Humid circumstances throughout Florida have created heavy fog at two ports of name on Monday, February 3, 2025, impacting two Carnival cruise ships. Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise have each had delays, however to completely different levels.
Carnival Elation is homeported from Jacksonville and is ending a 4-night Bahamas itinerary. Because of fog that made navigation up the St. Johns River difficult within the early hours of Monday morning, the ship was barely delayed.
Thankfully, the influence on Carnival Elation was minimal and the ship was capable of dock after the fog lightened. Whereas embarking friends may even be barely delayed, there needs to be no influence on the ship’s subsequent itinerary, a 5-night Bahamas crusing to each Nassau and Freeport.
Sadly, the delay is extra intensive for Carnival Paradise, because the fog is way thicker within the Tampa Bay space and the US Coast Guard (USCG) has quickly closed the port.
“Because of heavy fog, the arrival of the Carnival Paradise has been delayed. The choice to delay the arrival was made in an abundance of warning by the US Coast Guard, as a consequence of low visibility within the space,” Port Tampa Bay confirmed.
Carnival Paradise is coming back from 4-night Western Caribbean itinerary that visited Cozumel, Mexico. The ship’s subsequent crusing is a 5-night Bahamas cruise to go to Bimini and Nassau.
Carnival Cruise Line has been in contact with friends booked on immediately’s departure to replace them in regards to the delay. Presently, there isn’t a confirmed time for Carnival Paradise to dock at Cruise Terminal 3.
“Port of Tampa stays closed as a consequence of fog. We are going to proceed to observe the state of affairs and supply one other replace by 12:00 PM (ET),” the newest textual content replace learn. “Please don’t proceed to the cruise terminal till you’ve acquired our last replace. Thanks in your understanding.”
In the intervening time, Carnival Paradise is holding place exterior the doorway to Tampa Bay, as it isn’t navigationally protected for the ship to proceed into the bay.
As soon as the USCG determines the fog has cleared sufficient for the ship to enter the bay, it should take 2-3 hours for Carnival Paradise to succeed in the cruise terminal. That transit time is regular, and the ship would often be making that journey within the early hours of the morning.
Passengers Being Saved Busy Whereas They Wait
Friends onboard have confirmed very heavy fog and minimal visibility. They’re nonetheless permitted to stay of their staterooms, and all onboard programs and actions are continuing as deliberate.
The ship’s Cruise Director and Enjoyable Squad staff are undoubtedly providing new actions for vacationers to get pleasure from as they wait out the fog delay. Moreover, lots of the ship’s venues – swimming pools, miniature golf, and so forth. – stay open and obtainable for friends.
Sooner or later, friends might be requested to vacate their staterooms and wait in public areas so the housekeeping groups can start turning over cabins in preparation for the subsequent cruise.
Turnover day – when one group of friends is debarking and one other group is starting their cruise – is all the time chaotic, and the fog provides an additional complication to the method.
Learn Additionally: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Unhealthy Climate
Friends onboard ought to take the chance to get pleasure from their additional time onboard and be affected person with the ship’s 900 crew members as all of them attempt to make this troublesome state of affairs as clean as potential.
Fog is a typical incidence for Port Tampa Bay, particularly within the winter months when cooler air from the north interacts with the nice and cozy waters of the bay, creating very dense fog banks.
Friends with any Carnival Paradise sailings booked within the winter needs to be conscious of climate circumstances and keep in shut communication with Carnival Cruise Line in case of delays and itinerary changes.
