Carnival Cruise Line shares serious weather warning

Miami Herald

03-07-2025

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 and that six month period means that any plans you make to cruise may change.
Every cruise line puts the safety of its passengers, crew, and ships ahead of all other concerns. That can mean changed itineraries, delayed cruises, and sometimes ships that get stuck at sea.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line sailings disrupted by Hurricane Flossie
In many cases, passengers may not even know what's happening. The captain may sail a different route to avoid weather, but still make the same stops.
There are, of course, also times where the changes are more drastic. Ports may be skipped or itineraries could get shuffled around. In rare cases, there can be major changes like a New York Caribbean sailing moving to a Canada itinerary.
Last year, port closures in Tampa and at Port Canaveral forced multiple ships to spend extra days at sea. That's not convenient for people flying home the day after their cruise, but the cruise lines don't control the ports, and would likely reach the same decision to close even if they did.
Every cruise contract makes it clear that itineraries can change. When that happens, port fees and cruise line excursions are refunded, but cruisers are not entitled to any additional compensation.
When cruise dates change, cruise lines generally work with passengers to get flights rebooked and figure out how to get people home.
In the end, however, safety comes first and Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald talked in a recent video about how his company handles bad weather.
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Heald, it should be noted, is a messenger. He didn't make the decision to change your itinerary or cancel your cruise. He's also not the person who decides on compensation when something as extreme as a cancellation happens.
He will, however, relay your concerns to "The Beards," his term for Carnival management. Heald also shares lots of information as he did in a July 1 video.
"In all seriousness, we have to talk about the weather because I want to keep you updated. And even though this may not be affecting you directly, I do want you to know these things because I think it's important that during storm season, we do highlight the incredible work of the Fleet Operations Center and the fact that we have spent millions and millions of dollars and continue to invest in this center," he shared.
Heald noted that the operations center looks like CTU in the old television show "24."
"There are screens. And anyway, it's something that is in direct contact with all of the ships, the latest information and 24 hours manned by wonderful ladies and gentlemen. And they've been working very hard and they confer and they talk to the captains continuously," he added.
Currently, there are multiple situations the cruise line is monitoring.
"Now we have over on the west coast, I'm pointing over there, over there is London. Anyway, across the west coast at Long Beach, we have a couple of ships that have been affected with that," he added.
He started by talking about the Carnival Panorama.
"I mentioned that Flossie, the very inappropriately named tropical storm, which could strengthen to a hurricane, the Fleet Operations Center said in their latest report, they have informed the captain that they would advise that the captain leaves after the first day in Cabo. So they'll have a full and extended day in Cabo San Lucas, but they won't be there for the second planned day because that will be some very adverse weather coming in on the bands of tropical storm Flossie. So they will have that day at sea," he added.
He also noted that another West Coast cruise was being impacted.
"Now also on the west coast, we have Flossie affecting Carnival Firenze and they also were supposed to go to Cabo. So instead, they will stay away, keep the ship safe, keep everybody safe, and we'll have two days in Ensenada," he added.
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When a change in itinerary happens, some passengers will take out their anger on the crew, Heald has always asked them to express their anger to him, no crew members who have no role in the decision
"The crew, as always, will give everybody the most wonderful, wonderful time," he added.
Heald also understands that people will be upset when their long-made plans change.
"So, it's great to see that as always, there's going to be disappointment when we have to change an itinerary, but I'm sure, I'm sure, he says with eyes closed and fingers crossed, there won't be a single glitter-knicker who is screaming at the guest services desk for compensation, etc., he shared.
The Brand Ambassador stressed that changes aren't made to keep people on the ships so that Carnival can make more money (a common charge).
"It's all about keeping you safe, keeping the fun going, and that is what is happening," he added.
"But anyway, my point of that was that we do have the Fleet Operations Center and it is keeping every ship safe from Australia across North America into Europe, wherever we are, this Fleet Operations Center are there to make sure that we have all the information that the captains and the crew need. So stay safe, have a wonderful time, and the crew, as always, are going to make sure that that happens," he shared.
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