Cruise Itineraries Altered Due to Katrina

August 25, 2005

Cruise Itineraries Altered Due to Katrina
August 25, 2005 – Some cruise lines have been forced to change itineraries due to Tropical Storm Katrina. Ports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale were closed on Thursday.

Carnival Cruise Lines announced that the Imagination’s Aug. 20 cruise would return to Miami on Aug. 27 and the four-day cruise, which was scheduled to depart on Aug. 25, will change to a two-day cruise departing on Aug. 27. The Fascination’s Aug. 22 cruise will return to Miami on Aug. 27, and the ship’s three-day cruise that was to depart on Aug. 26 will change to a two-day cruise departing on Aug. 27.

Royal Caribbean International said the Empress of the Seas will not return to Port Everglades on Aug. 25 as scheduled because the port will be closed. Instead, the cruise will end at the Port of Tampa on Aug. 25. Passengers will be transported by bus to Port Everglades and the Tampa airport. Guests booked on Thursday’s cruise will be bused from Port Everglades to Tampa. These passengers are asked not to drive to Tampa because the cruise will return to Port Everglades on Aug. 29 as scheduled. That cruise will spend the day at sea Friday and call at Cozumel instead of stopping at Key West. Additionally, the Majesty of the Seas will delay its return to the Port of Miami by one day. The ship will spend the day at sea and arrive in Miami on Aug. 27. The upcoming three-night sailing will be shortened to two nights. The short cruise will call at Nassau. Royal Caribbean also said the Navigator of the Seas is still expected to arrive and depart at the Port of Miami as scheduled on Aug. 27. Passengers booked on that cruise should check the line’s Web site for possible changes.

For more information, visit http://www.carnival.com/ or http://www.royalcaribbean.com/.