Update March 25, 7:30 p.m.: The Carnival Magic has set sail on a 5 night cruise to the Western Caribbean. The Carnival Triumph will set sail once the cruise line receives approval after the hull has been cleaned.
The Caribbean Princess has also left port and will make one stop in Cozumel, Mexico.
The Carnival Magic, Carnival Triumph, Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, and the Caribbean Princess have been delayed in port due to the oil spill earlier this week in the Houston Ship Channel. The port channel has remained closed until the oil has been cleaned up.
Royal Caribbean originally cancelled the cruise on the Navigator of the Seas. The cruise line announced that the ship will now depart on Wednesday morning. All passengers will still receive a full refund and a 25% credit towards a future cruise. Passengers who disembarked the ship will be allowed to return from 7-8:00 a.m. The Navigator was scheduled for a 7 night cruise to the Western Caribbean.
Princess and Carnival are still hoping that the port will reopen so their ships can go out on shortened cruises. The ships will not be allowed to leave port until the Coast Guard clears the vessels and when the ship’s hulls have been cleaned from oil.
Passengers on the Caribbean Princess will receive a full refund and the cruise line is giving them a goodwill gesture of a 25% credit towards a future cruise. The Caribbean Princess was scheduled to go on a 7 night cruise to the Western Caribbean. Passengers may disembark the ship at any time or stay on the ship and enjoy the full array of entertainment and amenities that are being offered onboard. Visit Princess.com for complete details.
Passengers on the Carnival Magic will receive a prorated refund of 2 days of their cruise fare. Due to itinerary changes, they will also receive a 25% credit towards a future cruise. The Magic was scheduled for a 7 night cruise to the Western Caribbean. The cruise will now stop in Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico.
The itinerary for the Carnival Triumph has been adjusted and the stop in Progreso, Mexico has been cancelled. Passengers will receive a 1 day prorated refund and a 25% credit towards a future cruise. The Triumph was scheduled for a 5 night cruise to the Western Caribbean.
For complete details about the delays for these 2 Carnival cruise ships, visit Carnival.com.
The cruise lines are hoping that the channel will re-open on Tuesday and that the ships will be able to leave port.
For the most up to date information, always check with the cruise lines. However, wait times have been up to 2 hours for some who have tried to call in.
If the cruise lines make any other changes, we will update this page as the information comes in. This information is current as of 7:15 a.m. EST on Tuesday morning.
Photo credit: NBC Dallas
Why can’t we get an honest answer from the cruise lines? I’ve called numerous times to see if everything is on schedule, only to hear, yes no delays. A friend and his family were to leave last Sat., but stayed 2 days on the cruise ship, before the cruise line cancelled. Who wants to drive 5 hours for the cruise to be cancelled, when they already know the answer.
All ships have left exept Navigator of the Seas. As stated above, Navigator will sail tomorrow morning (3/26)
What Caribbean Princess is saying is untrue. I was onboard that ship until yesterday. We had two options stay on board and receive 50% towards a future cruise or get off and be refunded.
They originally said they would credit everyone then took it back. Very deceitful cruise line. Never again.