While thousands of cruise passengers await word about their upcoming cruises over the next few days as now-Hurricane Milton stays on course for Florida, Carnival Cruise Line has issued its first itinerary change – for a cruise not going anywhere near the Gulf of Mexico.

The change is for the Sunday, October 6, 2024 departure of Carnival Pride, a 7-night Bermuda sailing roundtrip from Baltimore, Maryland.

In anticipation of Hurricane Milton’s course and intensity after crossing the Florida peninsula, Carnival has moved the ship’s visit to Bermuda earlier than originally planned. Guests onboard have been notified via letters delivered to their staterooms.

“Forecasts for the storm show it moving in a generally northeasterly direction, across Florida and into the Atlantic, possibly impacting conditions in Bermuda later this week,” the letter read. “Given this track, we have made the decision to modify our itinerary to visit Bermuda from 3:00 PM, Tuesday, October 8, to 1:00 PM, Thursday, October 10.”

The original itinerary for Carnival Pride was to have the ship visiting King’s Wharf, Bermuda from 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 9 through 12 p.m. on Friday, October 11.

The changed itinerary gives guests 46 hours in Bermuda rather than the previously planned 52 hours, a loss of six hours of port time. There are no other ports of call on the sailing, but the shortened visit is necessary to ensure the ship can safely move away from any potential storm impact.

Any shore tours pre-purchased through Carnival Cruise Line will be automatically shifted to the new visit time. If tours cannot be accommodated at the new time, guests will receive individual notifications.

There is no expected impact to the 86,071-gross-ton, Spirit-class ship’s return to Baltimore. Carnival Pride can welcome 2,124 travelers, and is also home to over 900 international crew members.

No Carnival Changes for Florida Homeports

Even while Hurricane Milton continues to strengthen in the western Gulf of Mexico, Carnival Cruise Line has not yet confirmed changes for most vessels at this time.

This news comes as Royal Caribbean has already proactively altered itineraries from multiple homeports facing impacts and Margaritaville at Sea has moved up embarkation for its Tampa-based vessel.

Likewise, Virgin Voyages has also updated guests that there may be changes to Valiant Lady‘s current sailing, though these are not confirmed yet.

Despite having ships sailing from 5 potentially impacted homeports, Carnival Cruise Line is not yet making changes for its cruises. This includes the following departures:

• Carnival Paradise from Port Tampa Bay – October 6 departure, a 4-night itinerary to Cozumel
• Carnival Valor from Port New Orleans – October 5 cruise, a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise to Costa Maya and Cozumel
• Carnival Liberty from Port New Orleans – October 6 sailing, a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise with visits to Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel
• Carnival Elation from Jacksonville – October 5 departure, a 5-night Bahamas cruise to Nassau and Princess Cays
• Carnival Glory from Port Canaveral – October 7 cruise, a 4-night Bahamas sailing to Bimini and Nassau
• Carnival Sunrise from PortMiami – October 5 sailing, a 4-night cruise, an Eastern Caribbean itinerary visiting Nassau, Half Moon Cay, and Grand Turk

Guests onboard each ship will be made aware of changes as they are confirmed. Likewise, travelers booked on the next sailings for each ship will be notified if any delays may be necessary.

Additional cruises from Mobile, Galveston, or even Miami might also be impacted in the days to come depending on exact cruise routes and the storm’s eventual track over the next week.

Carnival Cruise Line has urged guests on the potentially impacted itineraries to sign up for text and email alerts to receive notifications as quickly as possible.

“I sincerely hope that you all stay safe and well,” said John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador. “We will, of course, continue to update you.”

Some guests are unhappy at the lack of early notifications, however, considering the storm’s definite impact coming to the Sunshine State. The earlier travelers are aware of changes, the more easily they can adjust their plans to accommodate such changes.

This distress is especially acute following so closely after Hurricane Helene when the cruise line also held off confirmations and notifications until the last minute, leaving many travelers guessing about whether or not their cruise might move forward.

However, the cruise line also has to be sure any alternative ports for the various ships are confirmed, which can be challenging with multiple cruise lines updating similar itineraries throughout the region.

Cruise Hive will report on itinerary changes, delays, and cancellations for all cruise lines as such operational adjustments are confirmed. Safety is always the first priority, and all cruise lines will take whatever steps they feel are necessary to keep their ships, guests, and crew members safe.

Cruise ships generally have a service life of 20-30 years or longer, but with thousands of guests aboard each week, they can begin to look worn and outdated after just a few years.

This is why ships have dry docks for regular refreshment, and Carnival Radiance is certainly looking more radiant than ever after her recent refurbishment.

The 101,509-gross-ton ship, formerly Carnival Victory, entered dry dock on September 8, 2024 and spent the next 15 days getting updated from bow to stern, funnel to stabilizer fins, returning to service on September 24.

The ship’s youth facilities – Camp Ocean, Club O2, and Circle C – forward on Deck 12 were complete refreshed and updated to offer new and enjoyable spaces for younger travelers to meet new friends.

The energetic sports facilities were also updated, including the lively Sport Square on Deck 11 with the ropes course and basketball court, as well as the miniature golf course on Deck 12 that now has a tropical theme.

Guests looking for souvenirs of their amazing cruise vacation will appreciate that the gift shops have been refreshed with the newest in Carnival merchandise, from high-end jewelry and watches to Carnival-themed items, all tax and duty free. The Fun Shops are located forward on Deck 5, Promenade Deck.

For travelers who prefer to make memories in every port of call, the updates to the Carnival Adventures desk will be most welcome, as this is where travelers book their shore tours to make every moment count in different destinations.

