Hurricane Helene Causes Delays for Cruise Ships Returning to Florida Ports

This week, several cruise ships experienced delays in returning to Florida due to the impact of Hurricane Helene across various homeports.

The hurricane made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Friday, resulting in port closures throughout the state.

Four ships originating from Port Canaveral, including those from Royal Caribbean, MSC, Disney Cruise Line, and Carnival, had to postpone their turnaround calls on Thursday and Friday.

The port stated in an online update, “Port Canaveral is open, but please be aware that arrival and departure times for cruise ships have been delayed, affecting embarkation schedules for outbound sailings.”

Additionally, vessels departing from Miami on Thursday and Friday also had to alter their plans due to the weather.

The impacted ships include the Carnival Sunrise, as well as the Allure of the Seas and the Independence of the Seas.

In Jacksonville, the Carnival Elation had to push back its return to the port, which was initially set for Thursday.

Due to the port’s closure, the ship is now expected to arrive at JAXPort sometime between Friday and Saturday.

Similarly, the Carnival Paradise is facing delays, with its turnaround call in Tampa pushed back by at least one day.

Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas is returning to Tampa two days late due to the port closure.

An update on the company’s website indicated that a nine-night cruise originally scheduled for Thursday will now be modified to a seven-night voyage.

Departing from Tampa on Sunday, the cruise itinerary will now include destinations in Mexico, Honduras, and Belize, with stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, and Belize City.

“This situation is still very fluid, and we’re dedicated to keeping you informed every step of the way. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding,” the company stated.