Hurricane Dorian Forces Cruise Ship Itinerary Changes and Port Closures

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival is still evaluating weekend departures out of Florida and East Coast homeports. Booked passengers booked on Carnival Sunshine (9/2 from Charleston), Carnival Elation (9/2 from Port Canaveral), Carnival Horizon (9/1 from Miami) or Carnival Ecstasy (9/5 from Jacksonville) should sign up for text alerts from the cruise line. Many of these itineraries are in doubt because it’s unknown if the ship will return to port on time for its next cruise.

The line has made the following itinerary adjustments:

Carnival Horizon docked in Miami on August 31 to give passengers the opportunity to disembark, in case the port closed on Sunday September 1. As the port was closed on Saturday evening, the September 1 cruise is delayed until September 4 and will be shortened to three days, visiting Nassau on Thursday evening for an overnight call.

Passengers who choose to sail will receive a 50 percent pro-rated refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased beverage and Wi-Fi packages, and a full refund of any pre-purchased shore excursions. Additionally, guests will receive a 50 percent future cruise credit. Those who choose to cancel will receive a 100 percent future cruise credit. Please contact 1-800-CARNIVAL by 6 p.m. on September 1 if you decide to cancel and claim your future cruise credit.

Carnival Sunshine, departed from Charleston on August 29 and swapped Saturday’s call on Princess Cays with a visit to Key West. It is unclear if the ship will be able to return to Charleston on Monday. For the September 2 departure from Charleston, no changes have been made to the itinerary but the cruise line is monitoring the situation.

Carnival Elation, which departed Port Canaveral August 29, called on Nassau as planned on August 30. The line will advise passengers at a later time whether Sunday’s call on Freeport will take place or not.

The September 2 departure of Carnival Elation will now operate as a two-day sailing, departing September 5 and returning September 7 visiting Nassau. Passengers who sail will receive a pro-rated refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased beverage and Wi-Fi packages. Those who wish to cancel will receive a future cruise credit for the full amount of their cruise fare.

Carnival Liberty’s September 2 cruise from Port Canaveral is canceled. Passengers will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and any pre-cruise purchases (such as tours or beverage packages).

Liberty departed Port Canaveral on August 30 as scheduled, but the sailing was extended and the ship will return to port on September 5. Saturday’s visit to Nassau will have shorter hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the line has added calls in Cozumel and Costa Maya.

Passengers who booked air through Carnival will automatically receive new flight routing for the revised return date. Passengers who booked independently and incur change fees will be reimbursed up to $200 per person. Those who choose not to sail will receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the cruise fare and a refund of any pre-purchased expenses.

Carnival Victory’s August 30 sailing departed as scheduled but will return on September 4 instead of September 2. The ship will skip Saturday’s call on Nassau and replace it with a stop in Key West and add a Progreso visit on Monday.

Passengers who booked air through Carnival will automatically receive new flight routing for the revised return date. Passengers who booked independently and incur change fees will be reimbursed up to $200 per person. Those who choose not to sail will receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the cruise fare and a refund of any pre-purchased expenses.

Victory’s September 2 cruise will be changed to a two-night cruise, departing September 4, with one port stop still to be determined. Passengers who sail will receive a pro-rated refund of their cruise fare and pre-purchased internet and drinks packages. Those who cancel will receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the cruise fare paid.

Carnival Sensation’s August 31 cruise from Miami did not stop at Nassau on September 1, and instead had a day at sea. It will swap days in Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay, and go to Nassau on September 4, on the last day of the sailing.

Carnival Paradise sailed on its scheduled August 31 itinerary, but with an earlier departure from Tampa.

Carnival Pride departed September 1 as scheduled on a modified itinerary to Grand Turk and Amber Cove. Calls to Half Moon Cay and Freeport have been canceled.

Carnival Miracle’s current sailing skipped a call to Cozumel on August 30, in favor of a sea day and is making its way back to the Port of Tampa early — arriving August 31 instead of September 1 — in anticipation of the port closing on Sunday. The Sunday, September 1 cruise has been changed to an eight-night sailing, departing Saturday evening. Passengers who canceled the extended cruise will receive a future cruise credit.

Carnival Sunrise swapped port dates on its August 27 sailing from New York. The ship is now sailing to San Juan, Amber Cove and Grand Turk.

