5 Western Caribbean cruise has been impacted. The ship was forced to cancel its call to Cozumel in Mexico on Tuesday, October 8. The ship will arrive in the afternoon in New Orleans on Thursday, October 10.

With the delayed arrival of Carnival Valor on October 10 in New Orleans, the following sailing has revised embarkation times for guests. The cruise line has not detailed any port changes to the itinerary.

UPDATE: October 10

Carnival has already sent out a revised embarkation time, which we’ve detailed here. The cruise line is providing a $25 per person onboard credit to make up for the delay.

Celebrity Cruises – Celebrity Reflection

Celebrity Reflection Cruise Ship
Celebrity Reflection Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Lykourgos06)

Celebrity Reflection departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on October 7 for a 4-night sailing, including visits to Key West and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Due to the hurricane’s anticipated path, however, the ship will not visit Key West but instead will spend a longer time in Nassau as a substitute.

The ship’s return to Port Everglades on October 11 is not expected to be impacted, but that may change in the days to come.

Disney Cruise Line – Disney Wish

At this time, only one ship from Disney Cruise Line is impacted by the storm. The October 11, 2024 departure of Disney Wish has been completely cancelled due to the forecasted impact on the ship’s homeport, Port Canaveral.

That sailing was to have been a 3-night Bahamas “Halloween on the High Seas” itinerary visiting Nassau and Castaway Cay, but will not be possible with delays due to port closure.

In addition to a full refund, all booked guests are also receiving a 20% future cruise discount as a gesture of goodwill.

Margaritaville at Sea

While the kitschy, heavily themed cruise line only offers sailings aboard two ships at this time, both vessels have been impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Margaritaville at Sea Islander

Based from Port Tampa Bay, Margaritaville at Sea Islander moved up her departure date from October 8 to October 7 to stay ahead of the storm, giving booked guests the unexpected bonus of an extra day of cruising. However, the ship’s itinerary was adjusted as the original Key West and Cozumel port visits were not possible due to the storm’s position and track.

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is homeported from Port of Palm Beach. Unfortunately, the day before embarkation, it was necessary to cancel the ship’s October 9 sailing, a 2-night Bahamas getaway to Freeport, as the port is unlikely to reopen until October 11.

For now, there are no updates to the 3-night sailing scheduled to depart on October 11, but guests will be notified if that changes.

MSC Cruises

MSC Seashore in Miami, Florida
MSC Seashore in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: Solarisys)

While MSC Cruises only has two ships operating from Florida homeports at this time, both vessels have some impacts due to Hurricane Milton and booked guests should stay informed.

MSC Seashore

MSC Seashore is homeported from Port Canaveral and departed on her current sailing, a 4-night Bahamas itinerary, on October 6, visiting Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve as well as Nassau as planned.

Because the ship is due to return to her homeport on October 10, however, it is likely to be extended and remain at sea due to port closure. The next cruise, a 3-night Bahamas itinerary to, may also be impacted.

UPDATE: October 9

In MSC Cruises’ latest advisory update, it is confirmed that MSC Seashore’s October 10 departure from Port Canaveral is now cancelled. The cruise line is providing further details to booked guests, including a full refund.

MSC Magnifica

Homeported from PortMiami, MSC Magnifica departed on a 4-night Bahamas sailing on October 7, with visits planned to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau. The visit to Nassau was scheduled for October 10, but has been cancelled with Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic added to the itinerary as an alternative.

The ship’s return to Miami on October 11 is not expected to be impacted, nor are there any changes at this time for the following sailing, a 3-night itinerary to Key West and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Booked guests should still stay in close contact, however.

UPDATE: October 10

The October 11 sailing is set to go ahead as scheduled.

Princess Cruises – Sun Princess

Princess Cruises’ newest ship and first in the Sphere class, Sun Princess, is unable to arrive with her planned fanfare at Port Everglades due to Hurricane Milton.

