Hurricane Helene sparks more Florida cruise delays

As the Category 4 monster neared the state's Big Bend Thursday evening, most of Florida was under tropical storm conditions. Ship operations were already suspended at Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT and Port Canaveral. PortMiami was open but impacted by bad weather.

PortMiami

Due to periodic strong winds and safety concerns, local pilots were not expected to be able to operate until early Friday morning.

Independence of the Seas' Thursday departure was delayed and the ship is now scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay on Sunday instead of Friday.

Carnival Sunrise embarked passengers Thursday but will remain docked until weather conditions allow departure. Carnival Cruise Line said this will not affect the ship's arrival to Half Moon Cay on Saturday.

Allure of the Seas' arrival to Miami on Friday will be delayed.

Carnival Horizon, which visited Amber Cove Thursday instead of Cozumel, is set to return to Miami Saturday as scheduled.

Port Canaveral

Delays are expected for all the cruise ships scheduled for Friday turnarounds at Port Canaveral.

Disney Wish will be arriving later than expected, and Disney Cruise Line asked passengers to postpone their arrival to the terminal by five hours after their selected port arrival time but no later than 7 p.m., adding that passengers would not be able to access the cruise terminal or parking facility until four hours after their selected port arrival time.

Related:Hurricane Helene delays turnarounds at Tampa, Jacksonville, Canaveral

Carnival Glory is due back late, tentatively 'sometime Friday,' with the next cruise expected to sail Friday with 'revised operational plans.'

Royal Caribbean had already advised of delayed turnarounds for Utopia of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas, and MSC Seashore's Thursday turnaround had already been set back to Friday.

Tampa

As earlier reported, Serenade of the Seas and Carnival Paradise turnarounds scheduled for Thursday were put back, with Serenade due to return Sunday and Carnival Paradise 'very tentatively anticipating sometime Friday ... possibly Saturday.'

Jacksonville

Carnival had already notified Carnival Elation wouldn't be able to return Thursday and the line's update estimated 'very tentatively' ... sometime Friday, possibly Saturday.