The recent landfall of Hurricane Debby on Florida’s Gulf Coast has caused significant disruptions to various cruise itineraries along the East Coast. Cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International have all been forced to make adjustments to their schedules in order to ensure the safety and well-being of their passengers.
Carnival Cruise Line ships departing from Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida have been particularly affected by the storm. The Carnival Paradise, which was scheduled to return to the Port of Tampa on Monday, has now delayed its arrival and will be shortening its upcoming cruise to five days instead of six. Passengers have been advised to sign up for text alerts to stay informed of any further changes. Similarly, the Carnival Elation had its itinerary altered, with the ship departing a day earlier than scheduled to avoid the storm. The Carnival Sunshine, set to arrive at the Port of Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday, is also being closely monitored for any potential impact on its upcoming cruise.
While MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line have maintained their departures, they have both canceled calls on their itineraries due to the hurricane. MSC Cruises canceled a visit to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas by the MSC Seashore, citing high winds as the reason for the cancellation. Norwegian Cruise Line was forced to cancel calls at Key West and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, with the Norwegian Sky instead visiting Nassau in the Bahamas instead of the planned destinations.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas recently skipped a call at Port Canaveral in favor of a sea day, as it sailed out of Cape Liberty Bayonne in New Jersey on a Caribbean cruise. Additionally, the Vision of the Seas, which departed from Baltimore on a Bermuda cruise, will no longer stay overnight in Bermuda and is instead departing the island today.
The impact of Hurricane Debby on cruise itineraries has been significant, with various cruise lines having to make last-minute adjustments to ensure the safety and comfort of their passengers. While some cruises have been shortened or altered, others have had to cancel port calls altogether. Passengers are advised to stay informed through text alerts and online check-in for any further updates on their cruises.