Instead of her planned arrival in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, October 9 to mark the successful completion of her inaugural transatlantic crossing, the ship will remain at sea until the port safely resumes full operations.

While this will extend the current sailing, future sailings will not be impacted as Sun Princess is not welcoming her first Florida-based guests until Monday, October 14, for a 5-night cruise to Puerto Plata and Grand Turk.

UPDATE: October 10

Guests onboard have been given some good news! Now that POer Everglades is back open, the Sun Princess is set to arrive in the early hours of Friday, October 11. Cruise Hive has all the details here.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas in Florida
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas in Florida (Photo Credit: Lisa Bronitt)

Several ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet have significant hurricane-related changes at this time, including vessels homeported from PortMiami, Port Tampa Bay, Galveston, Port Canaveral, and Cape Liberty.

Adventure of the Seas

Guests on the Adventure of the Seas October 5 sailing out of Port Canaveral have been informed that the ship will no longer be able to return on October 11. The ship will now arrive a day later, on October 12.

As a result, the following October 11 Caribbean sailing has been impacted. The voyage will now not depart until October 12 and the call to Willemstad in Curacao has been cancelled.

Independence of the Seas

With Portmiami closing due to Hurricane Milton, Independence of the Seas’ October 5 sailing will be delayed and will not be able to return until October 11.

With the delayed return of Independence of the Seas, the following October 10 sailing will now be departing on October 11 instead. It also means the planned call to Labadee in Haiti must be canceled. Royal Caribbean has added a call to Perfect Day at CococCay on Sunday, October 13 instead.

Grandeur of the Seas

Sailing from Port Tampa Bay, Grandeur of the Seas completely altered her 5-night, October 7 departure itinerary to avoid Hurricane Milton. Instead of visiting Costa Maya and Cozumel for the Western Caribbean sailing, the ship is visiting Nassau as the only port destination.

The ship is scheduled to return to Tampa on October 12, but that timing is subject to change based on the port’s closure and eventual reopening plans after safety inspections are completed and operations are restored.

UPDATE: October 9

As Cruise Hive already reported here, Grandeur of the Seas remains at sea, but Royal Caribbean is working on alternative ports for disembarkation in Florida. The cruise line will release a further update to guests once a decision has been made.

Harmony of the Seas

On her 6-night Western Caribbean sailing from Galveston that departed the Lone Star State on October 6, Harmony of the Seas was unable to visit Costa Maya on October 8 as originally planned. The ship will also skip the call to Roatan on October 9.

This leaves just the visit to Cozumel, Mexico on October 10 intact, with the rest of the voyage spent at sea. While it is not ideal to have just a single port of call on a 6-night cruise, Royal Caribbean is providing all guests with a one day refund of their cruise fare as refundable onboard credit for compensation, along with refunds for any pre-paid shore tours booked through the cruise line that are no longer possible.

Icon of the Seas

The largest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas will skip her planned October 11 visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line’s private island destination in the Bahamas, on her current 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. Instead, the ship will enjoy a day at sea.

This sailing departed PortMiami on October 5, the ship’s first cruise following emergency repairs. At this time, there are no expected changes to her return to Florida on October 12 for the conclusion of the voyage.

Symphony of the Seas

Surprisingly, even ships from homeports well away from the storm also have changes, as is the case with Symphony of the Seas. The ship departed Cape Liberty, New Jersey on October 6 for a 7-night Bahamas cruise.

The ship’s planned visit to Port Canaveral on October 8 has been cancelled, as have the calls to Perfect Day at CocoCay as well as Nassau. Instead, the ship is visiting Puerto Plata as well as Labadee, the cruise line’s private destination in Haiti.

Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas is sailing from Port Canaveral straight into her first hurricane season. On her current 4-night Bahamas cruise to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, the ship swapped the days of the port visits to ensure smoother sailing.

It is also likely that the ship’s return to Port Canaveral on October 11 could be delayed, depending on when the port reopens after the storm passes.

