While New Orleans was not directly impacted by Hurricane Milton as it barreled across the Gulf of Mexico, cruise ships homeported there are nonetheless feeling the effects of the massive storm, including Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Valor.
In light of operational changes due to the hurricane, Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed revised embarkation plans for guests booked to sail onboard Carnival Valor’s October 10, 2024 cruise from the Big Easy.
In a notice sent to booked guests on October 9, 2024, the cruise line issued new embarkation times that reflect the late arrival of the ship back to port from her 5-night Western Caribbean cruise that left New Orleans on October 5, 2024.
“Thank you for your patience while waiting for updates about our operational plans for your cruise. The ship will be arriving in New Orleans tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, October 10, and embarkation for your cruise has been revised,” the cruise line’s notice to guests stated.
The 2.980-guest Carnival Valor had been scheduled to return to the port in the morning on October 10, 2024, but instead will arrive in the afternoon. As a result, embarkation times have been pushed back by between four and five hours to enable guests on the ship’s current cruise to debark.
Guests originally scheduled to board Carnival Valor between 10 and 10:30 a.m., for instance, now will board between 3:30 and 4 p.m., while those who planned to board between noon and 12:30 p.m. will now embark between 5:30 and 6 p.m. The delayed embarkation schedule continues through the afternoon, with all guests required to be checked in no later than 6 p.m.
Carnival Cruise Line’s notice to guests also indicates that guests who arrive before their newly scheduled boarding time will not be allowed to embark and will be asked to return at their newly assigned time.
The cruise line is posting a $25 credit to each guest’s onboard account to offset the cost of lunch on embarkation day because, under the original embarkation schedule, all cruisers would have been onboard Carnival Valor in time for lunch.
The cruise ship is returning to New Orleans from her Western Caribbean sailing that was to call at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. Due to the hurricane, the ship did not call at Cozumel but instead spent the day at sea.
Carnival Valor in New Orleans (Photo Credit: Ute Sonja Medley)
Carnival Valor’s October 10, 2024 departure, a 3-night Western Caribbean getaway, is due to make one port call, at Cozumel. The ship was originally scheduled to depart New Orleans at 3:30 p.m., but the departure now will be sometime after 6 p.m. The line has not announced the new sail-away time.
Ships Based in Sunshine State Face Multiple Challenges
Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc on the cruise schedules of Florida-based ships with routings in the Gulf of Mexico and the northern reaches of the Caribbean Sea, including the Bahamas. The monster storm slammed virtually the entire state on October 9 and 10, 2024, and made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Sarasota, Florida.
All six of Florida’s cruise ports — in Tampa, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, had closed to all traffic in advance of the hurricane.
Besides Carnival Valor, several Carnival Cruise line ships were affected by the storm.
The 2,124-guest Carnival Paradise, for example, which is based at Port Tampa Bay, was due to return to port on October 10, 2024 following a 3-night Western Caribbean cruise. However, the ship’s next cruise, set to depart on October 10, 2024, was cancelled, since it is unclear when the port will reopen.
Other ships, such as the 2,200-guest Carnival Elation, based in Jacksonville, the 3,000-guest Carnival Glory, homeported in Port Canaveral, and Carnival Sunrise, which sails from Miami and accommodates 3,000 guests, will arrive at their respective ports later than scheduled.
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.
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 watersand 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 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 (Photo Credit: Microfile)
Like Utopia of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas is also homeporting in Florida’s Port Canaveraland will have to delay her return from October 11 to October 12.
The Voyager-class vessel is in the middle of a 6-nightEastern 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 Labadeeafter a months-long suspension due to unrest in Haiti.
Mariner of the Seas
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.
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.
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 brandwill 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
For comparison, the Florida peninsula is roughly 150 miles wide at its widest point, and 385 miles long from north-to-south.
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.
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 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.
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 Islandermoved 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 (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 (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 Seascompletely 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.
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.
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
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.
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.”
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 (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.
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.
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 (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 (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 (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 (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.
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
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.
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.
