Guests booked aboard the May 12 departure of Carnival Pride have only just received confirmation that their ship will be both departing from and returning to Norfolk, Virginia rather than Baltimore, Maryland as originally scheduled. While this is not unexpected news, passengers are surprised that the cruise line is waiting until less than four days prior to embarkation to confirm those plans.

Carnival Cruise Line did reach out to booked guests two days earlier to let them know that the final decision of which port the ship would operate from would be made on Wednesday, May 8. It wasn’t until the evening, however, when the confirmation was emailed to travelers.

“Thank you for your patience as we continue to work with federal, state, and local officials to return our cruise operations to Baltimore. Our discussions make it clear that while progress is being made, additional time is still needed, so we must operate your cruise from Norfolk,” the email explained.

In the meantime, Carnival Pride must continue to operate from her temporary homeport – 235 miles (378 kilometers) away. Carnival Cruise Line shifted operations to Norfolk immediately following the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, and has continued to keep travelers updated as much as possible about upcoming sailings.

The cruise line is also providing complimentary bus transportation between Baltimore and Norfolk, but guests must register to reserve their space.

“We can only accommodate guests who sign up and pre-register for the bus service,” the email stressed. “You must pre-register to secure your spot.”

The ride between the cruise ports is approximately five hours, and a light snack and water will be provided. Shuttle service is only on embarkation day, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the last bus departing at 10:30 a.m. Travelers must register no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, and in doing so, they must reserve the return trip from Norfolk to Baltimore at the end of the cruise.

The embarkation timeframe on Sunday, May 12, has been extended slightly, but all guests must be onboard no later than 4 p.m. for the ship’s departure. Carnival Pride will be sailing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary with visits to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Freeport.

All guests, whether or not they use the shuttle service, are being provided with a $100 (USD) onboard credit per stateroom in appreciation for understanding this unique and challenging situation.

When Will the Port of Baltimore Reopen?

No details about the progress toward reopening the Port of Baltimore have been released, and there is no firm date yet for when cruise operations may resume from Baltimore. Wreckage must still be removed from the Patapsco River, including the Dali, and dredging must be completed to ensure safe passage for vessels.

Port of Baltimore has released updates on the progress when appropriate. It is hoped that the port’s permanent 700-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep channel will reopen by the end of May.

Read Also: How Is the Baltimore Bridge Collapse Impacting Cruises?

Even if the channel is reopened at that time, it is possible that cruise traffic may still be suspended depending on whether the cruise terminal is needed for use as an operations center as work continues.

It should be noted that Carnival Cruise Line has no say in when the port may reopen for passenger traffic, and is doing an admirable job of assisting passengers and providing shuttle service during this unprecedented situation.

Some travelers are frustrated with the cruise line for not notifying guests earlier about which homeport their sailing will use. For the May 5 sailing, for example, guests were notified on April 23 about their Norfolk departure – 12 days before embarkation.

The shortening of time between notification and embarkation, however, could be a good sign that it is becoming more and more likely that the Port of Baltimore is closer to reopening. Guests booked on any Carnival Pride sailing in the coming weeks should stay in close communication with the cruise line for updates to their homeport arrangements.

Carnival Corporation’s latest venture, Celebration Key, is rapidly progressing as a private destination designed for cruise passengers.

But notably, the project, expected to bring 2.2 million guests to the Bahamas annually when it opens in 2025, is making headway for its impact on its locale on Grand Bahamas island. It has been revealed that over 85% of the contracted companies engaged in building the new facility are from Grand Bahama.

The construction of Celebration Key, a private port 20 miles east of Freeport, Grand Bahama, involves more than 180 local workers and 29 Bahamian construction companies. This direct employment circulates financial benefits within the community and supports local enterprises.

Further economic contributions come from the project’s scale and infrastructure developments. With a recent $100 million investment to extend the pier to accommodate two additional ships by 2026, the port is expected to create over 700 permanent jobs across various sectors, such as retail, food and beverage, and shore excursions.

“Carnival has really demonstrated its belief in Grand Bahamians. Local companies are working on all aspects of this development, giving us a unique opportunity to employ so many local people,” said Lionel Jervis, project manager at KFL Construction. “We are all gaining invaluable experience on a groundbreaking project, working together to build something that will be extremely impactful for the future of Grand Bahama.”