UPDATE: October 9

Royal Caribbean has updated guests onboard of a further change to the current October 7 sailing out of Port Canaveral. Utopia of the Seas has cancelled its planned call to Nassau in the Bahamas. Instead, the ship is visiting Labadee on Thursday, October 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Oasis-class cruise ship will now be arriving back at Port Canaveral on October 12 instead of the original date of October 11.

As a result, the following sailing, which was originally scheduled to depart Port Canaveral on October 11, has now been impacted. This sailing will now take place on October 12 instead, and the planned call to Nassau has been cancelled.

Wonder of the Seas

Also sailing from Port Canaveral, Wonder of the Seas departed on October 6 and made her visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay as planned the following day.

To stay away from the storm’s influence, however, the visit to Cozumel on October 9 was cancelled with Falmouth, Jamaica used as an alternative port of call instead. Furthermore, the planned visits to Roatan and Costa Maya are likewise cancelled, replaced with a sea day and a later visit to Cozumel on October 11.

Wonder of the Seas is due back at Port Canaveral at the conclusion of her 7-night sailing on October 13.

Cunard Reveals Over 40 New Itineraries Across the Fleet

Donna Tunney
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Cunard Reveals Over 40 New Itineraries Across the Fleet

From exciting world cruises and transatlantic crossings to relaxing vacations-at-sea in the Caribbean, Cunard has unveiled 40-plus new voyages its ships will offer between October 2026 and April 2027.

Bookings will open to Cunard World Club members on October 16, 2024, and to the general public the next day.

Cunard, a luxury brand of Carnival Corporation, operates four ships — the 2,700-guest Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, both accommodating 2,000 guests, and the newest, Queen Anne, which entered service in May 2024 and has a capacity for 3,000 guests.

The four ships together will feature visits to 101 destinations in 57 countries, and will give guests opportunities to explore more than 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

“We are hugely excited to reveal our exciting new program from October 2026 to April 2027, offering exceptional choices for every traveler. Whether you’re soaking up the excitement in Rio during Carnival or toasting New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam, Cunard’s voyages allow you to explore the world in unparalleled luxury,” said Katie McAlister, president of Cunard.

Along with new routings, the Cunard ships will overnight in 22 ports and provide late departures in another 26, giving guests extra time to immerse themselves in the culture of various destinations.

The line will offer inaugural visits to two ports, Ferrol, Spain, and Acajutla, El Salvador, on Queen Victoria itineraries.

Cunard’s iconic Queen Mary 2 ocean liner is the only cruise ship operating scheduled transatlantic service between New York and Southampton. However, the ship offers many other opportunities for vacations at sea.

Read Also: 10 Things You’ll Wish You’d Packed for Your Cruise

In October 2026, for instance, she will sail a 7-day Canada/New England fall foliage cruise from Quebec City to New York. Guests can add-on a 7-day extension from New York to Southampton for a two-week voyage.

The ship also will sail shorter cruises in Europe, such as a 3-day voyage from Hamburg, Germany, to Southampton and a 5-day getaway to Zeebrugge, Belgium, roundtrip from Hamburg, both in October 2026.

Newest Ship to Make Maiden Voyage to South America

Highlights of Queen Anne’s itineraries include her first voyage to South America on a 56-night cruise roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale on January 22, 2027. The “South America Discovery” sailing will feature a maiden call to Bridgetown, Barbados, and several ports in Brazil before overnighting in Rio de Janeiro.

Other port calls are planned in Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Panama. A transit of the Panama Canal returns the ship to the Caribbean, where Queen Anne will call at Aruba before concluding the voyage in Florida.

Cunard Line Ships
Cunard Line Ships

Queen Anne will sail an 18-day “Canary Islands Holiday Celebration” cruise roundtrip from Hamburg on December 18, 2026. Destinations will include Arrecife, Puerto del Rosario, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Santa Cruz de la Palma, among others.

