News

Cruise lines begin canceling, delaying Florida ship departures as Hurricane Ian bears down

Gene SloanCruise team lead
As TPG's cruise team lead, Gene Sloan oversees the site's cruise content and also writes many of TPG's main cruise guides. He has spent nearly 30 years writing about cruise ships and cruising, and he is one of the world's best-known authorities on the topic.

September 27, 2022 • 7 min read

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Quick summary

Cruise lines have begun canceling and delaying departures from Central Florida ports due to Hurricane Ian's approach.
Several ships, including those from major operators, have had voyages canceled or delayed out of Tampa, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville.
Port closures are expected to cause further disruptions, with nearly a dozen ships and thousands of passengers affected in the coming days.
Port Canaveral, one of the world's largest cruise hubs, faces significant potential impact depending on the storm's duration.

What to consider

Port closures are being implemented as gale-force winds are anticipated within 24 hours, restricting ship movements.
Passengers may experience extended stays at ports of call or delayed returns, affecting subsequent cruise schedules.
Grand Turk, a common alternate stop for rerouted ships, remains closed due to prior hurricane damage.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed breakdown of which specific ships and itineraries are affected and expert forecasts on port reopening timelines.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

Cruise lines on Tuesday began canceling and delaying close-in departures of ships out of Central Florida ports as a strengthening Hurricane Ian bore down on the region.

Norwegian Cruise Line was the first major line to announce the cancellation of an entire voyage, saying late in the day that it had called off Thursday's departure of the 3,963-passenger Norwegian Getaway out of Port Canaveral. The ship had been scheduled to sail a nine-night voyage to the Eastern Caribbean.

Soon after, Carnival Cruise Line canceled four-night sailings out of Tampa and Jacksonville scheduled for Thursday on the 2,502-passenger Carnival Paradise and 2,502-passenger Carnival Elation, respectively.

In addition, Disney Cruise Line has told passengers on the 2,508-passenger Disney Wish that the ship could be delayed returning to Port Canaveral on Friday. If the ship is delayed returning, the subsequent departure of the vessel also could be delayed.

The cancellations and delay came as the cruise ports in Tampa, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville either had shut down or were preparing to shut down due to the approach of Ian.

As of 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Port Tampa Bay was closed to all marine traffic, including cruise ships, with the anticipation that gale force winds (34-47 knots) from Hurricane Ian would arrive soon. The ports of Port Canaveral and Jacksonville are expected to close to marine traffic by Wednesday for the same reason.

The closures could cause more delays and disruptions to cruise departures in the coming days. A dozen cruise ships, including some of the biggest in the world, are based at the three ports and have departures scheduled between now and Sunday.

Among the ships that is likely to be the most affected in the coming days is Carnival Paradise — the only cruise vessel based out of Tampa. Port Tampa Bay — the port for the Tampa area — is expected to be the Florida cruise port hardest hit by Ian, based on the storm's current track. In addition to Thursday's now-canceled departure from Tampa, Carnival Paradise is scheduled to sail two additional voyages out of the city next week starting on Monday.

Carnival Paradise was in Cozumel on Tuesday and was due to start its return to Tampa early Wednesday. However, a spokesperson for Carnival on Tuesday afternoon told TPG the ship would extend its Tuesday stay in Cozumel into Wednesday due to the closure of Port Tampa Bay.

A shutdown of Port Canaveral in the coming days could cause a far bigger impact on cruisers than the closure of Port Tampa Bay, depending on how long it lasts. Port Canaveral is the second biggest cruise port in the world, currently home to 10 cruise vessels operated by such major cruise operators as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and Disney Cruise Line.

In a video update posted Tuesday, Royal Caribbean chief meteorologist James Van Fleet warned that Port Canaveral could shut down Wednesday as Ian approaches Central Florida.

“You will hear from [Royal Caribbean] if any adjustments are made, so this is just my thoughts, and nothing is official yet, but what I am anticipating is we might see the Port Canaveral closure starting on Wednesday, continuing into Thursday, and [the port reopening] on Friday,” Van Fleet said in the second of two Twitter videos offering his outlook on the storm and its effect on cruisers.

This content is hosted by X.

View this post on X

Royal Caribbean's 3,344-passenger Mariner of the Seas, which is based in Port Canaveral, is scheduled to return to the port early Thursday to disembark passengers from its current, five-night voyage to the Eastern Caribbean. It's scheduled to depart Port Canaveral later that same day on a new, four-night voyage to the Bahamas.

“There is a chance [that the return of] Mariner gets kicked back a day,” Van Fleet said in the video. “You will hear from the company if the decision is made, and the port is closed, and we need to kick that back.”

Closure of the port at Port Canaveral on Thursday would also affect the Thursday departure of MSC Cruises‘ 3,502-passenger MSC Divina. The line had yet to announce a delay to the departure as of Tuesday, but it had previously warned passengers on the current sailing of the ship that the vessel might not be able to get back to Port Canaveral by Thursday.

Van Fleet said he expected Port Canaveral to reopen by Friday, in time for the line’s Port Canaveral-based, 4,370-passenger Independence of the Seas to return to the port that day as scheduled. The ship is scheduled to depart Port Canaveral late Friday on a three-night voyage to the Bahamas.

In addition to Independence of the Seas, Disney’s Disney Wish and Carnival’s Carnival Liberty are scheduled to depart on sailings from Port Canaveral on Friday.

Van Fleet said a departure of the 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas from Port Canaveral on Sunday also is likely to continue without disruption.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told TPG the company had no further updates on the line’s vessels sailing out of Port Canaveral.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard set Port Condition Yankee for Port Canaveral. That means gale-force winds are expected within 24 hours. Ships are barred from entering a port under Port Condition Yankee but can still depart.

The Coast Guard on Tuesday set Port Condition X-Ray for the Port of Jacksonville. The Coast Guard plans to set Port Condition Yankee for the port at 12 a.m. EDT on Wednesday.

Nearly a dozen cruise ships operating in the Caribbean and the Bahamas have already switched course in recent days to avoid Ian as it barreled toward Florida.

The disruptions come as one of the busier cruise ports in the region that often serves as an alternate stop for cruise ships avoiding hurricanes, Grand Turk, remains closed for now due to damage from Hurricane Fiona.

As of 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Ian was 180 miles south-southwest of Punta Gorda, Florida, and moving north-northeast at 10 miles per hour. The hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour.

The storm is expected to strengthen over the next 12 hours as it moves toward the west coast of Florida.

According to current projections, it could be a very powerful Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour as it nears the coast of Florida late Wednesday.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

TPG editor's rating

Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Points are transferable
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Difficult credit redemption

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.