Carnival has committed to significant local participation in the operation phase, as well. It promises that at least 75% of the businesses operating within the port will be owned by Bahamians.

A New Bahamian Escape with Exclusive Portals

Carnival Corporation’s Celebration Key, set to open in July 2025, will provide a unique escape on the island of Grand Bahama to Carnival Cruise Line passengers. Carnival Corporation’s Holland American Line, Princess Cruises, and Cunard Line may also call on the private resort, which will offer a range of amenities and attractions, dining, and shopping. 

Divided into five distinct “portals,” each area will offer unique attractions and activities celebrating the vibrant culture of the Bahamas. A standout feature of Celebration Key will be Lokono Cove, a specialized area within the destination that promises an immersive Bahamian cultural experience. Here, locally owned shopkeepers will sell predominantly locally sourced merchandise.

Read Also: Carnival Cruise Line Reveals Details on New Private Destination

Paradise Plaza, a brightly colored welcoming area and promenade, will be guests’ first impression and is being designed to reflect the colors, symbols, and heritage of the Bahamas. It will feature a Bahamian-themed fountain and ice cream shop and serve as the gateway to Celebration Key’s half-mile beachfront dedicated to water sports and relaxation.

The tranquil and more exclusive Adults-Only Private Club portal will provide private beach access, an infinity pool, and high-end dining options. The portal is also designed with an event pavilion to host special occasions, family reunions, and weddings.

A large freshwater lagoon is the highlight of the Family-Friendly portal. This area for all ages includes beach villas, sports courts, and a colorful splash pad for little ones. The lively portal will also offer a variety of dining options and entertainment.

The resort’s portals will mirror the themed areas of Carnival Cruise Line’s Excel-Class ships, offering a familiar feel to the more than 500 itineraries already incorporating a call following the grand opening.

Worth Reading: When is the Best Time to Cruise the Caribbean?

The first ship scheduled to arrive at Celebration Key will be Carnival Vista during its Southern Caribbean cruise departing from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, on July 12. Within its first week of opening, the resort will also welcome Carnival Conquest, Carnival Freedom, Carnival Mardi Gras, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Pride.

It’s the stuff of nightmares and something that every sailor hopes to never happen to them; being adrift at sea because your boat becomes damaged. It’s a situation that three sailors, two men, and a woman, experienced when their mast broke and they experienced a loss of power onboard their catamaran sailing yacht. 

En route from Queensland, Australia, to Noumea, New Caledonia, the three sailors ended up adrift at sea for three days, hoping for a ship to come close enough to receive their distress calls. 

Luckily for them, the P&O Cruises Australia cruise ship Pacific Encounter and her 3,000 guests onboard did indeed receive the mayday call. The cruise ship sailed from Brisbane, Australia, on May 3, spending the day at sea on May 4 to Noumea when they received the distress signal.

It had been a stroke of luck for the three sailors that they were found after just three days at sea, while the sailors still had enough provisions onboard. Once Pacific Encounter came within range of the sailing yacht, the three sailors were brought onboard by the P&O crew members. After being assessed by the onboard medical team, they were found to be in good health. 

P&O Cruises Australia said the following in a statement: “P&O Cruises Australia will always go to the aid of our maritime friends in distress, and we are pleased this was a successful rescue.”

Pacific Encounter, sistership to the recently revamped Pacific Adventure, has since resumed her cruise, visiting Noumea and Lifou, New Caledonia; and Vila, Vanuatu.

The 108,865 gross tons cruise ship will return to Brisbane, Australia, on May 10. Whether the sailors have remained onboard, or if they disembarked in Noumea to attempt to retrieve their vessel is unclear. 

While distressing, the three days adrift at sea for the three rescued by Pacific Encounter, are relatively minor compared to some of the more harrowing stories out there. 

It’s No Pleasure Cruise

Thousands of people pay thousands of dollars each year to spend months if not a whole year onboard a cruise ship. However, some people end up at sea for just as long, but not because they want to. 

In 2012, Jose Salvador Alvarenga, a Salvadoran fisherman, survived 438 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean. He set out from Mexico for a day of fishing, but a storm set him adrift for around 6,700 miles. He eventually made landfall in the Marshall Islands.

