Carnival Cruise Line confirms boarding after sailing cancellation

After days of uncertainty with storm closures, port diversions and cruise cancellations, guests are eager to set sail. Carnival Paradise will be relieved to learn that the ship’s departure on September 30, 2024 is going as planned.

Carnival Cruise Line has sent a notification to customers booked for Monday departures to confirm boarding plans and schedule.

“Boarding for your cruise will take place as planned. » » reads the notification. “Please proceed to the cruise terminal for check-in at your pre-selected terminal arrival appointment. In preparation for departure, all guests must be on board by the final boarding time indicated on the boarding pass.

Passengers choose their arrival appointments at the terminal when they check in for their navigation. Online check-in is available 14 days before departure and no later than midnight the day before cruise departure.

Guests who have reached Platinum and Diamond levels of Cruise line VIFP loyalty program can check in 16 days before departure. This is a highly coveted benefit of being able to select the most desirable terminal arrival appointments.

Passengers ready to board Carnival Paradise perhaps even having worried during the last day when the ship finally returned after Port Tampa Bay reopened after Hurricane Helene.

Although the ship traveled to the cruise terminal to disembark as soon as possible, the ship then sailed away from the terminal – with no new guests. This could raise concerns that the ship is not, in fact, ready to receive its next travelers.

Satellite tracking data is now displayed Carnival Paradise however, docked in another part of Port Tampa Bay, an area that typically serves cargo ships.

This temporary move could simply be to move the Fantasy-class ship away from other passenger cruise ships that needed the terminal space to process passengers.

Royal Caribbean Magnitude of the seas, Serenade of the seasAnd Enchantment of the seas were all disembarked and embarked in Tampa on Sunday.

Because Carnival Paradise canceled what was to be its current sailing following the long port closure delays, it makes sense that the empty ship would be moved to another part of the port to wait for Monday, September 30, when its next guests will arrive. This will not prevent the ship from being resupplied, cleaned and refueled for its next departure.

Read more: Tampa Cruise Port – Terminals, Transportation, Nearby

The next cruise is a 6-night Western Caribbean voyage, departing Monday and planning to visit Belize City (Wednesday), Roatan (Thursday), and Cozumel (Friday), weather permitting.

Currently, a low pressure system is developing in the western Caribbean and could move towards the Yucatan Peninsula in the coming days. This could impact ports of call, but it is too early at this stage to predict such changes.

The crazy program of Carnival Paradise

The 71,925 gross tons Carnival Paradise is carried year-round from Port Tampa Bay, typically offering 4, 5 and 6 night sailings to the Western Caribbean and Bahamas, depending on the departure date.

However, Hurricane Helene significantly disrupted the ship’s schedule as the storm system moved across the western Caribbean and northward across the Gulf of Mexico, off the west coast of Florida.

This not only resulted in itinerary changes for the ship, but also closed its home port, delayed its possible return and canceled its next sailing.

When the first changes occurred, Carnival Paradise was on a cruise on September 21, a 5 night navigation. This cruise was modified as the ship was impossible to visit Cozumel as plannedbut rather diverted to the Costa Maya as an alternative.

Then, Port Tampa Bay closed on the evening of September 25, meaning Carnival Paradise was unable to return home as planned on September 26. the ship remained at sea to weather the storm well out of danger.

With the port remaining closed due to localized flooding and necessary inspections, the 5-night cruise became a 6-night cruise, then a 7-night cruise, then almost an 8-night cruise. Port Tampa Bay finally reopened late in the afternoon on Saturday, September 28, and Carnival Paradise was the first cruise ship to return.

Due to the long delay, the The September 26 cruise has been canceledbut the ship will be fresh, clean and ready to welcome up to 2,040 guests on Monday, September 30, as she sets sail again.