Guests seeking a world cruise can choose Queen Victoria’s 109-night World Voyage, departing January 10, 2027, and sailing roundtrip from Southampton. The ship will make inaugural visits to Dakar, Senegal, and Durban, South Africa.

Queen Elizabeth will be based at PortMiami during the winter 2026-27 season, sailing a series of 7-, 9-, and 14-night voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. A sample 12-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary features port calls at Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, and Barbados.

Cunard has added some early booking bonuses for guests who reserve a cruise between October 16, 2024 and March 27, 2025. Benefits include an onboard credit (amount undisclosed) on sailings up to 88 nights, and an onboard credit, transfers, hotel discounts, a champagne breakfast, and an air credit for world cruises of 89 nights or longer.

The cruise line has already announced its 2025 voyages, which feature Queen Elizabeth sailing in Alaska for the fourth consecutive year. Also in 2025, Queen Anne will sail her first world cruise, a 111-night voyage roundtrip from Hamburg on January 7, 2025.

Royal Caribbean Announces New “Perfect Day Mexico” Destination

Lissa Poirot
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Royal Caribbean Announces New “Perfect Day Mexico” Destination

It’s hard not to have a perfect day when enjoying Mexico’s Caribbean beaches but Royal Caribbean is practically going to guarantee one when it brings its successful Perfect Day concept to Mahahual.

The cruise line announced plans on October 9, 2024, to introduce what will be a fourth exclusive beach experience for its guests, “Perfect Day Mexico,” in 2027.

The new destination promises to deliver “locally inspired twists across the design, flavors, and spirit,” building on Royal Caribbean’s “Perfect Day at CocoCay” in the Bahamas. 

“Perfect Day at CocoCay has been a gamechanger for both our guests and our business,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, of the award-winning private destination that debuted in 2019.

He continued, “With travelers prioritizing unique experiences and destinations driving their booking decisions, we’re excited to expand our Perfect Day Collection by creating Perfect Day Mexico to super serve guests who want to explore the Western Caribbean.”

Read Also: Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay: Full Guide

Perfect Day Mexico will feature a variety of attractions designed to appeal to families, couples, and adventure seekers alike. Among the planned highlights are a waterpark with new rides, expansive pools and beaches, and diverse dining options ranging from casual spots to refined eateries.

The location represents a significant investment in the Mexican State of Quintana Roo, and Mara Lezama, the state’s governor, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership.

“We are very excited that Royal Caribbean has decided to invest in Mahahual, a land of opportunity and hard-working people,” she said. 

The private destination will focus on a sustainable tourism experience, with Royal Caribbean Group’s SEA the Future initiative working to bring lasting benefits to the local economy while preserving the region.

Said Lezama, “My administration is looking forward to working closely with the company to ensure a sustainable destination that brings shared prosperity to the region.”

Details about Perfect Day Mexico and its attractions are expected in the coming months.

Expanding Private Destinations

In addition to Perfect Day at CocoCay and its recently debuted adults-only Hideaway Beach at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean is currently developing its Royal Beach Club collection.

The first location on Paradise Island, Nassau, is set to open in 2025 as a 17-acre beach destination featuring local architecture and stunning views. Guests will enjoy a range of amenities, including three pools with swim-up bars, private cabanas, and dining options showcasing Bahamian flavors.

Perfect Day at CocoCay
Perfect Day at CocoCay (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

When it opens, it will host an average 2,000 guests daily, who will access the club via a ferry from the Nassau Cruise Port. The return trip will pass through Nassau to allow guests to explore the city.

In addition, Royal Caribbean is also developing a location on Cozumel, Mexico, also located in Quintana Roo. The Royal Beach Club Cozumel will open in 2026 and will feature swim-up bars, multiple pools, private cabanas, and activities like snorkeling and kayaking.

Said Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley, “In collaboration with Mexico’s state of Quintana Roo, we are unlocking new and unparalleled ways to make memories in a destination known and loved for its natural beauty, warm culture, and prime location.” 

