Hurricane Milton Forces Cruise Line Reroutes and Cancellations

Hurricane Milton approaching Florida

As Hurricane Milton approaches the Florida coastline, cruise lines significantly adjust itineraries and port schedules. The powerful storm weakened slightly to a Category 4 on Wednesday morning and continues to pose serious threats, including destructive winds, torrential rains, and up to 15 feet of storm surge in the Tampa Bay area. More than 12 million Florida residents face additional risks from tornadoes, hail, and wind, prompting multiple port closures across the state.

Closing major ports such as Port Canaveral, the Port of Tampa, the Port of Palm Beach, and Jaxport has disrupted cruise operations. Although PortMiami and Port Everglades remained open Wednesday morning, vessel traffic was limited as the hurricane inched closer. Several cruise ships currently at sea may face delays or be unable to dock as scheduled. Here, the storm is affecting some of the top cruise lines:

Disney Cruise Line

One of the first significant cancellations comes from Disney Cruise Line. The October 11 sailing of the Disney Wish from Port Canaveral has been cancelled due to Hurricane Milton. A statement from Disney assures affected passengers that refunds will be automatically processed back to the original payment method used for booking. While this change may disappoint guests, Disney Cruise Line remains committed to safety and will monitor further updates to port conditions.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival has announced multiple disruptions across its fleet, affecting ships departing from Jacksonville, Tampa, Port Canaveral, and Miami. The impacted vessels include:

1. Carnival Elation
2. Carnival Paradise
3. Carnival Glory
4. Carnival Sunrise
5. Carnival Pride
6. Carnival Sunshine
7. Carnival Valor

Passengers on these ships should expect changes to their itineraries or potential delays and are encouraged to check CarnivCarnival'ste for up-to-date information.

Royal Caribbean

As of 1 p.m, On Wednesday, Royal Caribbean did not post any itinerary changes or cancellations on its website. However, passengers should remain vigilant and check for updates, as the situation could change depending on port availability and storm impacts.

Margaritaville at Sea

Margaritaville at Sea, which sails out of the Port of Tampa, proactively took measures to avoid the hurricane by departing a day early on Monday, October 7. However, passengers on the previous sailing had their journey cut short by one day. This early departure allowed the cruise line to avoid the worst of Hurricane Milton while ensuring the safety of both passengers and crew.

MSC Cruises

The MSC Seashore is currently at sea and unable to return to Port Canaveral until the U.S. Coast Guard reopens the port, which is expected sometime Friday. On the way, the ship’s way sailing will be delayed until Friday if weather permits. According to MSC, if the port reopens on time, the ship will embark on a two-night sailing, visiting Ocean Cay on Saturday and returning to Port Canaveral on Sunday as planned.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line has not issued any updates on itinerary changes or cancellations related to Hurricane Milton. Passengers are advised to contact the cruise line directly for more information or to monitor their website for potential changes.

More Cruise Line Changes Expected

While these are the current changes to cruise operations, other updates could follow as Hurricane Milton approaches the Florida coast. With port closures and unpredictable weather conditions, passengers across various lines may experience changes or delays. Cruise guests are encouraged to contact their cruise lines for current information.