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.

“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.

While it’s not uncommon to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife during your cruise, most people are spotting marine animals or birds from the decks – not inside their cruise cabin.

However, many Carnival guests were surprised when hundreds of birds infiltrated their cruise ship, and in some cases, even flew into guest cabins. 

An impacted guest who goes by @chanellbethley on Instagram and Facebook posted a video of dozens of small birds (if not more) flying around her stateroom. You can watch the video below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by C H A N E L L B. (@chanellbethley)

“That’s their room now,” she captioned the clip, which has been viewed thousands of times across social media platforms.

Carnival has not confirmed the specific ship where this occurred and the poster of the video did not specify.

However, people in the comments have said the odd incident unfolded on either Carnival Freedom or Carnival Glory – or perhaps both ships experienced a similar avian phenomenon. 

Many comments reported that the incident occurred on Carnival Freedom during the weekend of October 5-6, 2024.

The Conquest-class ship would have been in the middle of a 4-night sailing to Nassau, Bahamas, and Princess Cays, a private island destination that is exclusive to Princess Cruises and its sister brands, which includes Carnival.

“I was on that cruise. The Carnival Freedom. On Sunday night, small palm sized birds were flying all around the ship. They were getting stuck in the nets of the sports courts and getting inside the ship through the lido doors,” one person shared on Instagram.

“This is completely real, was just on Carnival Freedom the other day and they were all over. And someone opened their balcony door and ended up with over 200 in their room,” another social media user confirmed. 

Per several reports, the birds weren’t just confined to the couple’s stateroom – but rather hundreds could be found all over the ship – from the outside decks and balconies to the interior hallways. 

However, others said the video was likely from Carnival Glory – which was operating a 3-night cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, at the same time.

“Pretty sure this was Carnival Glory this past weekend 10/4-7. Hundreds of them. They were falling to their deaths on the deck so it had to be weather related…maybe the hurricane coming? They were trying to find safety in the rooms and halls. I was there,” someone else commented.

Considering both ships are currently sailing in the Bahamas and homeporting out of Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, it’s very possible they were in close enough proximity to both be visited by the birds. 

Where Did the Birds Come From?

Obviously hundreds of birds infiltrating a cruise ship (or two) is an unusual circumstance – but weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean – where both ships are currently deployed – are also strange at the moment. 

The most likely theory is that the birds became confused while migrating to avoid Hurricane Milton. Just as humans have evacuated Florida to avoid the wrath of the Category 5 storm, birds have also fled in search of better weather. 

Per Bird Watcher’s Digest (BWD Magazine), birds can detect changes in the weather far in advance and do adjust where and how they fly to account for it.

Others onboard said that the incident unfolded after crew members disturbed a nest in a lifeboat – but it seems less likely that this would result in potentially hundreds of birds flying through the ship. 

That said, the cruise lines are no strangers to visits from their flying friends – but not usually indoors or at this scale. 

In June of this year, Carnival actually had to remind guests to stop feeding seagulls because it encouraged the birds to hang around the ship and leave messy droppings on the balconies and decks. 

Looking further back, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas made headlines when a burrowing owl was spotted onboard during a two-week sailing in January of 2023.

The adorable stowaway was assisted with its disembarkation by animal experts when the ship returned to Miami, Florida, at the end of the sailing, as releasing the owl in an unfamiliar habitat is unlawful and would likely result in its untimely demise. 

The spotting was exciting though – as burrowing owls are somewhat rare and listed as an endangered or threatened species in the US, depending on the specific state.

With Hurricane Milton on track to reach Florida by tomorrow evening, which will be Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the cruise ports are preparing to close until the dangerous storm has run its course. 

While this safety procedure isn’t unexpected, as the Category 5 storm will create unsafe docking conditions with flooding and wind gusts of over 100 mph, it does mean that cruise ships that are currently out at sea – such as Carnival Elation – won’t be able to return to port as scheduled. 

The Fantasy-class vessel is currently in the middle of a 5-night round-trip Bahamas cruise, which embarked from Jacksonville, Florida, on October 5, 2024, and includes calls on Nassau, Bahamas, and Princess Cays, the cruise line’s private island destination.

However, the 2,052-passenger ship won’t be able to return to her homeport as scheduled on October 10, 2024, as storm conditions are expected to be present and the Jacksonville Cruise Port will likely remain closed.

Instead, the 70,367-gross ton vessel will remain at sea – safely out of the path of the storm – until she is cleared to return to Jacksonville.

