With Hurricane Ernesto impacting the cruise industry in the eastern Caribbean, guests are undoubtedly experiencing unexpected changes.

However, Carnival Cruise Line has issued a rare urgent alert to passengers on Carnival Magic’s current August 11 sailing. Due to the deteriorating weather conditions in the region, the cruise line is asking all passengers to return to the ship earlier than originally scheduled, during the current in Grand Turk today, August 14.

Even Carnival’s hugely popular brand ambassador, John Heald, posted the recent notice on his Facebook page. His page has over 582,000 followers, many of whom will likely be guests on Carnival Magic.

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Heald said, “This is an update for Carnival Magic guests only. If you are ashore in Grand Turk, please return to the ship by 2:30 PM. Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate this evening, and the ship will have to sail earlier than planned.“

Guests are being asked to return to the ship by 2:30 PM rather than the original scheduled return time.

The Dream-class vessel is currently operating out of Miami, Florida on a modified seven-night Caribbean voyage due to Hurricane Ernesto.

Read Also: Grand Turk Cruise Port – Pier, Facilities and What’s Nearby

The ship was set to visit San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 14, but that was cancelled, and the call to Grand Turk is instead taking place on the same day. The cruise line adjusted the order and times for ports, as well as adding a call to Nassau on August 16. Carnival Magic is still set to return to Miami as scheduled on August 18.

Ernesto Becomes a Hurricane

According to the National Hurricane Center, Ernesto has now become a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75mph. The storm is currently located approximately 365 Km northwest of Puerto Rico, a popular Caribbean cruise destination that was closed temporarily due to Ernesto.

The hurricane is moving northwest at 16 MPH and is expected to reach the cruise destination of Bermuda by Saturday morning, August 17. The ports on the island are expected to close, including for cruise ship visits.

The general rule of thumb is not to take anything home from your stateroom unless given permission by the crew members, with the exception of disposable toiletries like shampoo and conditioner.

However, one recent passenger may not have gotten the memo. A rather humorous photo of the woman, which shows her sitting in an airport while using one of Carnival’s suitcase mats as a blanket, has gone viral.

The reaction across social media has been full of laughter – with most good natured posters laughing with the cruiser and not at her. Instead, her cruising faux pas has actually inspired others to think of new ways to use the luggage mats – which can be found in every Carnival stateroom fleetwide.

As the photo went viral, keyboard comedians have responded with an outpouring of memes and funny pictures of their own showing new purposes for the bed protectors – including as pool towels, sun shades for cars, roller coaster riders, bedside rugs, cowboy chaps, and more.

Even John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, couldn’t resist reacting on his popular Facebook page. 

“If you get a bit chilly at the airport, you can always wrap your legs in one of these lovely blankets. Oh FFS. And yes, we have charged this person for taking it,” Heald wrote above the popular picture. 

The hilarity continued in the comments section of Heald’s post as well – which has earned more than 1,000 responses in less than a day and been shared nearly 100 times.

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“How much does one cost? I might get chilly at the airport after my next cruise,” one Facebook user wrote in jest.

“Must’ve been in our room last week, because we didn’t have one on our bed when we arrived this week!,” joked someone else.

While much of the response has been in good spirits, we are keeping the woman’s identity confidential to protect her peace and privacy. 

Why are Luggage Mats so Important?

While they may also make a good blanket, the real purpose of these luggage mats is to protect the bedding in the thousands of staterooms aboard each Carnival ship. 

They’ve been used for decades, with the blue design used in the photo the newest rendition – although its white-based predecessor is still often found on Carnival’s older ships.

The mats serve as protectors – saving the white bedding from dirt and debris that luggage may have picked up, as well as limiting wear and tear.

If guests didn’t use the luggage mats (and they often do find other purposes for them within their staterooms as rugs or light blockers), the housekeeping staff would have a lot more laundry to do – and it would add up quickly! 

To put things in perspective, Carnival Jubilee, the cruise line’s largest vessel, has 1,268 staterooms onboard to keep clean. However, even the smallest ship in the fleet, Carnival Paradise, still has 1,061 guest cabins to maintain. 

Indeed, Carnival crew members take these luggage mats seriously, largely out of necessity, which is why the woman was charged for taking the bed protector as a souvenir – although it’s not known how much she was fined.

Carnival does place a hold on credit cards during the embarkation check-in process, which prevents any onboard expense account concerns during the sailing and protects the cruise line from any damages guests might cause onboard. 

Read Also: 15 Mistakes to Avoid on a Carnival Cruise

It’s also not clear why the guest in the photo took the luggage mat from her stateroom – although unconfirmed rumors circulating online suggest that she genuinely mistook it for a free gift or was told she could take it by crew members because it was in a mobility scooter she was using. 

In addition to the itinerary modification for Carnival Pride, Carnival Magic has now been affected by Tropical Storm Ernesto and will be missing a port of call on her current sailing.

