Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruises delayed by Cyclone Alfred
Cruise lines are adjusting operations as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches Queensland, Australia.
Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Luminosa ship will be delayed returning to Brisbane, the cruise line told USA TODAY. 'Given its current track, the storm is expected to directly impact the Brisbane area in the coming days and the port is now closed,' a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
The ship departed from Brisbane on Feb. 23 for a cruise that was set to end on Thursday, according to CruiseMapper.
Carnival Luminosa will return once it's safe to do so, possibly on Saturday morning, the spokesperson added. 'The Captain is sailing a safe distance from the storm to minimize discomfort for our guests,' the statement said.
The vessel's next cruise, which was set to start on Thursday, was canceled. Guests will get a full refund of their fare and any pre-purchased items.
Was your cruise itinerary changed?: What to do next
Royal Caribbean International's Quantum of the Seas was also delayed due to the storm. 'Guests currently onboard will spend three extra days cruising the South Pacific before returning to Brisbane,' a spokesperson for the line's parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement.
The ship left from Brisbane on Feb. 28 and was scheduled to return on Friday, according to CruiseMapper. The company did not address a question about the ship's subsequent sailing or whether guests would receive compensation.
Cyclone Alfred stalled off Australia's east coast on Thursday as officials shut airports, schools and public transport while residents stockpiled supplies and sandbagged homes against flooding expected when the category-two storm hits.
The storm is now likely to make landfall by Saturday morning near Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update, compared with a prior projection of landfall by early Friday.
Brisbane Airport said it would suspend operations around 4 p.m. on Thursday but keep its terminals open for defense operations.
Qantas Airways said its international operations from Brisbane would remain suspended until Saturday noon and domestic flights until Sunday morning.
Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY; Renju Jose, Reuters
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cyclone Alfred keeps Carnival, Royal Caribbean ships at sea
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
FAA caps flights at Newark Airport to cut delays through 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration finalized new air traffic restrictions at Newark Liberty International Airport, saying that arrivals and departures would be limited to 34 each per hour through Oct. 25, 2025. Arrivals and departures at EWR will be further reduced on weekends from Sept. 1 through the end of the year to accommodate airport construction. The FAA previously signaled it was planning to reduce traffic at Newark in response to weeks of delays caused by equipment outages and staffing issues that hampered the airport's capacity. "The confirmed reduced rates will maintain safety while alleviating excessive flight delays at the airport due to staffing and equipment challenges. The early completion of runway construction at the airport that added to the delays will also contribute to a more efficient operation," the FAA said in a statement. "Working with airlines and the airport, the limited arrival rate already paid dividends over the Memorial Day holiday with smooth travel into and out of Newark." United Airlines, which operates a major hub at Newark, touted the airport's on-time rate over the previous week. "Newark (EWR) is the most reliable airport in the New York City area this week," the airline said in a statement. United noted that 79% of its departures from Newark were on time between June 2 and June 5, while 88% of arrivals landed at Newark on time, and 90% of the airline's flights departing Newark arrived at their destinations on time. At a press conference announcing the early completion of a runway reconstruction project at the airport, alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, United CEO Scott Kirby said that travelers in and out of Newark will be able to take advantage of great airfare deals this summer. "We did get well behind on bookings because of the perception issues around Newark recently, so that means more seats are available, which means the fares are better than they're probably going to ever be in the years to come, so now's the time to book your vacation if you want to go to Europe or you want to head across the country," he said. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Newark flight? FAA reduces traffic to improve on-time performance
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
'I caution them not to travel': Expert warns travelers from banned countries to stay home
'I caution them not to travel': Expert warns travelers from banned countries to stay home Show Caption Hide Caption Travelers react to the latest travel ban from President Trump "Pros and cons." Travelers in Los Angeles responded to the news of President Donald Trump's travel ban impacting nearly 20 countries. President Donald Trump announced a new travel ban affecting 19 countries. The ban prohibits entry for most foreign nationals from 12 countries and suspends travel for those from 7 others. Experts warn the ban could negatively impact the U.S. economy and separate families. President Donald Trump announced a new travel ban on Wednesday evening that will bar most visitors from 12 countries and restrict those from seven others. The ban, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on June 9, prohibits travel into the U.S. for foreign nationals from Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. It also includes travel suspensions for Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela nationals. How could the ban affect travelers who already have tickets Even for travelers who already have tickets and documents to enter the U.S., the ban is likely to cause issues. 'They're not getting in on Monday unless they qualify for one of the very rare exceptions, which include diplomats, people aligned with NATO, athletes and those with extenuating family circumstances,' Michael Wildes, managing partner of Wildes and Weinberg, PC, a law firm that focuses on immigration, told USA TODAY. 'They may have a hard time getting in even before Monday.' Wildes said he's advising clients from the affected countries not to travel to the U.S. until further notice. 'I caution them not to travel and then be turned around because that would terminate their visas effectively," he said. "They will develop an immediate adverse history once they're denied admission," which would also make future visa applications and visits much more complicated. Wildes added that he expects the ban will eventually end up in court, but that process could take weeks or months to play out. He suggested that travelers covered by the ban not try to enter the U.S. in the meantime. Economic impact of Trump's travel ban Experts are warning that the ban could also have a significant economic impact as well. 'President Trump's decision to reimpose and expand the blanket and discriminatory nationality-based travel bans of his first term will have massive costs for all Americans," Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the American Immigration Council, said in a statement. "These travel bans do nothing to make us safer or more prosperous: they harm our economy and indiscriminately punish immigrants who otherwise qualify to come to the United States legally." The organization's statement noted that more than 115,000 green cards were issued to people from Cuba, Venezuela and Haiti alone in 2023. Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute, said in a writeup that the travel ban is unlikely to have a significant impact on national security. "The government should pursue a rational and evidence-based approach when evaluating the threat posed by foreign nationals. Otherwise, the government is wasting resources and impeding peaceful and voluntary exchange for no purpose," Nowrasteh wrote. "The threat of foreign-born terrorism and crime is manageable and small, especially from the countries facing new bans and restrictions by the administration.' Wildes likewise warned that the ban could have negative economic consequences and affect families whose loved ones are covered by the policy. "It will have a serious emotional and economic effect on our nation," he said. Which nationals are barred from entering the US? The full travel ban applies to nationals of the following 12 countries: Afghanistan Burma (Myanmar) Chad Republic of the Congo Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Haiti Iran Libya Somalia Sudan Yemen Additionally, partial restrictions are imposed on nationals from: Burundi Cuba Laos Sierra Leone Togo Turkmenistan Venezuela Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
Travel Weekly
a day ago
- Travel Weekly
Slate of Carnival Conquest cruises canceled due to drydock
Carnival Cruise Line has canceled sailings on the Carnival Conquest from Jan. 5 to Jan. 26, 2026, due to a rescheduled drydock. "Our team is working with guests and travel advisors on rescheduling affected bookings, and bookings that are not rescheduled will be refunded," a Carnival spokesperson said. The affected cruises were Bahamas sailings from Miami. Carnival did not share why the drydock was rescheduled.