Unfortunately, this delay creates a domino effect that will cut into Carnival Elation’s subsequent voyage – which was intended to be a 4-night sailing to Freeport, Bahamas, and Nassau, Bahamas, that was originally scheduled to embark on the afternoon of October 10, 2024. 

“Given its current track, the port of Jacksonville will be closing tomorrow, Wednesday, October 9. Since storm conditions are likely to still be present in the area Thursday, October 10, it is now clear that the ship will not be able to return to Jacksonville as scheduled,” the cruise line wrote to guests of the October 10th voyage.

Carnival wasn’t able to provide a concrete plan for when the voyage would be able to set sail, as the situation is fluid – and decision-makers likely won’t know more until the storm has passed. 

“We must wait for officials to conduct a post-stom assessment to ensure it is safe for the ship to return. Once we receive clearance, we will be able to confirm plants for your voyage, which we now know will be a shortened version of the itinerary,” continued the update.

The 27-ship cruise line promised to provide further updates as soon as possible and apologized for the last-minute disruption to their guests’ vacation plans. 

This letter was also specifically to guests of Carnival Elation’s next voyage. The cruise line is assisting guests who are currently onboard separately.

What Does This Mean for Impacted Guests?

For now, all Carnival Elation’s impacted passengers can really do is cross their fingers and hope the delay isn’t too long. 

Depending on the extent of the damage to the port and the length of the delay, it’s possible that the 4-night voyage could be cancelled in its entirety – which is what already happened to Carnival Paradise. 

The cruise line had previously informed guests of Carnival Paradise’s October 10 sailing to wait for updates before heading to the port – as the ship’s scheduled return to Port Tampa Bay was unclear with the port expected to close.

But as of October 8, Carnival has confirmed that its second-oldest ship’s next sailing has been cancelled entirely due to the storm – which would have been a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. 

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

But with the fate of Carnival Elation’s shortened voyage still up in the air, the cruise line is giving guests the option to cancel their reservation in exchange for a future credit if they would rather not deal with the uncertainty. 

“For guests who wish to cancel their reservations, we will offer a 100% future cruise credit (FCC) for use towards another Carnival Cruise. We will also process a full refund for all pre-purchased items for this voyage,” the cruise line offered.

Otherwise, the next course of action is to wait for further updates from the cruise line in the coming days. 

As it continues to reveal upcoming sailings for 2026 and into 2027, Carnival Cruise Line has now announced even more options from PortMiami with two more vessels, Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunrise.

Both ships will offer unique and exciting options for eager cruise travelers, with itineraries ranging from 4-8 nights visiting top ports of call throughout the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

“These sailings build on our strong deployment plan from the Cruise Capital of the World for 2026/27,” said Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning for Carnival. “Year-round from PortMiami, our guests have an incredibly diverse range of itineraries to choose from as they plan their next fun and memorable cruise vacation.”

New Carnival Magic Cruises

The 128,048-gross-ton, Dream class Carnival Magic will remain homeported from South Florida year-round, offering her very popular 6- and 8-night sailings.

Of new and special interest will be many calls to Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s new private Bahamian-themed destination on Grand Bahama Island, slated for opening in summer 2025.

Both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries are open for Carnival Magic, featuring top destinations such as Amber Cove, Grand Turk, Grand Cayman, Half Moon Cay, Montego Bay, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, San Juan, St. Thomas, and more.

Of course, itineraries vary by departure date, sailing length, and weather conditions. Each cruise will also offer days at sea for guests to enjoy all of Carnival Magic‘s onboard fun and entertainment, including Guy’s Burger Joint, the relaxing Cloud 9 spa facilities, the WaterWorks waterpark, exclusive Playlist Productions, and more.

The ship’s 6-night sailings are Sunday departures, while the 8-night cruises offer both Friday and Saturday departure dates so guests can choose what time frame best suits their travel plans.

Carnival Magic can host 3,690 travelers at double occupancy (4,724 when fully booked), and is also home to more than 1,300 international crew members to ensure everyone has a magical cruise vacation.

New Itineraries for Carnival Sunrise

Meanwhile, Carnival Sunrise will also remain homeported year-round from PortMiami, with different cruises to choose from. This ship will be offering shorter 4- and 5-night sailings, focusing more on Bahamas destinations (yes, also including Celebration Key!) as well as Caribbean hotspots.