Both ships have made these changes with safety as the top priority, not just for the passengers and crew members aboard, but also to keep ports safe and able to focus on emergency operations rather than a ship visit.

The changes come as a result of storm monitoring from Carnival Cruise Line’s Fleet Operations Center in Miami, as well as consultation with other authorities and resources.

“As the safety of our guests and crew is our priority, we will continue to watch the storm and 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,” Carnival Cruise Line confirmed.

Carnival Pride Itinerary Shift

The 86,071-gross-ton, Spirit-class Carnival Pride is currently visiting Bermuda on a 7-night roundtrip sailing from Baltimore, Maryland. While the ship is still able to maintain the port of call, the time of the visit was shifted forward to ensure Carnival Pride can remain well out of the storm’s path.

Instead of calling on Kings Wharf, Bermuda beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14, the ship accelerated her arrival to Bermuda to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13. This will still permit a full 48 hours in port, but now leaving at 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 15.

Tropical Storm Ernesto – likely to be Hurricane Ernesto when he arrives in Bermuda – will be nearing the British Overseas Territory on Saturday, August 17.

By leaving on Thursday rather than Friday, Carnival Pride has much more time to move away from the storm’s area of impact. The ship’s return to Baltimore on Sunday, August 18, will not be affected.

Carnival Magic Itinerary Change

Carnival Magic is also impacted by Tropical Storm Ernesto, but roughly 950 miles south of Carnival Pride‘s changes. Carnival Magic is sailing a 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary that departed Miami, Florida on Sunday, August 11.

The ship was to have called on San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday, August 14, but that it exactly when the storm is expected to be closest to the US territory. Tropical storm warnings are already in effect for all of Puerto Rico.

Instead, Carnival Magic will enjoy a day at sea on Wednesday, but will now have a port visit to Nassau, Bahamas on Friday, August 16. On the original itinerary, Friday was planned as a visit to Grand Turk, which has been cancelled as well in the interest of keeping the ship well away from the storm’s impact.

The 128,048-gross-ton, Dream-class Carnival Magic will return to Miami on Sunday, August 18 as planned.

Tropical Storm Update

As of the early Tuesday afternoon intermediate advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Ernesto is located roughly 85 miles east of St. Croix and 175 miles east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The storm is moving west-northwest at 18 miles per hour.

Maximum sustained winds are recorded at 60 miles per hour and Air Force Reserve hurricane hunters have confirmed the storm is continuing to strengthen. It will likely become an official hurricane no later than early Wednesday.

“On the forecast track, the center of Ernesto should pass near or over the Virgin Islands this evening, and then pass just to the northeast and north of Puerto Rico tonight and on Wednesday,” the notes from NHC Forecaster Berg explained.

After that point, the storm is expected to continue moving north and gradually east, reaching Bermuda on Saturday, August 17. As that is still several days away, however, the track or timing could both be adjusted in the meantime.

All cruise guests should stay alert to weather patterns and tropical development when they may be sailing during hurricane season, which stretches from June 1 through November 30.

In the Atlantic, the peak of the storm season is historically from mid-August through mid-September, when more storms form and may be at their strongest.

As Carnival’s brand ambassador, John Heald is typically the expert on all things related to the cruise line and its 27 ships. He puts his vast knowledge to good use by answering questions day in and day out on his popular Facebook page.

However, Heald currently has an opportunity to do some in-person reconnaissance on behalf of his many followers, as he is currently onboard Carnival Mardi Gras for a 6-day Eastern Caribbean sailing. 

The cruise is roundtrip out of Port Canaveral, Florida, and features calls at Nassau, Bahamas; Puerto Plata / Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; and Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos. 

While he’s onboard, Heald’s Facebook followers have been asking what the experience is really like onboard – particularly at the Excel-class vessel’s Serenity Retreat, which is located on Deck 18.

This adult-space is available fleet-wide, and is meant to be a peaceful place for guests over 21 to take a dip in the pool, soak in the sun, or sip on a drink at the nearby bar.

But according to some on Facebook, the Serenity space isn’t always as serene as the name suggests. 

“John go check on something as you are on the ship I am going on. Is the Serenity Deck on the Carnival Mardi Gras totally quiet or is there noise for people or the pool deck and music there,” requested an unidentified future cruiser. 

“Debating taking my dad on Mardi Gras as a gift and I didn’t use Serenity last time I was there. He can have fun at night, but during the day likes a shaded chair where there is zero noisy people. No music. Just quiet for him to read. This is what it should be John. If not why not,” continued the potential passenger. 

Heald didn’t have an immediate answer for the curious guest – but promised he’d find out before his sailing disembarks in Port Canaveral on August 17, 2024. 

The Serenity Retreat is All About Peace and Quiet

While Heald didn’t have a response just yet, the over 1,000 people who commented on his post in less than 24 hours certainly had something to say about their less-than-peaceful experiences across multiple Carnival ships.

