The U.S. Coast Guard has once again come to the rescue – this time on behalf of an elderly passenger onboard Carnival Venezia. 

The 85-year-old woman, whose identity has been kept anonymous to protect her privacy, began to experience stroke-like symptoms about two days into her Eastern Caribbean sailing – which embarked from New York City (Manhattan), New York, on October 4, 2024. 

While it’s not clear which specific symptoms this guest had, some of the most common signs of a stroke include trouble speaking or slurred speech, cognitive difficulties, numbness or paralysis, vision impairments, headaches, and trouble walking. 

As early intervention is critical in the recovery of stroke patients, the medical personnel onboard the 4,208-person vessel didn’t take any chances and were quick to call in the Coast Guard to perform an emergency evacuation. 

Thankfully, the airlift was successfully performed without a hitch on Sunday, October 6, 2024, while the ship was an estimated 98 miles off the coast of North Carolina’s Cape Lookout. 

The first responders, who came from a Coast Guard Air Facility in Charleston, South Carolina, arrived on the scene in an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. 

Video footage of the incident shows part of the hoisting process as the woman was brought onboard – in which a first responder uses a rope and harness to rappel down to the deck below. 

The woman was successfully brought to Wilmington Airport in North Carolina, where she was transported to New Hanover Wilmington Regional Medical Center to receive the appropriate care.

The Vista-class vessel then proceeded on its original course – with no known delay to the itinerary. 

Before the 135,225-gross ton ship returns to New York on October 14, she will call on Nassau, Bahamas; Half Moon Cay, the cruise line’s private island destination in the Bahamas; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; and Puerto Plata / Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. 

U.S. Coast Guard is Home to Trained Heroes

For most cruisers, an airlift will not become a surprise part of their itinerary. Of the millions of people who take a cruise each year, the emergency rescue only becomes necessary for a select few. 

If you do get sick, the majority of ailments can be treated onboard in the medical center, which is fully staffed by capable doctors and nurses and functions like an urgent care on land. 

But for the unlucky few who find themselves too ill to continue with their sailing, they can rest assured that they will be in good hands with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard, which is one of six sectors of the U.S. Armed Forces, puts its members through rigorous training that includes first aid, helicopter deployment, swimming, physical conditioning, and more, so they are always ready to act at a moment’s notice. 

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The Coast Guard is also quite familiar with the various cruise lines and have had multiple chances in the past to put their skills to the test in real-life scenarios – including onboard the Carnival Venezia. 

Most recently, a 56-year-old guest was evacuated mid-sailing from the 2023-launched vessel on August 22, 2024. Similar to the current situation, the passenger experienced a medical emergency during a 5-night cruise to the Bahamas. 

On this occasion, the rescue took place off the coast of Toms River, New Jersey, and the first responders came from a base in New York. 

Earlier in the year, there was also a particularly complicated long-range airlift from Carnival Venezia – during which the US Air Force got involved. 

The impressive rescue unfolded on May 4, 2024, while the ship was in the middle of the ocean on her way back to New York from the Bahamas.

Since forming as a tropical storm on October 5, 2024, Milton is proving to be a storm not to be reckoned with.

Becoming a Category 3 hurricane by October 6, Hurricane Milton rapidly gained strength, becoming a Category 4 the morning of October 7 and then transforming into a Category 5 storm by the afternoon.

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 1 pm advisory on October 7, winds are reported at speeds of 175 miles per hour, Hurricane Milton is charting a potentially catastrophic path towards Florida’s Tampa Bay area, just weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the area.

Milton’s center is expected to reach Florida’s Gulf Coast on October 9 and travel across the state on October 10, with its powerful winds and heavy rains bringing up to 15 inches.

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Carnival Cruise Line is closely monitoring five of its ships that are near Hurricane Milton’s path. Here is a look at the affected ships and adjustments being made.

Carnival Paradise

The 70,367-gross-ton Carnival Paradise, capable of accommodating 2,124 passengers, departed from Tampa on October 6, 2024, for a 4-night roundtrip sailing to Cozumel, Mexico. With Hurricane Milton intensifying in the Gulf, the ship is forgoing its planned stop and will instead travel further south to visit Costa Maya, Mexico, on October 8 to steer clear of the storm’s path.

