Carnival Celebration has aided an overcrowded rowboat during a day at sea at the end of the new ship’s current sailing, but without taking the occupants aboard. The encounter was successful and all individuals were in good health, and provided with appropriate supplies as requested.

Carnival Celebration Provides Supplies to Refugees

On Friday, March 24, 2023, Carnival Celebration encountered a crowded rowboat while sailing northeast of Cozumel. The incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m. ship time (Eastern/Ship Time), when the small craft was sighted with at least 12 occupants, both male and female.

The cruise ship immediately diverted to offer assistance, prepared to take the people from the small craft aboard if necessary. The small boat was using multiple oars for propulsion and steering, but was not otherwise signaling for emergency aid. While constructed in part of varying materials, including duct tape, the craft seemed reasonably stable.

Carnival Celebration pulled up alongside and communicated with the craft, and while the occupants stated they did not want rescue, they did accept food and water. Everyone was observed to be alert and in good health, and the boat – while small and crowded – was not in immediate danger.

After the incident, Carnival Celebration‘s cruise director, Chris Williams, made an announcement to explain procedures to guests onboard.

“The most important thing to us of course here at Carnival Cruise Line and our captain and his amazing team is to make sure that we always make sure that people are safe and preserving life at sea,” he explained.

“We have spoken to the people in the boat and they do not need any rescuing at this time. All they need is of course any water or food. We’ve done everything to make sure that they have that and everyone seems in good health.”

Williams went on to note that Carnival’s shoreside team and the United States Coast Guard were both contacted about the encounter, which is standard procedure for such events. The cruise ship remained alongside the small craft until clarification of next steps was received, at which time the ship was released to continue on its sailing.

Why No Rescue?

Photos and video from guests onboard show that the individuals in the boat all had appropriate clothing to protect themselves from the sun and unpredictable weather, and the small boat was carrying storage containers for supplies.

While cruise ships are obligated to offer aid to anyone who may seem in distress – whether refugee boats, stranded mariners, fishermen, or other cruise ships – there is no requirement that anyone be forced to board a larger or more stable vessel, provided their own craft is reasonably sound.

The encounter took place approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Cancun, Mexico, and roughly 105 miles (169 km) northeast of Cozumel, where Carnival Celebration had visited earlier on the cruise, on Tuesday, March 21. Prior to the incident on Friday, the ship had visited Costa Maya on Wednesday and Roatan on Thursday.

The ship is currently sailing a 7-night roundtrip Western Caribbean itinerary from Miami, which will end on Sunday, March 26. There is no delay or change in the remaining part of the cruise due to this encounter.

This is not the first time the newest Carnival ship – Carnival Celebration just debuted in November 2022 – has encountered a small, haphazard craft. In early January, the ship rescued five refugees from a small raft off the coast of Cuba. In that incident, the refugees were taken aboard the cruise ship.

Carnival Cruise Line has emailed guests booked aboard the March 25, 2023 sailings of Carnival Vista and Carnival Dream that a significant road closure leading to Galveston may impact travel times to the cruise terminal.

Guests setting sail this weekend should adjust their travel driving or rideshare plans to ensure they reach the cruise terminal at an appropriate time.

Traffic Alert for Two Carnival Cruise Ships

Guests sailing aboard Carnival Vista or Carnival Dream this weekend should plan extra travel time to reach the Galveston cruise terminal, due to a local highway closure. Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests to notify them about the potential difficulty.

“Officials in Galveston have informed us that a planned road closure is taking place along I-45, southbound to Galveston,” the email read. “Please allow ample time to commute to the cruise terminal for prompt arrival within your pre-selected arrival appointment.”

Guests who have arranged transfers through Carnival Cruise Line may also have their travel plans impacted, though the cruise line will make adjustments to account for delays as necessary.

“For guests who have purchased Carnival’s transfer services, we are working closely with our transportation provider to offset any potential delays,” the email explained.

Guests who have made independent rideshare or shuttle arrangements should contact their transportation providers to adjust pick up times if needed, while guests who are driving to the port themselves should plan to leave earlier than anticipated to allow ample time for traffic delays.

Carnival Vista‘s Saturday, March 25 departure isa 7-night Western Caribbean cruise visiting Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico. Carnival Dream‘s sailing is an 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise to Key West and three ports of call in The Bahamas – Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.

No changes to the ships’ departure times have been announced, nor should their itineraries be impacted by the highway closure.

About the Road Closure

Interstate 45 is a major traffic artery in Texas, connecting not only Houston to the Galveston area, but also continuing north to Dallas. The southbound closure will dramatically impact travel times from those metropolitan areas as well as major airports, potentially causing congestion and delays for many cruise travelers.

According to local Texas news reports, the road closure will begin at 9 p.m. Friday, March 24, and will continue through 5 a.m. Monday, March 27, and will also impact several ramps in the immediate vicinity.

