Latest news with #CarnivalLuminosa
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Multiple Cruises Stranded at Sea Due to Unexpected Port Closure
A rare storm is brewing in the Pacific Ocean, sparking one cruise port to batten down the hatches. As a result, some passengers are getting extended vacations while others have found their travels canceled. A Category 2 tropical cyclone named Alfred is hurtling toward Brisbane, located on the southeastern coast of Australia—a city that hasn't been impacted by such severe weather in decades, according to The New York Times. Airports, schools, and public transportation were all shuttered in response to the storm expected to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday morning—including its port, which ships like Carnival Luminosa and Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas call home at this time of year. 🎬 🎬 The Luminosa was expected to return to the port on March 6, after an 11-day Fiji South Pacific itinerary, while the Quantum of the Seas was meant to return on March 7, after a seven-day South Pacific cruise. John Heald, a senior cruise director and brand ambassador for Carnival Cruise Lines, shared the message the company sent to passengers who had their trips aboard the Luminosa canceled as a result, on Facebook, noting that, once the storm passes, officials will still need to "conduct a post-storm assessment before [the ship] can be cleared to safely return to port." The earliest they anticipate the ship docking is on March 8. However, the speed of the storm and any resulting damage will factor into it. Until then, the ships will remain at sea, with the captain "keeping the ship a safe distance from any bad weather." While some might expect those stuck on the water due to weather to panic, passengers aboard the Luminosa replied to Heald's post with praise for the crew. "I am onboard the Luminosa now and the Captain and all involved has done an amazing job all cruise to keep us safe," one wrote. Another agreed that the crew was "amazing," keeping them "updated throughout the cruise with as much information as has been available." Next:
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
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@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cyclone Alfred keeps Carnival, Royal Caribbean ships at sea
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
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@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cyclone Alfred keeps Carnival, Royal Caribbean ships at sea
USA Today
06-03-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruises delayed by Cyclone Alfred
Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruises delayed by Cyclone Alfred Show Caption Hide Caption Queensland braces for impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred Rain was pouring down in Brisbane, Queensland, as Tropical Cyclone Alfred neared the Australian coast. 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@
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Carnival, Royal Caribbean cancel voyages, ships stuck at sea
In the same way hurricane season spoils some Caribbean cruise vacations each year, a rare extreme weather event in another part of the world is currently obstructing cruises. Some passengers sailing on Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise ships just got word that their weekend getaway cruises from one cruise port won't be happening as a severe weather system shuts down everything in its path.A rare Category 2 tropical cyclone has taken aim at Australia's southeastern coast. For the first time in many years, Brisbane is being directly impacted by a cyclone, causing the city to shut down trains, buses, and its port as it prepares for heavy rains, strong winds and flooding. As Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches Queensland, with landfall expected on Friday near Brisbane, cruise ships sailing to and from the Port of Brisbane must stay safely away until the weather system passes. This means Carnival Luminosa and Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas, which homeport in Brisbane seasonally, are stuck at sea until the port can safely reopen. Carnival Luminosa was expected to return to the port on March 6 with Quantum of the Seas following on March 7. The captains will keep both ships a safe distance away from the area until Tropical Cyclone Alfred passes. Passengers currently on board will enjoy a couple of extra days at sea until the ships are able to safely return to Brisbane once the port the port closed until Saturday, March 8 at the earliest, both cruise lines were forced to cancel their next sailings on the ships. Both had three-day weekend getaway cruises scheduled that won't be able to happen. On his Facebook page, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald shared a message that was sent to passengers who expected to board Carnival Luminosa in Brisbane on March 6. Royal Caribbean sent a similar communication to its passengers booked on Quantum of the Seas' March 7 weekend getaway cruise.'Our Fleet Operations Center continues to keep a close eye on Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Given its current track, the storm is expected to directly impact the Brisbane area in the coming days and the port is now closed as it prepares,' Carnival Cruise Line stated. 'Once the storm passes, officials must conduct a post-storm assessment before we can be cleared to safely return to port. We are anticipating that this process will take some time to complete, the earliest being Saturday, 8 March. Regrettably, we have no alternative but to cancel your voyage.' The cruise line noted that all passengers booked on the sailing will receive a full refund for their cruise fares and all pre-purchased Cruise Line's brand ambassador added his own message for Carnival Luminosa passengers and all those in the Brisbane area, who unfortunately must prepare for the worst. 'Just as I do when something like this happens on our ships that sail from our North American home ports I would like to say how sorry I am for you all,' Heald wrote. 'I know you were looking forward so much to having Fun with us. I hope we will see you all re-booking and for now, most importantly please everyone in the Brisbane area, stay safe and let me know when you can how you are doing.'In the comments on the post, one passenger currently sailing on Carnival Luminosa shared a positive update from on board the ship. 'Hey John, we are on Luminosa now (extended days) your crew are amazing, we have been updated throughout the cruise with as much information as has been available,' Hayley Lock wrote. 'We know we are safe out here in the ocean. My love and thoughts are with family and friends and everyone in the areas of impact. Huge thanks to Carnival for making good decisions to keep us safe.' (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
