Major cruise shipping companies canceled voyages and/or adjusted itineraries due to the Caribbean's Hurricane Ian heading toward Florida.
JaxPort Jacksonville and Port Tampa are closed to maritime traffic, causing cruise lines to reschedule and make itinerary changes.
CCL-Carnival Cruise Line announced on Tuesday, September 27, that it was canceling the September 29 voyage on Carnival Paradise from Tampa, as well as the September 29 voyage from Jacksonville. Passengers receive a full refund as well as a 25% future cruise credit.
In the early hours of Thursday, September 29, Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in west-central Florida. Many lines in the Caribbean shifted their itineraries west to avoid Caribbean islands that are getting hit by the storm.
Carnival said that the current voyage on Carnival Paradise, which left on September 24 from Tampa will be extended until the port reopens after the hurricane has passed. The Carnival Elation ship, which left Jaxport on September 24, is changing her itinerary around the Bahamas in order to avoid the storm and will stay at sea until JaxPort's reopening.
Carnival voyages that left from PortMiami FL, Mobile AL, and Port NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) are rerouting call ports to avoid the storm.
DCL-Disney Cruise Line said on Monday, September 26, that there was a possibility that one of its ships, Disney Wish, would have to extend her time at sea due to the storm. Disney Wish is currently due to return to homeport Port Canaveral (Orlando FL) on Friday, September 30.
RCI-Royal Caribbean is adjusting a number of its Caribbean routes currently underway. Mariner of the Seas, which skipped a scheduled call in Labadee (Haiti), is expected to return to Port Canaveral FL on Thursday, September 29, when it might be closed due to the storm.
NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line had to adjust one itinerary on Norwegian Sky, which will now sail to Puerto Rico and the BVI-British Virgin Islands, instead of Honduras, Grand Cayman, Belize, and Mexico. Norwegian Getaway's September 29th departure (9-day Eastern Caribbean roundtrip from Port Canaveral) is canceled. Impacted bookings will receive a 100% refund plus 25% in FCC/future cruise credit.