Margaritaville Islander, the latest ship for the boutique Margaritaville at Sea cruise line, has had a crucial itinerary change brought on by the delays on account of Tropical Storm Debby.
As a result of the ship needed to stay at sea for an additional day whereas Port Tampa Bay was closed, the subsequent crusing has been shortened to a 4-night itinerary and one port of name is cancelled.
The ship’s authentic itinerary was to have been a 5-night cruise departing Tampa on Sunday, August 4, 2024. Due to the storm’s timing and the port’s closure, nevertheless, the ship remained out to sea and away from the extreme climate till the port reopened on Tuesday, August 6.
Because the ship was not capable of return to the cruise terminal till later within the morning than typical, debarkation and embarkation have been additionally subsequently delayed. Company have been requested to reach two hours after their initially chosen arrival appointment window to make sure sufficient time for all vacationers to be processed.
“It is necessary that each one company observe their assigned arrival occasions to reduce ready outdoors the terminal,” the notification defined. “Please be suggested, terminal operations closes at 3:30 p.m., and no company can be permitted to enter the terminal after this time.”
Embarkation has now been accomplished and Margaritaville Islander departed on her shortened crusing at roughly 6 p.m. The ship is not going to, nevertheless, be capable to make each her initially deliberate ports of name – Key West and Cozumel.
Initially, the cruise itinerary included a port go to to Key West on Monday, August 5, adopted by a day at sea earlier than spending the day in Cozumel, Mexico on Wednesday, August 7. One other day at sea adopted earlier than the ship would return to Tampa on Friday, August 9.
With the delay of greater than a day, nevertheless, it isn’t potential for Margaritaville Islander to regulate her itinerary and preserve each ports of name. As an alternative, the ship will now go to Key West on Wednesday and spend Thursday at sea earlier than returning to Tampa on schedule on Friday.
Learn Additionally: Key West Cruise Port – Piers, Issues Close by, and Getting Round
There isn’t a want for any adjustments to the ship’s subsequent cruise, a 4-night crusing that may embody two days at sea and a go to to Cozumel.
Margaritaville Islander simply started crusing for Margaritaville at Sea in mid-June, following in depth renovations and rebranding from the vessel’s former identification as Costa Atlantica.
The ship is homeported year-round from Tampa, providing primarily 4- and 5-night itineraries to Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso relying on the crusing date and cruise size.
In August 2025, the ship will start providing 7-night itineraries that may go to much more numerous ports of name, together with Costa Maya, Belize, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.
Newest Storm Replace
Tropical Storm Debby – which was Hurricane Debby when she handed Tampa and made landfall in northern Florida – has impacted a number of cruise ships. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise had comparable adjustments to Margaritaville Islander with one crusing prolonged a day and the subsequent cruise shortened a day.
Carnival Elation in Jacksonville additionally shortened a crusing and moved up embarkation for the subsequent cruise so as to have the ability to go away the port forward of the storm’s method.
Royal Caribbean Worldwide’s Symphony of the Seas crusing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey additionally needed to skip Port Canaveral as a port of name on account of anticipated tough climate from the fringes of the storm.
Carnival Sunshine is anticipated to be impacted as properly, as that ship is presently homeported from Charleston, South Carolina and the middle of the tropical storm is now situated simply off the state’s east coast, roughly 70 miles southwest of Charleston.
The Carnival ship is scheduled to embark on Thursday, August 8, however the storm might not go away the area till Friday.
Present most sustained winds are at 40 miles per hour, with greater gusts at occasions. The storm is simply shifting at three miles per hour, and is bringing important rain and flooding to the southeastern US. Charleston might even see as a lot as 6-12 inches of rain, whereas some close by areas might get as a lot as 12-16 inches.
Carnival Sunshine is the one ship scheduled for Charleston in August, and the cruise line is retaining company up to date about any adjustments or delays to the ship’s subsequent crusing.