The closure is due to striping work and overall highway renovation that will eventually increase the number of southbound lanes on 1-45. The most heavily impacted area will be between the NASA Bypass and FM 518, a stretch only 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) long, but traffic may be backed up significantly ahead of the closure.

The closed area is approximately 28 miles (45 km) from the Galveston cruise terminal.

Impacts on Other Galveston Cruises

In addition to the two Carnival ships, Royal Caribbean International’s Adventure of the Seas is also setting sail on Saturday and guests may be impacted by the traffic congestion. That cruise is a 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

Sunday sailings may also have traffic difficulties. Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess and Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class Allure of the Seas are both departing from Galveston that day.

The closure should be finished by Monday morning when Radiance of the Seas and Carnival Breeze return from their latest sailings, but as guests do not debark until approximately 7-7:30 a.m. and the road should be reopened by 5 a.m., traffic problems that day should be minimal.

All cruise guests, from any homeport, should always stay in close contact with their cruise line with updated email, phone, and text contact information to be notified of last-minute delays, traffic alerts, and other information as they prepare to set sail.

The upcoming Carnival Firenze has officially been opened for bookings for its first sailings in 2024 and 2025. The renovated “Carnival Fun Italian Style” vessel will be homeported from Long Beach, California, and will offer a wide range of west coast itineraries ranging from 3-7 nights.

Carnival Firenze Opens for Bookings

The soon-to-be Carnival Firenze is now open for its first reservations as part of the Fun Ship fleet, beginning in May 2024. The ship will sail year-round from Long Beach, California, and bookings can be made from its first departure on May 2, 2024 through sailings in April 2025.

The very first cruise is to be a 5-night voyage, leaving Long Beach on Thursday, May 2, and visiting both Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico, with two days at sea for guests to experience all the Italian vibes and Carnival fun of the renovated ship.

“Carnival Firenze is named after the spectacular city of Florence, Italy. She was designed to evoke the same charm and beauty found in Florence and she’ll also pack in plenty of Carnival fun, which will be brought to life by the friendly and dedicated team members that make cruises across our fleet memorable,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line president.

A total of 15 itinerary options with varying days of departure are now available for Carnival Firenze, and all will visit some of Mexico’s most vibrant and charming ports of call, including Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas.

Of special interest are the 6-night sailings, which will spend two days in Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja Peninsula, one of the most beautiful destinations along the Mexican Riviera. There, guests can enjoy a number of excursions, from meeting dolphins to camel rides to snorkeling, pirate ships, beach resorts, luxury sailing, and more.

Along with Mexican ports of call, Carnival Firenze will also visit Catalina Island, a luxury destination off the southern California coast and home to amazing snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities, as well as other exploration opportunities.

Carnival Firenze Style

The Vista-class, 135,156-gross-ton Carnival Firenze will be the third ship transferred to the Carnival fleet from Costa Cruises, bringing with it distinctive Italian flair but with Fun Ship familiarity and amenities.

Carnival Luminosa was the first ship to be transferred from Costa Cruises, but without the overall Italian Style flair. She is now sailing South Pacific and Australian itineraries from Brisbane. The vessel will move to Seattle for the 2023 Alaska sailing season, but will return to Australia in the fall.

Carnival Venezia, which was just transferred to the Carnival fleet on March 22, 2023, is the first vessel that will truly incorporate the “Carnival Fun Italian Style” theme. She will be homeported year-round from New York beginning in mid-June, after a two-month transformation that will add Carnival venues and branding to the ship.

Carnival Firenze will undergo a similar transformation, preserving a good deal of her Italian personality in the refit. This will give guests a completely new ship to experience, with architecture, venues, and artistry very distinctive from other Carnival vessels, including Italian-themed restaurants, bars, and entertainment.

Other Carnival Ships From Long Beach

While West Coast cruise lovers are thrilled to have a new ship planned to homeport in the region, other Carnival ships will not vanish from Long Beach when Carnival Firenze arrives.

As of March 2023, more than a year before the debut of Carnival Firenze, three other Carnival ships are sailing from Long Beach: Carnival Radiance, Carnival Panorama, and Carnival Miracle.

“This truly stunning ship will serve as a great new cruise vacation option from Long Beach, joining Carnival Panorama and Radiance, and offering a range of sailing lengths to Baja Mexico and the Mexican Riviera,” Duffy said of Carnival Firenze’s debut.

While Carnival Panorama and Carnival Radiance will remain in Long Beach, Carnival Miracle will move to San Francisco for both the 2023 and 2024 Alaska seasons, offering a unique homeport option for that sought-after destination.

In fall 2024, Carnival Miracle will move to Galveston, Texas to offer longer Caribbean from that port. Deployment plans for Carnival Firenze beyond April 2025 have not yet been announced.