Hurricane Irma Cruise Updates: Ports Close, RCL Evacuates

Port Everglades, Port Canaveral and PortMiami are closing ahead of Hurricane Irma, which is set to hit Florida and the Florida Keys Sunday morning. PortMiami and Port Everglades closed to inbound ships at 8 a.m. Friday morning, while Port Canaveral is set to cease operations at 3:00 p.m.

Ahead of the storm, Royal Caribbean is using the Enchantment of the Seas to evacuate its Florida-based employees, CNN Money reports. The hurricane had already forced the cancellation of its weekend cruise. The ship will now depart Miami at noon, to return once the storm passes.

Norwegian Cruise Line closed its Miami headquarters at 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon, and says it will reopen as soon as is safe and practical. Key staff are being relocated outside of the storm zone, while call centers will be operated remotely, which could lead to longer than normal hold times. Travel agents are directed to use the lines dedicated booking portal on NCLU.

Carnival Corporation has likewise closed its South Florida headquarters as essential personnel continue to work remotely and from the companys hurricane-resistant facility in Miami.

Cruise Itinerary Cancellations and Alterations

The storm has prompted a number of additional itinerary cancellations and alterations. Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled the following sailings:

  • Carnival Liberty – Sept. 7 three-day Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral
  • Carnival Victory – Sept. 8 three-day Bahamas cruise from Miami
  • Carnival Splendor – Sept. 9 – five-day Eastern Caribbean cruise from Port Everglades
  • Carnival Ecstasy – Sept. 9 – six-day Bahamas cruise from Charleston
  • Carnival Liberty – Sept. 10 – four-day Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral

Guests will receive a full refund. Other upcoming Carnival cruises have been modified:

  • Carnival Paradise – Sept. 7 - Departed Thursday afternoon from Tampa, itinerary remains unchanged.
  • Carnival Sensation – Sept. 7 - Departed Miami Thursday afternoon, as scheduled. The call to Key West is canceled in favor of an extended stay in Cozumel.
  • Carnival Conquest – Sept. 9 - Now scheduled to depart Port Everglades on Sept. 12 on a four-day cruise to Cozumel.
  • Carnival Glory – Sept. 9 - Now scheduled to depart Miami on Sept. 12 on a four-day cruise to Cozumel.
  • Carnival Magic current cruise (Sept. 3-9 from Port Canaveral) will proceed directly to New Orleans where the ship will arrive on Saturday, Sept. 9. Guests will be given the opportunity to disembark and make independent arrangements to travel home. Guests also have the option to remain on board and sail back to Port Canaveral, where they will disembark the ship as soon as the Port reopens. 
  • Carnival Magic Sept. 9 - Now scheduled to depart Port Canaveral on Sept. 13 on a three-day cruise to Nassau
  • Carnival Vista – Sept. 9 - Now scheduled to depart Miami on Sept. 12 on a five-day, two-port western Caribbean cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel.  
  • Carnival Freedom – Sept. 9 - Will depart Galveston on Sept. 9 on a three-port Western Caribbean cruise to Mahogany Bay, Belize and Cozumel.
  • Carnival Dream – Sept. 10 - Will depart New Orleans on Sept. 10 to operate a three-port western Caribbean cruise to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.
  • Carnival Pride – Sept. 10 - Will depart Baltimore on Sept. 10 on a cruise to Canada/New England. Itinerary details will be confirmed later. Guests may elect to cancel and receive a future cruise credit. Guests wishing to sail will receive a 25 percent future cruise credit based on the fare paid for this cruise.
  • Carnival Sensation – Sept. 11 - Will now depart on Sept. 13 for a three-day cruise to Nassau.
  • Carnival Victory – (Sept. 4-8 cruise from Miami) is arriving into Miami early. Guests who want to disembark will have the opportunity to do so on Friday. Guests will also have the option of staying on board and sailing back out to sea with us until the storm passes. 
  • Carnival Victory – Sept. 11 cruise will now depart on Sept. 12 for a three-day cruise to Nassau.
  • Carnival Paradise – Sept. 11  - Will depart Tampa on Monday, as scheduled; itinerary remains unchanged.

Carnival guests will be informed of departure changes no later than 48 hours prior to the sailing date. Guests can sign up for text alerts by texting the codes below to CRUISE (278473):

  • Carnival Conquest – CCL2
  • Carnival Glory – CCL3      
  • Carnival Magic – CCL4
  • Carnival Splendor – CCL5
  • Carnival Vista – CCL6  
  • Carnival Liberty – CCL7
  • Carnival Victory 9/11 – CCL8
  • Carnival Sensation 9/07 – CCL9
  • Carnival Sensation 9/11 – CCL10 
  • Carnival Freedom – CCL12
  • Carnival Dream – CCL13
  • Carnival Pride – CCL14
  • Carnival Fascination – CCL15 
  • Carnival Paradise 9/11 – CCL16

Norwegian Cruise Line reports that both the Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Sky safely departed PortMiami Thursday. Norwegian Escape is sailing at full capacity with approximately 4,000 displaced guests from both ships that were unable to secure flights back home.

Norwegians cancelled sailings are:

  • Norwegian Sky, September 8 from Miami
  • Norwegian Escape, September 9 from Miami
  • Norwegian Sky, September 11 from Miami

Guests on cancelled sailings will get a full refund and 50 percent future cruise credit.

Royal Caribbean is continuing to sail modified itineraries on Oasis of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Allure of the Seas to delay their return until the storm passes. The cruise line has also cancelled the following itineraries:

  • Empress of the Seas: September 9 Cuba cruise
  • Enchantment of the Seas: September 8 Bahamas cruise
  • Majesty of the Seas: September 8 Bahamas cruise

Guests on cancelled cruises will receive a refund and 25 percent future cruise credit if rebooking within 30 days.

In terms of modified sailings, Allure of the Seas September 10 cruise will now depart September 13 on a four-night itinerary with an overnight in Nassau. If Nassau is not an option, the ship will instead call at Labadee, Haiti. Harmony of the Seas September 9 cruise will depart September 12 on a four-night itinerary to Cozumel, Mexico. Guests on both sailings will receive a 50 percent refund in the form of a refundable onboard credit and 50 percent future cruise credit.

Oasis of the Seas September 10 cruise will depart September 12 on a five-night itinerary to Costa Maya and Cozumel. Guests will receive a 30 percent refund in the form of a refundable onboard credit and 50 percent future cruise credit.

Adventure of the Seas September 9 cruise will depart as planned, with the St. Maarten call replaced with an overnight in Aruba.

Enchantment of the Seas September 11 cruise will depart September 12 on a three-night itinerary to the Bahamas. Guests will receive a 25 percent refund in the form of a refundable onboard credit.

Guests on these sailings who need to cancel will be provided with a 100 percent future cruise credit. Guests will also receive refunds on prebooked shore excursions, with the opportunity to book new excursions onboard.

Majesty of the Seas September 11 charter cruise will now depart September 12 on a three-night itinerary to the Bahamas. Guests are advised to reach out to Thirty One Gifts with questions at [email protected].

Liberty of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas September 10 cruises are set to depart as scheduled. Anthem of the Seas September 9 Bermuda cruise remains under evaluation.

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