The 102,239-gross ton, Sunshine class ship (formerly Carnival Triumph) will offer the 4-night options as long weekend getaways with mostly Thursday departures.

She can welcome 2,984 passengers and is home to more than 1,100 team members with sunny dispositions for fantastic service and attentiveness to all guests.

More Itinerary Announcements

These announcements for Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunrise follow a series of upcoming deployment releases, including upcoming sailings and expanded options from Jacksonville and Galveston. Carnival Elation and Carnival Miracle are sailing from those homeports, respectively.

Further deployment options have also been announced from PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Norfolk, and for the first time, Carnival Luminosa offering Alaska itineraries direct from San Francisco.

Carnival Cruise Line has been adding especially attractive Carnival Journeys options for multiple ships, including transatlantic and transpacific cruises to unique destinations as ships move between deployment regions.

Read Also: What Is a Transpacific Cruise?

For many travelers, such distinct cruises are bucket-list travel dreams, showcasing ports of call that aren’t often visited for regular deployments.

Many of these new sailings – including for Carnival Magic and Carnival Sunrise – are now available to book through travel agents and are coming soon to the cruise line’s website. With the cruise line earnings and bookings on the rise, these coveted sailings are sure to fill up fast.

Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for more itinerary announcements coming soon, including Carnival Cruise Line’s European and Alaska seasons yet to be revealed!

It’s not the first time a cruise passenger has taken offense to the onboard comedian, and it certainly won’t be the last. 

The occurrence is so frequent on Carnival Cruise Line’s ships, especially during the late-night adult-only performances, that Brand Ambassador John Heald has outwardly encouraged guests not to attend the shows if they think they might not like the content. 

But of course, Heald continues to get complaints of offense on his public Facebook page. However, one recent complaint was a little different – partly because the unidentified passenger didn’t share the full story. 

After the passenger claimed he was “humiliated” by the comedian during his sailing, Heald looked into the incident and was prepared to make things right.

However, his investigation showed that the passenger was removed from the show by security for heckling the comedian and shouting profane language. 

“The chap had been heckling the comedian, interrupting non stop the comedian’s flow and shouting out political comments coupled with many bad words,” Heald said in a Facebook post.

“The guests were turning on him and eventually the security team escorted him out of the show. And in my opinion that is exactly what should have happened,” Heald elaborated. 

Heald also explained that the rules are a bit different in the adults-only comedy shows – which may ruffle some feathers. 

In the uncensored shows, the comedians are allowed to engage with the hecklers (within reason) to maintain the light atmosphere and keep the laughter going. 

For example, the comedians may imply that the unruly audience member is drunk, childish, an idiot, or make fun of their appearance in order to keep their set going. 

Would Cruisers Prefer Comedy Performed by Guests?

This isn’t the first time an at sea comedy performance has caused offense in recent months – not just across Carnival’s 27 ships – but across multiple brands. 

In August of 2024, a guest confronted comedian Robert L. Hines during his set onboard MSC Seashore after she took offense to his jokes – and the altercation went viral on social media. 

This begs the question of if guests would be kinder and more forgiving if it was their fellow passengers who were performing and not professionals.

This question comes as the perfect time, as the suggestion of introducing comedy open mic nights on Carnival ships is currently being debated on John Heald’s Facebook page. 

Read Also: What to Expect When You Go on a Carnival Cruise

While some braver souls in the cruise community were open to trying something new, many expressed a preference for the professional comedians and wanted to limit the open mic opportunities to karaoke sessions. 

“I saw a poll asking if people would be interested in an “open mic night” in the comedy clubs. I, for one, enjoy most of the professional comedians, but would not enjoy seeing drunk passengers attempt comedy on stage,” one concerned cruiser wrote to Heald. 

This frequent cruiser, who identifies herself as an elite member of Carnival’s loyalty program, also wanted less entertainment that prominently features guest volunteers in general.

“I am seeing an alarming trend in Carnival relying on passengers to provide the entertainment…Can you not see that we want more professional shows and we want rid of Deal or No Deal, Family Feud, and karaoke,” the anonymous guest continued.

Likely as a reassurance to many, Heald assured his followers that there were no plans for comedy open mic nights to be introduced any time soon – but other inclusive fun that prominently features passengers, including game shows and karaoke, are here to stay. 

Ultimately, there are usually many exciting activities happening simultaneously on Carnival’s Fun-themed ships at once. If any activity doesn’t suit you, whether that is comedy or something else entirely, there are likely several other options to choose from.