Carnival Adjusts Cruise Itineraries Due to Storm Helene

Carnival Cruise Line has made changes to the itineraries of at least two of its ships due to the impact of Tropical Storm Helene on the Gulf of Mexico.

According to a recent company update, the Carnival Paradise and Carnival Valor saw their routes altered this Tuesday in response to the storm's movement.

“Because of the timing of the storm and its movement into the Gulf of Mexico, some itineraries have already been adjusted,” said Amy Sweezey, a weather contributor for Carnival Cruise Line.

Both ships canceled their scheduled stops in Cozumel on Tuesday to avoid the storm's path in Mexico. While the Carnival Valor spent the day at sea, the Carnival Paradise replaced its Cozumel visit with a stop at Costa Maya.

Carnival’s Fleet Operations Center in Miami is closely coordinating with homeport officials and ship crews to monitor the situation and consider further adjustments, Sweezey explained.

Other ships that could see changes in the coming days include the Carnival Horizon, Carnival Breeze, and Carnival Elation.

“Guests who are onboard hear about any changes from our team on the ships. If you are preparing for an upcoming cruise that could be impacted by the storm, especially if your homeport is in the path, please watch your emails closely,” Sweezey added.

Passengers set to depart from Tampa and Jacksonville are particularly at risk of being affected by Helene, as both ports are within the storm’s projected path.

“Under the current scenario, the Port of Tampa Bay has already advised that their current cruise schedule for the next several days will be impacted,” Carnival noted in a statement.

The company is still evaluating how this will affect the Carnival Paradise, which is slated to sail from Tampa on Thursday.

“As the safety of our guests and crew is our priority, we will continue to watch the storm and factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard, and local port authorities to provide timely updates as more information becomes available,” the company added.