Carnival Celebration Cancels Half Moon Cay Call Over Ocean Swells
Passengers who booked island excursions through Carnival will receive automatic Sail & Sign refunds, while the onboard team added activities and entertainment for the sea day.
Carnival Celebration abandoned its September 25, 2026, call at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, after ocean swells made it unsafe to remain alongside the Bahamian island’s pier. The Carnival Cruise Line vessel left the dock and substituted a sea day during its seven-day voyage that departed Miami on September 20.
The ship had berthed successfully at the newly built pier and was scheduled to stay until 5 p.m. The call was canceled shortly after 8 a.m. Passengers lost their planned day ashore at Carnival’s private destination.
Carnival Celebration cruise director Joey Boyes announced the decision over the ship’s public-address system. “This difficult decision was made with the safety of all guests, crew, and the ship in mind,” Boyes told passengers, according to a recording posted on Facebook by a guest.
Captain Vincenzo Alcaras subsequently sent passengers a letter apologizing for the missed visit and citing unfavorable weather. An onboard guest posting as The Cruise Dude said the captain and his team had determined that staying at the pier could risk damage to the vessel.
Passengers who purchased island shore excursions through Carnival will receive automatic refunds to their Sail & Sign accounts. The onboard team arranged activities and entertainment for the replacement sea day, with special events added to the program.
Built by Meyer Turku in Finland, the 183,521-gross-ton Excel-class ship entered service in 2022 and accommodates 5,362 passengers at double occupancy.
Half Moon Cay lies approximately 100 miles southeast of Nassau and was not affected by the nor’easter disrupting the U.S. East Coast. The Bahamas Department of Meteorology forecast isolated thunderstorms across portions of the central and southeastern Bahamas heading into September 26.
Carnival Celebration remains scheduled to call at Celebration Key, the line’s private destination on Grand Bahama Island, on September 26. The voyage is due to end in Miami on September 27.
See current Carnival Celebration fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