As the hurricane moves closer to Florida, the ship’s scheduled return to Tampa on October 10 remains unclear. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has issued an evacuation order, and it is likely Port Tampa Bay will be closed ahead of the storm.

The ship’s following journey, set to embark on October 10, is also at risk of delay and changes. Carnival is asking guests on this voyage not to proceed to the cruise terminal until receiving a confirmation from the cruise line.

Carnival Elation

With a capacity of 2,130 guests and a gross tonnage of 70,367, Carnival Elation departed from Jacksonville, Florida, on October 5 for a 5-night cruise to the Bahamas. The ship is visiting Nassau on October 7 and will stay on schedule for a call to the private Princess Cays destination on October 8.

However, as Hurricane Milton is expected to be positioned on Florida’s east coast by October 10, the ship’s scheduled return on the same day is at risk.

As with Carnival Paradise, Carnival Cruise Line requests that passengers on Carnival Elation’s October 10 cruise do not proceed to the port until receiving confirmation to do so.

Carnival Sunrise

Carnival Sunrise, a 101,509-gross-ton vessel carrying up to 2,984 guests, is midway through a 5-day itinerary that began in Miami on October 5. Sailing in the Eastern Caribbean, the ship is enjoying a day at the private Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas and will continue to Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos on October 8.

Like Jacksonville, PortMiami’s east coast location could be impacted by the storm’s arrival, the same day the ship is expected to return.

Its following voyage, a 4-night journey to the Bahamas, is slated to depart on October 10 but is also in jeopardy. Guests should await confirmation from Carnival Cruise Line before heading to port.

Carnival Dream

The 130,000-gross-ton Carnival Dream, which departed from Galveston, Texas, on October 5 for an 8-night trip to the Eastern Caribbean, is visiting Key West, Florida, on October 7.

As the National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning that extends to the area, the 3,646-passenger ship’s departure time has been moved up from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Carnival Dream is still scheduled to subsequently visit Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau, Bahamas, through October 10. Its return to Galveston on October 13 with two sea days remains on track.

Carnival Pride

Carnival Pride, an 88,500-gross-ton ship that accommodated 2,214 passengers, set sail from Baltimore, Maryland, on October 6. The itinerary had guests anticipating two nights in Kings Wharf, Bermuda, beginning at 8 a.m. on October 9 and departing at noon on October 11.

With the storm expected to move northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Carnival has moved up its arrival to Bermuda and will call from 3 p.m. on October 8 to 1 p.m. on October 10, shortening its stay by six hours.

The Special Forces Legacy Initiatives (SFLI) is making history by organizing its first dedicated cruise aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s 71,925-gross-ton Carnival Paradise. The cruise line’s president, Christine Duffy, is even getting in on the action by skydiving during the voyage for hurricane relief.

The 5-day voyage, departing from Port Tampa Bay in Florida, will bring together up to 2,124 veterans, Gold Star families, and special forces alumni, including Green Berets and military personnel from the Korean War to the present day.

The special cruise will take place October 19 through October 24, 2024, sailing roundtrip to the Bahamas, calling on Bimini and Nassau between two sea days.

Alongside the cruise, special events will be held ahead of the ship’s departure, including a special appearance by award-winning actor, musician, and humanitarian Gary Sinise. Sinise will perform a concert for passengers with his Lt. Dan Band in the parking area outside of Terminal 3.

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Sinise, renowned for his role as Vietnam War veteran Lt. Dan in the 1994 movie “Forest Gump,” has long advocated for the military community and created a non-profit foundation in his name in 2011. 

The foundation supports the needs of military service members, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.

In addition to the performance, USSOCOM Para-Commandos and members of the Round Canopy Parachute Team honoring the Allied Airborne Forces will conduct a parachute demonstration from Peter O. Knight Airport near Port Tampa Bay.

To support the Gary Sinise Foundation, Carnival Cruise Line’s President Christine Duffy will join the parachuting teams in a skydive from a World War II-era aircraft to raise much-needed funds for hurricane relief efforts through the Gary Sinise Foundation.

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“I’ve never jumped from an airplane before, so I think this effort is worth at least $50,000 for the Gary Sinise Foundation and their efforts to support military and first responders assisting with hurricane relief,” Duffy said.

