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Carnival outlines planned ship returns to Florida ports

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The Tampa-based Carnival Paradise will be returning to Tampa or to Port Canaveral, depending on the availability of the port in Tampa
Carnival Cruise Line on Monday night outlined plans for the return of its ships to PortMiami, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral and Port Tampa Bay following Hurricane Irma, along with some further itinerary changes.

Carnival Glory, Carnival Vista and Carnival Victory are returning to Miami and will be in position to dock in PortMiami, contingent on the port reopening Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning.

Post-hurricane port assessments were partially complete on Monday and Carnival said there are two sunken sailboats in the channel that must be recovered prior to the reopening.

Given the uncertainty, the line has further shortened cruises on Carnival Vista and Carnival Glory and canceled the next (Sept. 11) cruise on Carnival Victory. Carnival Sensation is scheduled to complete its turnaround on Wednesday.

Carnival Vista's Sept. 9 cruise was changed to depart Miami on Sept. 13 for a four-day cruise to Cozumel. Carnival Glory's Sept. 9 cruise will also sail Sept. 13, on a three-day cruise to Freeport and Nassau.

Carnival Sensation's Sept. 11 cruise will instead leave Sept. 13 as a three-day cruise to Nassau.

As for Port Everglades-based ships, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Splendor are in position to dock on Tuesday. Carnival said port officials are in the process of restoring power to the cruise terminal and the line is optimistic the facility will be able to open Tuesday. Carnival Splendor passengers from the Sept. 3 sailing will have the option of staying on board until Thursday to accommodate anyone displaced due to canceled flights.

Carnival Conquest's Sept. 9 cruise is now scheduled to depart Port Everglades Sept. 12 for a four-day cruise to Cozumel.

Concerning Port Canaveral, Carnival Magic passengers from the Sept. 3 sailing are scheduled to arrive back at the Central Florida facility on Wednesday, the time to be determined upon port reopening. Transfers to Orlando airport will operate as normal.

Carnival Magic's Sept. 9 cruise is to depart Port Canaveral Sept. 13 as a three-day cruise to Freeport and Nassau.

Regarding Tampa-based ships, Carnival Paradise passengers from the Sept. 7 sailing departed Cozumel at 2 p.m. Monday to make their way back to Tampa or Port Canaveral, depending on the availability of the port in Tampa. Carnival early Tuesday aims to announce where the ship will arrive on Wednesday. Passengers may elect to be transferred to Tampa, or directly to Orlando airport, via motor coach. They also may remain in the Port Canaveral area and sail back with the ship to Tampa, with arrival expected Saturday.

Carnival advised passengers on fly-cruises to confirm arrangements with their airlines. The line expects South Florida airports to resume service starting Tuesday, and some carriers initially may operate limited service.

All passengers arriving on Carnival ships Tuesday have been given the option to remain on board.

Passengers who sail on shortened cruises will receive a pro-rated refund of their cruise fare, adjustments to pre-purchased beverage packages, gratuities and so forth. Passengers who choose to cancel will receive a future cruise credit.

Due to the storm seven cruises were canceled: Carnival Liberty (Sept. 7), Carnival Victory (Sept. 8), Carnival Splendor and Carnival Ecstasy (Sept. 9), Carnival Liberty (Sept 10), Carnival Paradise and Carnival Victory (Sept. 11). A full refund will be automatically processed.

Passengers booked on the Sept. 7 Carnival Paradise and Carnival Sensation cruises and the Sept. 10 Carnival Fascination sailing who were unable to travel will automatically receive future cruise credits.