Following yesterday’s return by many cruise ships to Florida following the passage of Hurricane Irma, cruise lines are continuing to issue updates on itineraries impacted by the devastation the storm caused in the Caribbean.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador John Heald reports that the following itineraries have been modified:
- Carnival Glory – September 16: Will depart Miami for a seven-day cruise to Half Moon Cay, San Juan and Grand Turk
- Carnival Paradise – September 16: Departing Tampa for a five-day cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico
- Carnival Magic – September 16: Departing Port Canaveral for an eight-day cruise to Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts and Antigua
- Carnival Breeze – September 17: Departing Galveston for seven-day cruise to Freeport and Nassau
- Carnival Fascination – September 17: Departing San Juan for a seven-day cruise to Dominica, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Saint Kitts
- Carnival Victory – September 18: Departing Miami for a four-day cruise to Cozumel
Pre-purchased shore excursions for canceled ports, as well as any taxes, fees and port expenses, will be refunded to guests’ onboard Sail & Sign accounts. At this time, all other future cruises are set to depart as scheduled.
In a separate post on Facebook, Heald noted that, for itineraries departing on or around next weekend (September 25), the cruise line is still waiting on some ports of call to report that they are ready to receive cruise vessels before announcing any itinerary updates.
Carnival also reports that the cruise line and its parent company Carnival Corporation will be delivering critical supplies to the Caribbean during upcoming cruises, including to Grand Turk, St. Maarten (via St. Kitts), St. Thomas and Barbuda (via Antigua). The line is also making plans for relief efforts to impacted islands in the Bahamas, as well as to areas of the U.S. mainland including Florida and the Florida Keys.
As we previously reported, Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Corp. and the Micky and Madeline Arison Family Foundation have also pledged $2 million to support relief and rebuilding efforts in areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises reports that it will begin processing Future Cruise Certificates and refunds within 21 business days. Guests will receive their Future Cruise Certificate via email within 21 business days.
MSC Divina passengers who disembarked in Miami September 7 ahead of the storm will receive a refund of the two unused days, as well as a Future Cruise Certificate for a 25 percent discount on the stateroom fare for a future MSC Cruises sailing within two years, excluding sailing dates during Christmas and New Year’s, and itineraries to China and Cuba. The certificate can be applied on regular cruise-only (not Fly & Cruise) fares.
Passengers who disembarked in Cozumel on September 9 and Miami on September 13 will receive a certificate for a 25 percent discount on the stateroom fare for a future MSC Cruises sailing within two years, excluding Christmas and New Year’s cruises, as well as cruises to China and Cuba.
Guests on the MSC Divina’s canceled September 9 cruise have two options. They can receive a full refund of the cruise fare and any services bought in connection with the cruise, as well as a certificate for a 25 percent discount with the above conditions; or, guests wishing to switch itineraries will be price-protected on any ship and sail date with the same stateroom category and same amount of nights. These guests will also receive the 25 percent certificate.
Guests on MSC Divina’s modified September 16 cruise can cancel and receive a Future Cruise Credit for the penalty amount to be used on the stateroom fare for a future MSC Cruises sailing within two years, excluding Christmas, New Year’s, China and Cuba sailings. The penalty amount is 100 percent of the cruise fare, excluding government taxes and fees.
MSC Divina will operate a modified west Caribbean cruise September 16 out of PortMiami, calling at Montego Bay (Jamaica), Georgetown (Cayman Islands), Costa Maya (Mexico) and Nassau (Bahamas).
From Saturday, September 23, MSC Divina will resume its scheduled service, alternating east and west Caribbean cruises on a weekly basis. For east Caribbean cruises, Antigua will replace the scheduled call at Philipsburg (St. Maarten), until the island recovers from Hurricane Irma’s passage.
MSC Opera will now resume operating regular cruise service out of Havana, Cuba, from September 16 onwards, with unchanged itineraries.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line reports that its Miami-based ships, the Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Escape, are set to resume normal operations this weekend.
Norwegian Sky will depart as scheduled September 15 on a three-day cruise to the Bahamas, with calls in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, which Norwegian said were unaffected by the hurricane. Norwegian Sky’s four-day cruise on September 18 will depart on schedule. Norwegian said it has received confirmation that the port facilities in Havana were not impacted by the storm and that tour operators are ready to receive cruise guests.
Norwegian Escape will depart as scheduled September 16 on a seven-day western Caribbean cruise.
The cruise line is working with its partners to assess the impact on the ports it visits in the eastern Caribbean. Norwegian has changed all of its eastern Caribbean itineraries to western Caribbean itineraries for the next two months, and will continue to alter them as needed.
Royal Caribbean reports that it has no additional updates from yesterday.
Related Stories
Hotels in Florida Begin to Reopen After Irma
Hurricane Irma Update: Sandals Issues Full Hotel Damage Assessments
Hurricane Irma Update: All Sonesta Guests in St. Maarten Have Been Evacuated
Hurricane Irma Update: The Most Current Caribbean Hotel Damage Assessments