Guests will also be able to visit a street market inspired by traditional Mexican cuisine and get a taste of Mexico’s culinary heritage through tequila tastings and cooking classes.

Cruise Ports in Florida Close as Major Hurricane Approaches

Lissa Poirot
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Cruise Ports in Florida Close as Major Hurricane Approaches

With Hurricane Milton expected to hit Florida in the early morning hours of October 10, ports across the state are taking measures to protect facilities and ships from the storm’s impact. 

The latest information below details each port’s status, including closures and affected ships.

Port Tampa Bay

As Tampa is expected to take the initial direct hit from Hurricane Milton, Port Tampa Bay is at Port Condition ZULU as of 8 a.m. October 8, 2024, indicating gale-force winds could impact the port within 12 hours.

All inbound and outbound vessel traffic has been suspended and shipping channels are closed. 

Officials at the port said, “Port Tampa Bay is doing all it can to prepare for Hurricane Milton, and to ensure safety of life, protection of the environment, and maritime commerce resiliency.”

“The storm will have an impact to our cruise schedule,” it added. Those impacted include Carnival Cruise Line, Margaritaville at Sea, and Royal Caribbean.

Carnival officially cancelled Carnival Paradise’s October 10 cruise, and passengers currently at sea on a 4-night journey adjusted to visit Costa Maya, Mexico, are unsure if they will be allowed to return to port on that day, as scheduled.

Read Also: List of All Cruise Ships Impacted by Hurricane Milton

Royal Caribbean has two ships sailing 5-night itineraries and are developing contingency plans for their safe return. Serenade of the Seas is expected back on October 11 and Grandeur of the Seas on October 12.

Meanwhile, Margaritaville at Sea Islander, which moved up its departure to October 7, 2024, to avoid the storm, is also set to return on October 12.

Port Canaveral

Cruise Ships in Port Canaveral, Florida
Cruise Ships in Port Canaveral, Florida (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks)

Port Canaveral, which serves as Orlando’s port, is also under ZULU conditions and the port has closed its locks and ceased landside operations.

“Port operations will be re-opened after assessment of the roadways and waterway,” the port announced, indicating that operations will resume based on post-storm evaluations.

Due to the storm, Disney Cruise Line cancelled its October 11, 2024, “Halloween on the High Seas” cruise on Disney Wish.

At-risk is MSC Cruises’ MSC Seashore, which is set to return from a 4-night voyage on October 10, along with its following sailing set to depart the same day.

Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are also scheduled to return from voyages on October 11 and 13, respectively, and may be impacted.

JAXPORT

Carnival Ship Docked at Jacksonville Cruise Port
Carnival Ship Docked at Jacksonville Cruise Port (Photo Credit: NEFLO PHOTO)

In northeast Florida, Jacksonville’s JAXPORT closed at noon on October 9, 2024, and will remain shut through October 10. The port plans to reopen on October 11, pending successful facility assessments.

Cruise passengers will experience delays, particularly those on Carnival Elation, which departed JAXPORT on October 5, 2024, and was expected to return home on October 10. 

The ship, in the Bahamas on a 5-night roundtrip voyage, will have to remain at sea until the port reopens, which also affects the following cruise that was set to depart on October 10.

Port of Palm Beach

Port of West Palm Beach
Port of West Palm Beach (Photo Credit: YES Market Media)

The Port of Palm Beach, located on the Atlantic coast, entered Port Condition ZULU at 6 p.m. on October 8, 2024, leading to a complete suspension of waterfront operations except for essential preparations.

All vessels greater than 500 gross tons were instructed to depart and the port will remain closed until further notice.

“Ports will remain closed to waterfront activities until the passage of the tropical storm force winds,” the port stated.

The shutdown impacted Margaritaville at Sea Paradise’s cruise schedule, forcing the cancellation of a 2-night getaway to the Bahamas set to depart on October 9. The ship’s October 11 cruise is now in jeopardy.