Carnival Magic spent the day at sea on August 29, as opposed to stopping in Amber Cove, and went to Nassau on August 30, instead of a sea day. The August 31 departure of Carnival Magic from Fort Lauderdale is unchanged.

Carnival Ecstasy operated its August 31 cruise as scheduled but there is a possibility it will not be able to return to Jacksonville on Thursday, September 5. If the port is closed, the ship will be in position to dock as soon as the authorities have reopened the port. The line is still evaluating the September 5 departure.

Carnival Conquest operated its August 31 cruise out of Miami as scheduled.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Fantasy, which departed August 24 from Port Canaveral, switched from an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to a Western Caribbean sailing. The ports of Tortola and St. Thomas were replaced with Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The August 31 cruise is sailing as scheduled.

Disney Dream’s current sailing was scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Wednesday, September 4. However, after careful review of the currently forecasted path, and conversations with port officials in Florida, it does not seem likely that Port Canaveral will be available for the return on Wednesday.

Because of this, the sailing has been further extended and Disney Dream will return to Port Canaveral one day later, on Thursday, September 5.

Since Disney Dream will now have additional time at sea, it will have a port call on Monday, September 2, in Grand Cayman.

Disney Cruise Line has been forced to cancel the September 2 sailing on Disney Dream. Since the sailing was cancelled, passengers are eligible for a full refund. Additionally, the line is offering a 20 percent discount on a future cruise.

Passengers should contact the line at 1-866-325-3905 or 407-566-7032 between Monday, September 9, 2019, and Thursday, October 31, 2019, to let us know if they would like to apply their credit to a new sail date between now and December 31, 2020, or receive a full refund. Passengers who already moved to a different voyage will be able to apply the discount to their new sailing (some restrictions may apply).

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Breakaway’s scheduled return to PortMiami on September 1 has been postponed. The line has confirmed the ship will return to Miami on September 4, subject to the port reopening following the storm.

Norwegian Breakaway’s September 1 cruise will be modified from a seven-day to a four-day itinerary, departing instead on September 4, pending approval by government and local port authorities. If the cruise is confirmed, the ship will spend a day at sea on September 5, visiting Cozumel on September 6 and then remaining at sea for a day before returning to Miami on September 8, as planned. Calls have been canceled to Roatan, Harvest Caye and Costa Maya.

Norwegian Sky skipped its visit to Great Stirrup Cay on August 30 and returned to Miami a day early. Guests have the opportunity to remain on board until 7 a.m. August 31. Due to the shortened cruise, all guests will receive a 20 percent refund from the original cruise fare paid.

Norwegian Sky will depart Miami as scheduled on August 31. Boarding will be moved up, taking place from 9:30 to 1:30 p.m., with sailaway at 3:30 p.m. The ship will replace visits to Key West, Freeport, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay with two sea days and an overnight call at Cozumel on September 3. The cruise will end September 5 as planned.

Norwegian Sun has canceled calls to Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay and Freeport, Bahamas on its August 29 sailing. Instead, the ship will spend a day at sea on Friday, August 30 and will stay overnight in Cozumel, Mexico on August 31, departing September 1 at 6 p.m. It is uncertain if the ship will be able to return to Port Canaveral on September 2.

For the September 2 sailing, Norwegian is assessing alternative options and a potential modified itinerary. An update will be provided by 8 p.m. EDT September 1.

Passengers on any of the altered Norwegian itineraries who booked shore excursions for the original port of calls through the line’s shore excursion team will receive a refund credited to their onboard account.

Royal Caribbean

Allure of the Seas, which departed August 25 from Fort Lauderdale, and switched from an Eastern Caribbean to a Western Caribbean sailing, is now operating an extended sailing. The ship will call at Roatan on August 31 and Costa Maya on September 1, followed by two sea days before returning to Fort Lauderdale on September 4. As a result of the current extended sailing, the next cruise, which was due to depart on September 1, will now depart September 4. The shortened four-night sailing will call at Cozumel on September 6, between two sea days, before returning to Fort Lauderdale on September 8.