Poon Lim, a Chinese sailor, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest time as a castaway at sea alone. The British merchant ship he was serving on was hit by a German U-boat during World War II. He survived 133 days on a wooden raft in the South Atlantic, using rainwater, catching fish, and fighting off sharks.

However, there are more than enough stories about people who are not considered ‘professional’ sailors. In 1971, The Robertson family was adrift for 38 days in the Pacific after their yacht was sunk by killer whales. In 1982, Steven Callahan survived 76 days adrift on a life raft after his sailing boat sank.

Finally, Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, a British couple, spent 117 days adrift in the Pacific Ocean in a rubber life raft after their yacht was damaged by a whale.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Rescues Six Men and a Dog

Luckily, most cruise passengers will never experience the hardships of being adrift at sea because their cruise ship has an accident or sinks. Cruise ships are designed with multiple safety features and redundancies to ensure passenger safety. 

This includes SOLAS regulations, or Safety of Life at Sea, stability measures, fire safety measures, life-saving equipment such as lifeboats and liferafts, and multiple emergency transponders that transmit the ship’s position in case of emergency. Of course, on the other hand, there are a vast amount of occurrences when cruise ships saved those adrift at sea.

Passengers aboard Carnival Vista experienced an unforeseen interruption during their voyage as the ship faced mechanical issues while docked in Puerto Rico. The incident was highlighted by a passenger, who shared an update via social media.

“We are currently on the Vista in Puerto Rico, and the ship broke down,” he posted, indicating that the vessel was temporarily immobilized due to technical problems.

The specifics of the mechanical issues have not been fully disclosed by Carnival Cruise Line, but the disruption caused Carnival Vista to overnight in Puerto Rico on its May 7 call as engineers worked on repairs.

Originally set to depart from San Juan at 5:30 p.m., the ship did not depart until about 7:30 a.m. on May 8. The unscheduled overnight has resulted in Carnival Cruise Line rearranging the itinerary of its 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise.

The cruise line said in a statement to Cruise Hive, “Carnival Vista’s engineers resolved a technical issue that caused a delayed departure from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship’s itinerary has been modified, changing the order in which it visits St. Thomas and St. Maarten on Wednesday and Thursday, to maximize guests’ experience.”

Carnival Vista is currently sailing directly to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands a day ahead of schedule. It will sail to Philipsburg, St. Maarten on May 8 before returning to Port Canaveral on May 12.

Details regarding shore excursions were not revealed, but traditionally, any changes or cancellations to excursions booked through Carnival Cruise Line are remediated by the cruise line and require no further effort from passengers. Guests who booked private excursions must contact providers to make changes and cancellations.

Propulsion Problems Growing on Vista-Class

Carnival Vista’s current journey began in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, on May 4, 2024. Sailing first to Puerto Plata/Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on May 6, the nearly 4,000-passenger, 133,500-gross-ton ship sailed into San Juan, as scheduled, on May 6. Passengers disembarked for what was intended to be a 7-hour call.

As passengers re-embarked, chatter began to erupt when Carnival Vista did not depart on time, with many sharing they would rather be at port dealing with technical issues than at sea.

Passengers received word from the captain during the evening that the ship was experiencing mechanical issues and that the crew was working on repairs. Further updates shared on social media reported the issues to be related to propulsion.

This is not the first time a Carnival Vista-Class ship has experienced propulsion issues. Carnival Vista, Carnival Panorama, and Carnival Horizon have each experienced propulsion system issues and additional technical challenges. Each event has also resulted in itinerary changes, as well as cruise cancellations.

Carnival Vista’s propulsion problems were first noted in 2016 during a sailing from New York on November 16. The issue caused the ship to replace a Grand Turk call in Turks and Caicos with one in Nassau, Bahamas. In addition, three cruises were canceled in June 2019, and the ship was put into unscheduled dry dock for repairs of the system.

It wasn’t long before propulsion problems returned, with more itinerary changes enforced due to problems in May 2022.

Read Also: What Is Wrong With Carnival’s Vista-Class Ships?

Vista-Class ships from Carnival use Azipod Drive propulsion systems located outside of the vessel. This means, when it requires repair or maintenance, it cannot be accessed via the engine room and instead requires more complex repairs.

Despite the setbacks, Azipods are considered the best for fuel efficiency and maneuverability, which is why the cruise line continues to use it as its propulsion system.