Port Everglades

Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port
Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port (Photo Credit: Drew Rawcliffe)

Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades remains open for fuel truck deliveries but is under Port Condition YANKEE as of 12:01 a.m. on October 8, 2024. This status, which indicated tropical storm-force winds are expected within 24 hours, restricts all ship traffic and required all in-port vessels to depart.

“Following the storm, the port and its customers will resume full operations as quickly as possible,” the port’s social media update emphasized. Further changes to operations will depend on the storm’s path and intensity.

Ships keeping a close eye on the port include Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection and MSC Cruises’ MSC Magnifica, both set to return from voyages on the 11th. 

Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess, making her first transatlantic crossing as the cruise line’s newest ship, is not expected to welcome new guests until October 14 and is remaining at sea until it is safe to arrive.

PortMiami

PortMiami is also operating under Port Condition YANKEE, effective at midnight on October 8, 2024. The Captain of the Port also shut down the PortMiami Tunnel on October 8, 2024, at 8 a.m., meaning the port is currently cut off from Miami proper.

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is scheduled to return to port following the storm on October 12.

Backup Homeports Planned for Royal Caribbean Ship Due to Milton

Lissa Poirot
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Backup Homeports Planned for Royal Caribbean Ship Due to Milton

With Hurricane Milton’s imminent strike on Florida’s Gulf Coast hours away, Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas is maintaining a fluid itinerary as the storm progresses.

A Category 4 hurricane as of the morning of October 9, Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall near Tampa Bay by 2 a.m. on October 10. As a result, Port Tampa Bay is under Coast Guard Destination Zulu and has closed the port, where Grandeur of the Seas is expected to arrive on October 12.

Based in Tampa, the 73,817-gross-ton vessel departed on a 5-night roundtrip voyage on October 7, 2024, completely altered due to Milton. Instead of sailing to Mexico for two calls, it sailed to the Bahamas, stopping only once. 

Now, with the Tampa Bay area expected to take a direct hit from Milton, the 2,440-passenger ship may be unable to return to its homeport, which could sustain storm surges up to 12 feet, flooding from up to 18 inches of rain, and damage from wind speeds of more than 130 miles per hour.

If the cruise ship cannot return to Tampa, it has instituted alternative plans to get passengers back to shore.

“Due to the predicted impact of the hurricane to Port Tampa Bay, our Port Logistics team has secured a couple of backup plans for safety and to ensure that we are prepared,” said Grandeur of the Seas.

“Should Tampa not be available, we are currently evaluating Port Canaveral and Port Everglades as potential options for debarkation and transportation home,” the statement continued.

Royal Caribbean has arranged ground transportation support for guests, should the debarkation point change, providing complimentary shuttle bus transportation from the new port back to Tampa.

Port Canaveral is 140 miles from Tampa (about 2.5 hours) while Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is 270 miles (about 4.5 hours). Guests need to complete a survey letting the cruise ship know their onward travel plans by 9 p.m., October 9, to assist in preparations.

Hurricane Milton, October 9, Advisory 18
Hurricane Milton, October 9, Advisory 18

In addition, passengers will receive a complimentary one-hour internet voucher to maintain communication with loved ones during the storm and to update arrangements, should it become necessary.

“A final decision will be made on the status of the ports post-storm,” said Grandeur of the Seas. “We are committed to keeping you posted every step of the way. Hopefully, everything remains the same.”

Backup Ports Not Immune

While Port Tampa is expected to take the brunt of Hurricane Milton, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades are not entirely off the hook. Milton is expected to travel across central Florida and will pass through the Orlando area and Port Canaveral. 

The port, also under Port Condition Zulu, closed on October 9.

“Port operations will be re-opened after assessment of the roadways and waterway,” the port posted on its website.

Read Also: Florida Cruise Ports – Your Full Overview and Guide

As of October 9, Fort Lauderdale remains outside of Milton’s path, but weather reports indicate tornado watches and warnings in effect.