While tours can be booked through the Carnival Hub app or online before sailing, onboard, the Carnival Adventures desk is located forward on the portside of Deck 3, Lobby Deck.

If guests want to test their luck onboard, they’ll be able to do it midship on Deck 5, Promenade Deck, in the newly enhanced casino. New flooring, lighting, and exciting new games are all updates that will make jackpots even bigger and play even more enticing for every interested traveler.

In addition to these special refreshment projects for Carnival Radiance, other public areas also received general refurbishment and retouching as needed. ADA-compliant updates were also made throughout public areas and to select staterooms to ensure accessibility to all travelers.

Furthermore, behind-the-scenes technical updates ensure the ship’s systems are functioning at peak efficiency for safe, smooth sailing as the ship returns to service.

Carnival Radiance is homeported year-round from Long Beach, California, offering 3- and 4-night itineraries to Baja Mexico, calling on Ensenada for the shorter getaways and both Ensenada and Catalina Island for the longer cruises.

The ship also offers occasional 5- and 6-night Mexican Riviera sailings with visits to Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, a highly desirable destination at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula.

Of special note are Carnival Radiance‘s longer Carnival Journeys voyages, 14-night sailings from Long Beach to Hawaii with visits to Maui, Honolulu, Kauai, and Hilo. The next Hawaii sailing departs on Sunday, October 13, 2024 with another Carnival Journeys cruise leaving on December 1.

The ship is also offering these highly coveted, bucket-list sailings in 2025 and 2026, with multiple departures throughout the year to give every traveler the opportunity to visit the Aloha State in radiant Carnival style.

Carnival Radiance can welcome 2,984 guests aboard for each sailing at double occupancy, or up to 3,873 travelers when fully booked. Also onboard are more than 1,100 international crew members to deliver radiant service to everyone.

Previous Carnival Radiance Updates

This latest dry dock is the first since Carnival Radiance entered service following her extensive transformation from Carnival Victory in 2021. At that time, the ship underwent an extreme $200 million renovation so extensive that she was renamed and rechristened as a new addition to the fleet.

The massive update included the new red, white, and blue hull livery as well as adding 110 new staterooms and suites, expanding retail spaces, and adding a variety of familiar Carnival favorites, including the Java Blue Cafe, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Big Chicken restaurant, Cucina Del Capitano, and much more.

Read Also: Free Carnival Cruise Dining Options You’ll Want to Know (With Menus!)

Previously, the ship was Carnival Victory, which entered service in 2000. That vessel underwent typical dry dock refreshments every 3-5 years depending on need and scheduling.

Carnival Radiance‘s next dry dock is tentatively planned for September 2026, but that schedule is subject to change depending on fleet needs, emergency repairs, shipyard availability, and other needs.

Not all news is bad news. In fact, some good news can bring tears to our eyes, such as when 12-year-old Aiden Parker reunited with Stephanie Weiss, MD, the Carnival Cruise Line senior physician who played a critical role in saving his life earlier this year.

During a video call aired on Good Morning America on October 4, 2024, Aiden and his mother thanked Dr. Weiss.

“I probably wouldn’t still be here if you weren’t there to help me,” Aiden said during his first encounter with the doctor since the incident in May.

Dr. Weiss, visibly moved, responded by encouraging him to visit the ship’s medical center again. 

“Just to say ‘hi;’ nothing else!” she joked.

On May 4, 2024, Aiden was airlifted from Carnival Venezia after suffering a life-threatening abdominal emergency while the ship was more than 400 nautical miles off the eastern coast of the United States.

The ship had been on a 10-day voyage to the Caribbean, departing from New York City on April 26, and was en route back to its homeport when the emergency occurred.

Dr. Weiss quickly determined that Aiden’s condition could not be treated onboard and required immediate specialized medical care. Although a civilian rescue is not the norm, the U.S. Air Force responded to the call, sending 920th Rescue Wing, a specialized unit equipped for medical evacuations.

Read Also: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation

Stationed at Patrick Space Force Base near Cocoa Beach, Florida, the team mobilized quickly, deploying two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, supported by two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft for mid-air fueling. Due to the distance, the helicopters needed to refuel four times during the flight.

Aiden and his mother were airlifted from the ship and transported to a hospital, where he spent a month recovering.

“I just wanted to say thank you for helping me and making me feel better,” Aiden told the crying doctor.

John Heald, brand ambassador for Carnival Cruise Line, shared the heartwarming story on his social media channels.

“I often use the words ‘Carnival Cruise Line family,’ and here is an absolute prime example of that,” Heald said. “Join me in wishing this young man nothing but healthy and happy days and to give thanks to our wonderful doctor who saved his life.”

Cruise Doctors as Heroes

Aiden’s dramatic airlift from Carnival Venezia has been one of several life-saving rescues at sea this year aboard Carnival Corporation ships. On September 24, 2024, an 8-year-old boy was airlifted from Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess.

The vessel was about 20 miles off the coast of Eureka, California, when the boy suffered from a severe case of appendicitis. After being evaluated by the ship’s doctor, an emergency call was made to the U.S. Coast Guard.

In that instance, the Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay navigated through dense fog to secure the boy and his family. They were flown to a nearby hospital, where the child underwent a successful emergency appendectomy.

Similarly, on April 27, 2024, Carnival Sunshine saved one of its own when a 35-year-old crew member was airlifted due to a serious medical condition. 

Sailing about 160 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida, a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 helicopter responded to the call and arrived to airlift the crew member and a nurse to a medical center, saving the crew member’s life.

In each case, the swift response from the cruise line’s medical teams has led to numerous happy endings and highlight their essential roles on board every cruise ship.