Irma, which weakened to a tropical storm Monday morning Sept. 11, was continuing to cause cruise itinerary alterations and cancellations.
On his Facebook page Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald reports that all ships in the Carnival fleet are safe, and vessels expecting to dock in Miami and Port Everglades Tuesday are positioned to dock in the morning, contingent on the ports reopening. The Carnival Paradise was scheduled to depart Cozumel, Mexico, at 2:00 p.m. Monday for either Tampa or Port Canaveral, depending on the availability of the Port of Tampa.
Carnival said it would post the ship’s destination by 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, and it should arrive Wednesday. Guests may elect to be transferred to Tampa or the Orlando airport via motor coach or remain in the Port Canaveral area until the ship sails to the Port of Tampa next Saturday.
Carnival Cruise Line
The following Carnival cruises have been cancelled:
- Carnival Splendor – September 9
- Carnival Ecstasy – September 9
- Carnival Liberty – September 9
- Carnival Paradise – September 11
Guests on canceled cruises will receive a full refund automatically, including Fly2Fun reservations, pre-purchased Carnival Adventures, Fun Shop purchases and beverage packages.
While Florida’s ports remain closed, Carnival said it is optimistic that they will reopen in time to operate the following cruises:
- Carnival Conquest – September 9: Now scheduled to depart Port Everglades September 12 for a four-day cruise to Cozumel
- Carnival Glory – September 9: Now scheduled to depart Miami on September 12 for a four-day cruise to Cozumel
- Carnival Magic – September 9: Now scheduled to depart Port Canaveral September 13 for a three-day cruise to Freeport and Nassau
- Carnival Vista – September 9: Now scheduled to depart Miami September 12 for a five-day western Caribbean cruise with calls at Grand Cayman and Cozumel
- Carnival Victory – September 11: Now scheduled to depart Miami on September 12 for a three-day cruise to Nassau and Freeport
- Carnival Sensation – September 11: Now scheduled to depart Miami on September 13 for a three-day cruise to Freeport and Nassau
Guests on shortened cruises will receive a pro-rated refund. Additionally, anyone who pre-purchased beverage packages will receive a pro-rated adjustment. Pre-purchased excursions for cancelled ports, as well as taxes, fees and port expenses, will be refunded to guests’ onboard Sail & Sign accounts. Gratuities will also be adjusted to reflect the shortened duration. Alternatively, guests may cancel and receive a future cruise credit.
Guests on the following sailings who were unable to travel will automatically receive future cruise credits:
- Carnival Paradise – September 7
- Carnival Sensation – September 7
- Carnival Fascination – September 10
Guests can also sign up for text alerts by texting the codes below to CRUISE (278473):
- Carnival Conquest – CCL2
- Carnival Glory – CCL3
- Carnival Magic – CCL4
- Carnival Vista – CCL6
- Carnival Victory 9/11 – CCL8
- Carnival Sensation 9/11 – CCL10
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean has cancelled the following sailings in order to provide humanitarian assistance to impacted Caribbean islands:
- Empress of the Seas: September 13 Cuba cruise
- Majesty of the Seas: September 15 Bahamas cruise
Guests will receive a full refund, as well as a 25 percent future cruise credit.
Allure of the Seas’ September 10 western Caribbean cruise will now sail September 13 on a four-night itinerary with an overnight in Nassau, the Bahamas. Harmony of the Seas’ September 9 eastern Caribbean cruise will now sail on a four-night itinerary to Cozumel, Mexico. The ship’s boarding time will begin at 5 p.m. to allow guests additional time to travel. Oasis of the Seas’ September 10 eastern Caribbean cruise will now sail September 13 on a four-night itinerary to Cozumel. Guests on all three of these sailings will receive a refund of 50 percent of their cruise fare, as well as an additional 50 percent future cruise credit.
Enchantment of the Seas’ September 11 Bahamas cruise will sail September 12 on a three-night itinerary to the Bahamas. Boarding will begin at 5 p.m. to allow additional travel time. The new itinerary will include one port call in Nassau. Given the impact of Irma on Key West, the port will not be open to guests, but we will likely make a humanitarian stop to assist our neighbors with essential supplies to help them recover from Hurricane Irma, Royal Caribbean said. Guests who choose to remain on this sailing will receive a 25 percent refund and a 25 percent future cruise credit.
Guests who are unable to travel and need to cancel their cruise will receive a 100 percent future cruise credit. Guests will also receive a refund on pre-booked shore excursions, and will be able to book excursions in the new ports of call once onboard.
Given Hurricane Irma’s impact to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Key West, we will be working on alternative ports for future sailings until these islands have fully recovered, Royal Caribbean said.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line reported that the Norwegian Escape, which was sailing with 4,000 displaced guests onboard, was set to depart Cozumel, Mexico, Monday at 5 p.m. and sail to Miami, where it will dock once PortMiami reopens. All of Norwegian Escape’s upcoming eastern Caribbean sailings until November will be altered to a western Caribbean itinerary.
Norwegian’s Miami headquarters will remain closed through September 12, to reopen September 13. Key staff members have been relocated out of Miami, and the line’s call centers are operating remotely, which may result in longer than normal hold times.
Source: https://www.usatoday.com/