Port Everglades is under Port Condition Yankee, which means it is open. However, vessels greater than 500 gross tons, such as Grandeur of the Seas, cannot enter.

Hurricane Milton is expected to be in the Atlantic Ocean on October 12 when the ship returns. The backup plan has been created in case of port damage that cannot be cleared by arrival.

Next Carnival Paradise Cruise Officially Cancelled Due to Hurricane

Melissa Mayntz
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Next Carnival Paradise Cruise Officially Cancelled Due to Hurricane

As Hurricane Milton makes its way toward the west coast of Florida with Port Tampa Bay likely to sustain a high impact from the very strong storm, Carnival Cruise Line has notified guests that the October 10 departure of Carnival Paradise must unfortunately be cancelled.

Guests were notified of this late on Wednesday, October 8, two days before the planned embarkation, giving some advance warning of the change.

“Forecasts are predicting that the hurricane will have significant impact on the [Port Tampa Bay] area, and storm conditions are likely to still be present Thursday, October 10,” the email explained. “Once the storm passes, officials must conduct a post-storm assessment before we can be cleared to safely return to port. We are anticipating this process will take some time to complete.”

Port Tampa Bay is now at Port Condition Zulu, set by the US Coast Guard as of 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, October 8, 2024. At that time, all vessel traffic to the port ceased and ships – whether cruise liners, cargo vessels, or private watercraft – are not able to use the port.

Only once the storm has passed the area and conditions have improved so personnel can work safely will inspections be able to be carried out. Because of the unique geography of Tampa Bay and the length of the channel, it could take several days for full inspections to be completed.

“To prioritize your safety and wellbeing, we have made the decision to cancel the [October 10] voyage,” Carnival Cruise Line confirmed. “We know this is disappointing and we are truly sorry for the disruption to your vacation plans.”

All guests will receive a full refund for their cruise fare as well as all port fees, taxes, and other related charges. Likewise, all pre-paid items – gratuities, drink packages, internet access, spa reservations, etc. – will be fully refunded.

Refunds will be processed automatically and impacted guests do not need to take any action, but patience is advised. Refunds may take up to three weeks to process through individual financial institutions.

The now-cancelled October 10 departure for Carnival Paradise was to have been a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise, visiting Cozumel, Mexico as the ship’s only port of call.

Given the distance between Port Tampa Bay and Cozumel – approximately 600 miles – it is not possible for the ship to reach her destination if the cruise must be shortened, particularly if Port Tampa Bay does not reopen very soon after the storm passes.

This is similar to the situation that developed with the influence of Hurricane Helene, which caused local flooding and the port closure, ultimately cancelling Carnival Paradise’s September 26 departure.

Hurricane Milton Update

As of 11 a.m. (ET) Wednesday morning, October 9, 2024, the National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Milton is located roughly 190 miles southwest of Tampa, moving northeast at 17 miles per hour (mph). A shift to a more eastern track is expected on Thursday or Friday.

Maximum sustained wind speeds are reported at 145 mph, putting the storm firmly as a Category 4 major hurricane at this time. Higher gusts are being noted, and significant storm surge and localized flooding is expected with 6-12 inches of rain.

Hurricane Milton, October 9, Advisory 18
Hurricane Milton, October 9, Advisory 18

“Milton is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida tonight, and remain at hurricane strength while it moves across the Florida peninsula through Thursday,” said Forecaster Berg in the update discussion.

Hurricane strength winds extend outward 35 miles from the storm’s eye, with tropical storm force winds outward up to 175 miles. Tornadoes are also likely to form, particularly across the southern part of the Florida peninsula.

Read Also: List of All Cruise Ships Impacted by Hurricane Milton

More than 15 different cruise ships from different lines and homeports have been affected by the storm, and additional impacts are likely in the days to come.

All cruise travelers should stay in close contact with their cruise line for the most recent updates on any cancellations, delays, or itinerary adjustments.

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