Hurricane Milton has delayed the homeport arrival of several cruise ships, which are at sea and awaiting the reopening of Florida ports.
In Tampa, the cruise port was closed on Oct. 10. Port Tampa Bay said on Thursday morning that staff are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and maritime partners to assess landside and seaside operations.
"While the preliminary assessments of the port's landside and seaside operations are underway, our port is currently without power. Some damage was observed to buildings but there has been no significant damage to docks, so far. The port is accessible through main gates, but please be advised there are road closures and flooding concerns in the surrounding roadways to our port," Port Tampa Bay said.
Tampa cruises
The Carnival Paradise sails out of Tampa but will disembark in Miami on Oct. 11. Guests will have the option to return to the Tampa cruise terminal via complimentary shuttle or reboard the ship and remain there until Oct. 14, when Carnival plans to disembark in either Port Canaveral or Tampa (provided the port reopens). The Oct. 10 sailing of the Paradise is canceled. The Oct. 14 voyage will embark in Port Canaveral or Tampa.
Royal Caribbean has three ships homeporting in Tampa: Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.
The Serenade, originally scheduled to return from a five-day cruise on Oct. 11, is now scheduled to arrive in Tampa on Oct. 13. The next sailing will now be a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise.
The Grandeur, originally scheduled to return Oct. 12 from a five-day cruise, will now arrive on Oct. 13. The ship is visiting Nassau on Oct. 11 instead of Oct. 10. The revised Oct. 13 sailing will now be a four-night Western Caribbean sailing.
The Enchantment is on a seven-day cruise that was originally due back in Tampa on Oct. 12. The delayed arrival is now scheduled for Oct. 14, and the next sailing has been revised to a five-night Western Caribbean cruise.
The Margaritaville at Sea Islander departed on its most recent cruise a day early on Oct. 7 to get the ship at sea before Tampa's port closed. That ship is due to return to Tampa on Oct. 13.
Port Canaveral
With Port Canaveral closed on Thursday, several cruises are affected.
Disney Cruise Line has canceled the Oct. 11 departure of the Disney Wish. The line is monitoring the current seven-day sailing of the Disney Fantasy, which is due back at Port Canaveral on Oct. 12.
Carnival said it was hoping the Carnival Glory will dock at Port Canaveral on Oct. 12, one day later than scheduled. The ship is currently on what was to be a four-day voyage. Carnival hopes to operate the next Glory cruise as a shortened voyage.
Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas will have a delayed turn in Port Canaveral, which is now scheduled for Oct. 12. The revised sailing will skip its call to Curacao. The Utopia of the Seas also will have delayed turn in Port Canaveral, which is now scheduled for Oct. 12.
MSC Cruises has canceled the MSC Seashore's three-night sailing from Port Canaveral, originally scheduled to depart on Oct. 10. Guests on the Seashore's current sailing will disembark as soon as Port Canaveral receives clearance to reopen from the U.S. Coast Guard, the line said.
Miami
In Miami, Carnival said Thursday that the port is open, but marine operations are limited due to expected storm conditions.
The Carnival Sunrise will not be able to return to Miami as scheduled on Oct 10; the line is planning to dock the ship on Oct. 11. The Sunrise's next cruise will be shortened.
Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas will have a delayed turn in Miami and is scheduled to arrive Oct. 11. The next sailing will swap private destination Labadee for a sea day on Oct. 12 and visit Perfect Day at CocoCay on Oct. 13.
Fort Lauderdale
The Sun Princess, on the tail end of a transatlantic cruise, had been scheduled to disembark at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Oct 9. The ship plans arrive there on Oct. 11.
Jacksonville
The Carnival Elation is now expected to return to Jacksonville on Oct. 12, two days after its original arrival date. Carnival said that it plans to operate the Oct. 12 departure as a two-day cruise with no port visit.
New Orleans
The Carnival Valor returned to New Orleans on Oct. 10. Embarkation for the voyage leaving Oct. 10 has been revised, and an email with updated plans has been sent to customers.