Hurricane Dorian cruise update: Miami, Fort Lauderdale ports now open; Jacksonville port closed

A Bahamas official shared video of waves slamming his flooded home during Hurricane Dorian.
USA TODAY

Cruise lines are scrambling to stay out of the path of Hurricane Dorian — which blasted across the Bahamas on Sunday as a Category 5 with 185 mph sustained winds — and navigate port closures, resulting in extended cruises for some travelers and delayed trips, itinerary changes and shortened trips for others.

PortMiami, a major Florida cruise port, closed Monday and reopened Tuesday afternoon. Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale also reopened Tuesday. Port Canaveral, a popular cruise departure spot 45 miles east of Orlando, announced Tuesday morning it was still closed. JAXPORT, a cruise terminal in Jacksonville, announced Tuesday it also was closed until further notice. The Nassau, Bahamas, ports are open and functioning as usual.

Further itinerary changes are possible given the storm’s unpredictable path, so travelers should check their cruise line’s website regularly.

Updates as of 11:50 a.m. Tuesday include:

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Breakaway: The Aug. 25 sailing, which was scheduled to return to Miami on Sunday, is now due to conclude in New Orleans on Tuesday after the closure of PortMiami. The seven-day cruise initially set to depart Sunday now has been canceled. The line will help with travel arrangements back.

Norwegian Sun: The Aug. 29 sailing canceled its scheduled return to Port Canaveral on Labor Day and will instead conclude in New Orleans on Tuesday. The Sun’s scheduled Monday departure from Port Canaveral was canceled. Planned calls for the cruise’s five-day departure scheduled for Sept. 7 from Port Canaveral are still being evaluated pending the impact of the storm.

Norwegian Sky: The Norwegian Sky left Miami on Aug. 31 and has experienced a modified itinerary; it will return to Miami on Sept. 5.

Details: ncl.com

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Sunshine: The departure time was extended to 6 p.m. on Monday, and its call to Half Moon Cay was canceled.

Carnival Liberty: The ship departed from Port Canaveral Friday and is expected to return after a modified itinerary on Thursday. The Monday sailing from Port Canaveral was canceled, and guests will receive a refund.

Carnival Elation: The Monday sailing from Port Canaveral is under evaluation and may depart Thursday for a two-day sailing with the port of call to be determined by the weather. Guests who still go on the cruise will receive a pro-rated refund on the cruise fare as well as pre-paid beverage and Wi-Fi packages. Carnival is offering a 100% future cruise credit to guests who opt to cancel.

Carnival Horizon: The Monday sailing from Miami will be shortened to a three-day sailing departing on Wednesday.

Carnival Victory: Monday’s sailing will now be a two-day trip, leaving Wednesday and coming back on Friday. Key West will be its port of call on Thursday.

Carnival Pride: The ship left Sunday with an adjusted itinerary to Grand Turk, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. Its Half Moon Cay and Freeport, Bahamas, calls were canceled.

Carnival Sensation: Calls to Half Moon Cay and Nassau were canceled.

Ecstasy: The Saturday sailing has a modified itinerary as Key West, Florida, replaced a Princess Cays, Bahamas, visit. The ship also skipped a Tuesday call to Nassau.

Details: carnival.com

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

CocoCay has been closed since Aug. 28, and the cruise line hopes to reopen its private island by Saturday.

Allure of the Seas: The Aug. 25 sailing has been extended until Wednesday, with extra stops in Roatan, Honduras, and Costa Maya, Mexico. The Sunday sailing has been shortened and now will be a four-night cruise departing Wednesday.

Empress of the Seas: The cruise line will also be extending its Aug. 24 sailing of Empress, which will return to Miami on Wednesday. It added visits to Roatanand George Town, Grand Cayman. The ship’s Sept. 1 sailing will now leave on Wednesday and call in Nassau Friday. Its return is unchanged.

Harmony of the Seas: The Aug. 25 sailing had been extended until Thursday, with an added stops in Cozumel and extra nights at sea. The planned Sunday sailing will now depart on Thursday and be shortened.

Symphony of the Seas: The Aug. 31 sailing has been extended and is now scheduled to return on Wednesday. The cruise line skipped a Bahamas spot and added a stop in Costa Maya. The Tuesday sailing will now depart Wednesday.

Mariner of the Seas: The Aug. 30 sailing is extended and now scheduled to return Thursday. The Sept. 2 sailing is canceled.

Navigator of the Seas: The Aug. 30 sailing has been extended and will return to Miami Wednesday. The Monday sailing has been rescheduled for Wednesday and shortened.

Majesty of the Seas: The Aug. 28 sailing was extended and will return Wednesday to Fort Lauderdale. The Monday sailing will now leave Wednesdayand will return Saturday, also in Fort Lauderdale.

Details: royalcarribean.com

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Dream: The ship’s current sailing out of Port Canaveral has been extended again until Thursday. After initially delaying its Monday sailing, Disney announced the cruise is canceled.

Details: disneycruise.disney.go.com

Contributing: Dawn Gilbertson

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