“Most serenity decks I have encountered aren’t quiet when it gets full. Hundreds of people having conversations it’s not quiet – But supposed to be no children. It’s not always enforced though,” commented one Facebook user. 

“Last couple times we cruised, Serenity deck was noisier than the main pool. Grownups get a little ornery when their kids are being taken care of,” added another.

“Serenity=serene=quiet with a low sound background noise. Twice I have been on a Carnival Ship, on Serenity, and people have brought bluetooth speakers to play their own music on. It is very disruptive to the ones that want Serenity/Serene/Quiet,” replied a third. 

Read Also: 15 Mistakes to Avoid on a Carnival Cruise

But despite some recent experiences that weren’t quite so peaceful, the commenters overwhelmingly agreed that they wanted the space to be quiet, calm, and relaxing. 

This is part of the reason this adult-only spot caused debate on John Heald’s Facebook page earlier this summer – this time regarding if exceptions should be made to allow infants in the Serenity Retreat. 

At the end of June, an anonymous poster reached out to Heald via Facebook to complain that a breastfeeding mother brought her infant into the Serenity Retreat. 

The issue wasn’t that the mother was breastfeeding her child – and Carnival’s policy states that women have the right to breastfeed in public or private spaces onboard – but the fact that she took her child into a place designated for guests over 21 years of age. 

At the time, commenters on Facebook noted that there were plenty of other quiet and comfortable spaces to breastfeed onboard that didn’t violate the rules of the adult-only space, with some saying a screaming baby would take away from their peace and relaxation. 

Guests aboard Carnival Pride en route to Bermuda have been notified that their itinerary has been shifted ahead of likely poor weather from Tropical Storm Ernesto.

While the ship will still be enjoying her Bermuda visit, the times in port will be a day earlier than originally planned just to stay safely ahead of the storm.

Carnival Pride departed Baltimore, Maryland on Sunday, August 11, 2024 for a 7-night roundtrip Bermuda sailing. The original itinerary had the ship enjoying two full days at sea before arriving at Kings Wharf, Bermuda at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14, for a lengthy stay until noon on Friday, August 16.

Letters delivered to guests’ staterooms have informed everyone of a change in that schedule, however.

“In partnership with our Fleet Operations Center in Miami, we are actively monitoring a tropical depression which is moving in a north-westerly direction towards the Caribbean. Later this week, it is set to turn and travel upwards in the Atlantic, possibly impacting weather in Bermuda,” the letter explained. “To stay ahead of the storm, we have revised our plans for visiting the island.”

Carnival Pride will now arrive in Bermuda at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, and depart at 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 15. While this shortens the ship’s time in port by four hours, it does still provide passengers with a substantial visit to explore the unique destination.

Any shore excursions booked through Carnival Cruise Line for the ship’s time in Bermuda will be automatically revised to fit the new schedule, and guests will be notified of those adjustments.

At the new time of Carnival Pride‘s visit to Bermuda, Tropical Storm Ernesto should still be well away from the island, as it is not forecast to reach Bermuda until Saturday.

Because the wind fields of such storms can often extend well away from the center, however, it is wise for Carnival Cruise Line to accelerate the ship’s itinerary to stay well outside any potential rough weather.

“In the event we encounter any added movement to the ship, our highly trained and experienced officers and I will do everything possible to minimize any discomfort,” the letter, signed by the ship’s master Captain Renato Bendinelli, continued.

Guests are urged to take extra precautions when moving around the ship, including using handrails. If the weather worsens, crew members will also secure outside deck furniture and the outer deck areas will be closed. Nevertheless, all onboard activities and entertainment remain fully operational.

Read Also: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather

At this time, there is no delay anticipated for Carnival Pride to return to Baltimore as planned on Sunday, August 18. Likewise, there is no deviation for the ship’s next sailing, a 14-night Greenland sailing, though that itinerary may be impacted if the tropical storm continues north once it passes Bermuda.

The 86,071-gross-ton, Spirit-class Carnival Pride can host 2,680 travelers at double occupancy, and is also home to just over 900 international crew members.

Tropical Storm Update

The tropical depression officially strengthened into Tropical Storm Ernesto on Monday afternoon, according to the latest updates from the National Hurricane Center, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour.

The center of the storm is located approximately 530 miles east-southeast of Puerto Rico and moving west at 28 miles per hour.

Tropical storm warnings are already in effect throughout the eastern Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. The storm is expected to gradually turn to the north over the next few days, well east of the Bahamas, but eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries are already being impacted.

As the storm shifts north, it will most likely strengthen into a hurricane, though the maximum strength is yet unpredictable. The storm is expected to gradually turn back to the east late in the week, and may come very close to or even directly impact Bermuda over the coming weekend, depending on the exact track and speed.

Any cruise traveler with a Bermuda itinerary over the next few days should stay in close contact with their cruise line about updates and remain flexible with their expectations as weather-related changes are never within the cruise line’s control.

Every cruise line does, however, keep safety as the top priority and work to ensure travelers remain as comfortable as possible.