Carnival Cruise Line Issues Update on Ships Impacted by Hurricane Milton

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Since it began as a tropical storm on October 5, 2024, Milton has emerged as a formidable threat.

By October 6, Hurricane Milton escalated to a Category 3 hurricane, quickly gaining intensity and reaching Category 4 by the morning of October 7. By that afternoon, it had escalated further to a Category 5 storm.

The National Hurricane Center reported in their 1 pm advisory on October 7 that winds have reached 175 miles per hour. Hurricane Milton is on a potentially disastrous trajectory toward the Tampa Bay area of Florida, just weeks following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

The center of Hurricane Milton is anticipated to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast on October 9 and continue its path across the state on October 10, bringing with it fierce winds and significant rainfall, potentially amounting to 15 inches.

Suggested Reading: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather

Carnival Cruise Line is vigilantly observing five of its vessels that are situated along the potential trajectory of Hurricane Milton. Below are the ships that may be impacted and the modifications that are being made.

The 70,367-gross-ton Carnival Paradise, which can carry 2,124 passengers, set sail from Tampa on October 6, 2024, for a 4-night roundtrip journey to Cozumel, Mexico. As Hurricane Milton strengthens in the Gulf, the cruise is adjusting its itinerary by forgoing its original stop to instead head further south to Costa Maya, Mexico, on October 8 to avoid the storm’s impact.

As the hurricane approaches Florida, the ship’s planned return to Tampa on October 10 is uncertain. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an evacuation order, suggesting that Port Tampa Bay may close in advance of the storm.

The ship’s next voyage, intended to start on October 10, could also face delays and alterations. Carnival is advising guests on this trip not to head to the cruise terminal until they receive confirmation from the cruise line.

With a guest capacity of 2,130 and a gross tonnage of 70,367, Carnival Elation set sail from Jacksonville, Florida, on October 5 for a five-night cruise to the Bahamas. The itinerary includes a stop in Nassau on October 7 and is expected to proceed to a private destination at Princess Cays on October 8.

However, with Hurricane Milton projected to be located along Florida’s east coast by October 10, the ship’s return on that date may be jeopardized.

Similar to the situation with Carnival Paradise, Carnival Cruise Line is advising passengers on the Carnival Elation cruise scheduled for October 10 to refrain from going to the port until they receive further instructions.

Carnival Sunrise, a massive vessel weighing 101,509 gross tons and capable of accommodating up to 2,984 guests, is currently on a five-day journey that commenced in Miami on October 5. The ship is sailing in the Eastern Caribbean and is presently enjoying its time at the exclusive Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, with plans to head to Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos on October 8.

Like Jacksonville, the location of PortMiami on the east coast may be affected by the impending storm expected to hit on the same day the ship is due back.

The subsequent voyage, a four-night expedition to the Bahamas, is scheduled to leave on October 10, but that too faces uncertainty. Passengers are encouraged to wait for confirmation from Carnival Cruise Line prior to making their way to the port.

The 130,000-gross-ton Carnival Dream set sail from Galveston, Texas, on October 5 for an 8-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, making a stop in Key West, Florida, on October 7.

Due to a hurricane warning issued by the National Weather Service affecting the area, the departure time for the 3,646-passenger ship has been adjusted, moving it up from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Carnival Dream is still planning to continue its journey with stops in Freeport, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau, Bahamas, until October 10. The ship is expected to return to Galveston on October 13, with two days at sea still on schedule.

Carnival Pride, which has a gross tonnage of 88,500 and a capacity for 2,214 passengers, departed from Baltimore, Maryland, on October 6. Passengers were looking forward to two nights in Kings Wharf, Bermuda, starting at 8 a.m. on October 9 and leaving at noon on October 11.

As the storm is predicted to travel northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Carnival has adjusted its schedule for arriving in Bermuda, now set to dock from 3 p.m. on October 8 until 1 p.m. on October 10, which is a reduction of six hours from their original plan.

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