Duffy’s skydive will take place from the Tico Belle, a historic C-47 aircraft that flew during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. 

Special Forces Cruise and Hurricane Relief

The chartered Special Forces cruise on Carnival Paradise will also feature several events onboard, including special military movies, presentations, author readings, company photos, and a final-night banquet.

Fundraising efforts on the part of Carnival Cruise Line for the Gary Sinise Foundation will particularly assist families in the Tampa Bay region affected by Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26, 2024, as a Category 4 storm.

Tens of thousands of homes suffered damage from Helene, ranging from minor to major structural harm. In Hillsborough County, for example, 1,700 homes reported major damage, and landmarks like the Safety Harbor Waterfront Park’s pier received significant damage.

As recovery efforts continue, the financial toll of the storm’s damage is expected to reach hundreds of millions, if not billions.

The Tampa Bay area is currently bracing itself for another near-direct hit from Hurricane Milton, which became a Category 5 hurricane on October 7, 2024, drawing strength from the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters.

The storm is expected to pass through Florida by October 10, leaving Carnival Paradise free to enjoy its scheduled course.

It, along with Carnival Legend, homeports in Port Tampa Bay year-round, and Carnival Cruise Line is keeping a close eye on Hurricane Milton for upcoming voyages.

Every cruise guest wants to be sure they pack everything they might need for their voyage, from casual onboard clothes to fun beach wear to elegant evening options. But what should we do with empty luggage when cruise ship cabins are not generally known for their generous size?

Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, has responded to one guest’s inquiry about the quandary of luggage storage and noted that the cruise line is unable to provide separate storage space.

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“On our last cruise (first Carnival cruise for us) we were forced to live out of our suitcases and put them on the couch in our suite. This was on the ship Carnival Vista. It took up too much space. We were disappointed that our cabin steward did not offer to store our suitcases,” the guest explained, noting that another cruise line did offer that service.

“Carnival should offer this too if you want to stay competitive. Sailing on Miracle from Galveston next in a suite again. Is it possible to ask the cabin steward to store empty cases?”

While Heald did not include the name of the other cruise line the guest mentioned that does offer luggage storage, it should be noted that none of the major lines – Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, etc. – regularly offer such a service.

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Heald has confirmed that Carnival Cruise Line will also not be able to offer luggage storage.

“Thank you and while I cannot comment about what happens on the [other cruise line], I do know that we do not have the storage space for this, we simply cannot take your suitcases,” Heald confirmed.

Even on a smaller ship with just 2,000 passengers, if every guest has one larger bag and one smaller carry-on size, that would mean 4,000 bags or more to be stored during every sailing, not to mention the added work for crew members to move bags to storage and then re-deliver them prior to debarkation.

“I think it is safe to say most people will store their cases under the bed, right?” Heald asked.

I’m a chronic overpacker myself, and always have plenty of room to store even my largest suitcases under the beds on any class of Carnival ship, from Fantasy to Excel. I typically nest smaller backpacks or bags into the larger bags before shoving them all under the bed.

Some travelers may also choose to store their luggage in the stateroom closets, or opt to “live out of” bags set on couches or chairs, especially for shorter sailings.

Where Do You Store Your Luggage on a Cruise?

Different commenters shared their responses to Heald’s inquiry, offering a variety of solutions, tips, and experiences.

“Oh good grief. My suitcases go under my bed and I have plenty of room in my closet and drawers for my clothes.”

“Mine fit in the closet just fine.”

“Betting that on the other cruise line the cabin attendant put the suitcases under the beds and they didn’t realize it and thought they were stored somewhere.”

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“We store ours under the bed. Never had an issue, even with a large, hard covered case. Why live out of the suitcase? Closets for your things, & depending on the size of your suitcases, under the bed or they can go in closet.”

“One time there were 3 of us in a room and we asked to have the 2nd pull down left down to place extra luggage on (I packed way too much that trip).”

Heald also posted a poll asking about luggage storage. More than 15,300 votes agree that storing luggage under the bed is best, while just 2,600 prefer storing bags in the closet or not unpacking at all during a cruise and living out of the suitcases.

Do you overpack on a cruise? Where do you store your bags? Share your tips on the Cruise Hive boards!