Port Canaveral, Palm Beach, JAXPORT are open
Three more Florida cruise homeports reopened for vessel operations Friday with the sixth and final one, Port Tampa Bay, likely to start taking vital petroleum ships Saturday and cruise ships Sunday.
October 12, 2024
At a Glance
- Tampa-based Carnival Paradise put into PortMiami
- Serenade and Grandeur of the Seas expected in Tampa Sunday
- After some shortened next cruises, itineraries should get back on track
PortMiami and Port Everglades, which reopened Thursday, both had busy cruise turnaround days Friday.
Port Tampa Bay
Tampa, which supplies nearly half of the state with fuel for vehicles and airplanes, had power restored to its fuel terminals Friday and some operators began discharging to trucks that will deliver fuel to gas stations for the public. The operational fuel terminals were going to remain open through the night, and port officials hoped all seven of them would be able to discharge fuel on Saturday.
The first ships back are expected to be carrying petroleum products.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Margaritaville
As earlier reported, cruise ships delayed by Hurricane Milton made other plans, with Carnival Paradise having disembarked passengers at PortMiami Friday. They could either take free shuttles back to Tampa or reboard and remain on Carnival Paradise until it returns to Tampa, expected no later than Monday.
Carnival Cruise Line hopes the ship will be able to embark its next cruise from Tampa on Oct. 14 and will advise passengers in advance.
As for Royal Caribbean's three Tampa-based ships, Serenade of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas were both expected back Sunday, with each ship planned to embark Oct. 13 for a revised itinerary. And Enchantment of the Seas is to turn around in Tampa on Monday, with embarkation for a revised Oct. 14 cruise.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander's return is also delayed until Monday, with arrival expected at noon. The Oct. 13 cruise will now sail Oct. 14 with an adjusted schedule: a sea day, a call at Cozumel and a sea day, arriving back at Tampa Oct. 18.
Port of Palm Beach
With the Port of Palm Beach resuming vessel operations, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise arrived later than usual on Friday and had a delayed departure for Freeport, Grand Bahama.
Port Canaveral
MSC Seashore returned to Port Canaveral Friday, one day late, and the ship's regular schedule will resume with the Oct. 13 cruise.
Carnival Glory's delayed turnaround at Port Canaveral is set to take place Saturday, at Cruise Terminal 10, with the shortened Oct. 12 cruise to sail to Freeport.
As earlier reported, Royal Caribbean's delayed Adventure of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas were also expected to turn around Saturday.
JAXPORT
Carnival Elation was expected to dock early Saturday morning, with its next cruise planned to sail Oct. 12 as a two-day getaway with no port calls.
Charleston, South Carolina
Carnival Sunshine was expected to return to Charleston Saturday afternoon, with the Oct. 12 cruise to operate as planned. However, passengers were asked to delay their terminal arrival appointments by six hours; everyone must be checked in by 8 p.m.
Passengers on any impacted Carnival sailings can get the latest information by signing up for text alerts — text CCL6 to CRUISE (278473).
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Port CanaveralPortMiamiPort EvergladesFloridaCarnival Cruise LineMargaritaville at SeaRoyal Caribbean InternationalMSC Cruises USAAbout the Author
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