Empress of the Seas’ current sailing, which departed Miami on August 24, has been extended by three nights and will now return on September 4. On the revised itinerary, the ship will call at Cozumel on August 30, Roatan on August 31, followed by two seas, and Nassau on September 3. As a result of the current sailing being extended, the next sailing, which was due to depart Miami on September 1, will now depart September 4 on a shortened three-night sailing. The itinerary features a sea day on September 5 and a call on Nassau on September 6, before returning to Miami.

Harmony of the Seas, which left August 25 from Port Canaveral, switched to Western Caribbean, is now operating an extended sailing and will return to Port Canaveral on September 4. The ship will overnight in Cozumel on August 31, followed by two sea days before returning to port. As a result of the current extended sailing, the next sailing, which was due to depart September 1, has been shortened and will now depart from Port Canaveral on September 4 for a four-night sailing to Labadee on September 6, with a sea day either side.

Majesty of the Seas’ August 28 sailing has been extended and will return to Fort Lauderdale on September 4 – two days later than originally planned. The ship will call on Puerto Costa Maya and Cozumel as planned, followed by two sea days, and a call at Nassau on September 3. As a result of the current sailing being extended, the next sailing, which was due to depart on September 2, will now depart on a shortened three-night cruise on September 4. September 5 will be a sea day and the ship will call at Nassau on September 6, before returning to Fort Lauderdale on September 7.

Mariner of the Seas has extending its August 30 sailing from a three-night to a five-night sailing. The ship has replaced calls to Nassau and Labadee with a day at sea on August 31, a visit to Cozumel on September 1, Costa Maya on September 2, followed by another sea day, before returning to Port Canaveral on September 4. Mariner’s September 2 itinerary will be shortened from four to two nights, departing on September 4, calling the next day at CocoCay and returning to Florida on September 6.

Navigator of the Seas will depart Miami on August 30, but instead of returning on September 2, it will increase its itinerary length and return on September 4. Its revised itinerary has the ship at sea on Saturday, Costa Maya on Sunday and Cozumel on Monday, followed by a day at sea before returning to Miami. Navigator’s September 2 sailing will be shortened, departing Miami on September 4, calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay on September 5 and returning to Miami on September 6.

Symphony of the Seas’ August 24 cruise will return to Miami on August 31, as planned. Symphony’s August 31 cruise will be extended by a day, and will now disembark on September 4. The ship will skip its Nassau call; the new itinerary includes two sea days and a visit to Costa Maya on September 2. The September 3 sailing will therefore be shortened by a day. It will depart September 4 and return to Miami on September 7, as planned. Ports of call remain the same, with one sea day removed.

Royal Caribbean is not publicly posting compensation for shortened cruises or options for booked passengers wishing to cancel. The line will reach out to passengers directly.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Equinox departed Fort Lauderdale on August 31, as planned, but one hour earlier than scheduled.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line has canceled its September 1 and 3 departures of Grand Celebration. Its August 30 sailing departed the Port of Palm Beach as planned, but because Freeport Grand Bahama is now closed, the cruise is now a cruise to nowhere, heading out to sea with no port calls, and returning to Florida when safe to do so.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line was offering discounted fares to residents looking to evacuate the West Palm Beach area — or seeking an alternative to staying on land — onboard its previously scheduled Friday evening Grand Celebration departure.

Passengers booked on the August 30 sailing who canceled will receive a refund. Passengers booked on the canceled September 1 and September 3 sailings can either rebook and sail by December 24, 2019 and receive $100 onboard credit per cabin; rebook and sail after December 24, 2019, with no penalty fees and the original rate protected (excluding holiday cruises), but will not get onboard credit; or choose not to rebook and receive a full refund.

MSC Cruises

MSC Seaside departed Miami on August 31 and sailed as scheduled.

MSC Armonia’s September 2 itinerary has been shortened by two days. It has become a five-day cruise, embarking on Wednesday, September 4. The ship will spend September 5 at sea, followed by visits to Cozumel and Costa Maya before arriving in Miami on September 9.

Guests who were originally booked on the September 2 Armonia cruise and who choose to take the shortened cruise will be refunded for two days of their cruise. Those who are currently booked on the cruise, who choose not to sail, are able to cancel and will be refunded the full amount of their cruise fare with no cancellation fees.

Armonia’s cruise that departed on August 26 was extended for two days until Wednesday September 4. The adjusted itinerary had a sea day on August 31, a stop in Costa Maya on September 1, a stop in Cozumel on September 2 and another day at sea on September 3.