Carnival Reroutes Caribbean Cruises After Hurricane Melissa Hits Jamaica

Carnival Cruise Line adjusted multiple Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries after Hurricane Melissa intensified into a Category 5 storm and struck Jamaica in late October 2025, prompting port cancellations, reroutes, and a separate supply-delivery call to Ocho Rios.

The cruise line said routing decisions were guided by passenger safety and informed by “guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard, and local port authorities,” while urging guests to enroll in sailing alerts for timely updates as port conditions continue to evolve across the region.

How Carnival tracked the storm and made routing decisions

Before the storm strengthened, Carnival said it was monitoring Melissa from its Fleet Operations Center in Miami. In an October 23 update shared by Carnival brand ambassador John Heald, he said, “Our Fleet Operations Center in Miami is closely monitoring forecasts for Tropical Storm Melissa in the Caribbean. Currently, there is no impact to our itineraries.”

At the time, the National Hurricane Center described Melissa as a slow-moving tropical storm south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with sustained winds of 45 mph on the evening of October 23, 2025. The storm later rapidly intensified and made landfall in Jamaica with winds reported at over 185 mph.

Itinerary changes rolled out across multiple Carnival sailings

After the Category 5 landfall, Carnival confirmed changes affecting multiple ships as ports in Jamaica and elsewhere faced closures, damage assessments, and recovery activity. The line said canceled calls were replaced with alternative ports where possible, and in some cases sailings added sea days.

Jamaica calls removed as damage assessments began

Some of the most significant itinerary disruptions centered on Jamaica, including major cruise hubs such as Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, which were among the areas affected by flooding and infrastructure damage.

Carnival Dream, sailing a 14-night itinerary from Galveston, had a Jamaica call removed from its schedule. Captain Zvonko told guests, “There is no feasible alternative for a port of call, so we will enjoy an extra sea day as we make our way back to Galveston,” adding that the ship would continue to monitor forecasts and provide updates.

Carnival Liberty, sailing from New Orleans, canceled a scheduled stop in Montego Bay and also dropped Grand Cayman. The ship substituted calls to Mahogany Bay, Honduras, and Belize City, Belize, while keeping its return date to Louisiana unchanged.

Eastern Caribbean ports swapped for western alternatives

Other adjustments shifted itineraries away from impacted eastern Caribbean destinations. Carnival Celebration canceled planned visits to Grand Turk and Amber Cove, rerouting instead to Cozumel, Mexico, while keeping other scheduled calls unchanged at the time of the update.

Carnival Sunrise removed a planned visit to Grand Turk and replaced it with Nassau, while keeping other stops that included Celebration Key and RelaxAway Half Moon Cay. Carnival Vista also replaced an Amber Cove call with a visit to Nassau.

Additional cancellations tied to port conditions

After the storm moved through the region and recovery operations expanded, Carnival disclosed further updates on October 30, 2025, tied to port readiness and conditions:

• Carnival Paradise canceled a call to Half Moon Cay.
• Carnival Pride canceled a call to Princess Cays, a private destination in the Bahamas.
• Carnival Magic canceled a scheduled call to Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos.

Refunds for missed ports, excursions, and certain fees

Carnival told guests that shore excursions purchased through the cruise line for canceled port calls would be refunded, and that port taxes and certain fees tied to missed calls would be returned when applicable. In the onboard update for Carnival Dream, guests were told that Carnival-purchased shore excursions would be refunded to onboard accounts, along with reimbursement of port taxes connected to the removed call.

From a guest visit to a supply stop: Carnival Horizon’s call to Ocho Rios

Carnival also arranged a brief call to Ocho Rios on Carnival Horizon focused on delivering supplies rather than hosting a standard guest visit. The line canceled the scheduled passenger call but maintained a short stop to offload what Heald described as “much-needed supplies,” noting tenders could be used depending on pier conditions.

Captain Rocco Lubrano told guests in a letter dated November 2 that Carnival had been in contact with Jamaican officials, but that local infrastructure and shore-excursion partners would not be ready for a normal port day. Guests were not expected to disembark during the short supply stop.

Relief fundraising and corporate donations as Jamaica begins recovery

Carnival’s supply delivery came alongside broader relief initiatives tied to Jamaica’s recovery. Carnival Corporation partnered with the Miami HEAT and the Arison Family Foundation to donate $1 million to Direct Relief, with funding aimed at medical support such as field medic packs, antibiotics, and other supplies for frontline responders.

Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, said, “Our connection to Jamaica runs deep, and we need to support its communities now more than ever.”

Onboard Carnival Horizon, Heald said guests would have an opportunity to contribute to a Jamaica disaster fund through guest services or during a Groove for St. Jude event, with Carnival matching donations made during the cruise.

Other major lines also moved aid into affected areas. Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas made a relief call in Falmouth to offload more than 120 pallets of emergency supplies, and Carnival Horizon docked in Ocho Rios to deliver items that included medical gear, water, and bedding.

Regional ripple effects as other cruise lines rerouted ships

Itinerary shifts extended well beyond Carnival as operators diverted ships away from impacted ports across the Caribbean, including destinations such as Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. As of October 29, 2025, major lines including Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Disney were among those rerouting ships to maintain safer routes.

Royal Caribbean rerouted its Oasis-class ship Icon of the Seas to the Western Caribbean, replacing planned stops in St. Thomas and St. Maarten with visits to ports in Mexico and Honduras. Celebrity Cruises also diverted Celebrity Beyond, shifting away from calls in the Dominican Republic and St. Kitts to Costa Maya and Belize City.

Disney Treasure’s Halloween voyage skipped Tortola in favor of Cozumel and extended time at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, while Disney Wish reshuffled its port sequence amid ongoing weather concerns. MSC World America, initially scheduled for the Eastern Caribbean, also pivoted to Mexico and Honduras.

What officials have said about port timelines in Jamaica

Jamaica’s tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett, said the country was working to rebuild quickly and resume cruise operations by mid-December 2025. Ports including Falmouth and Montego Bay were undergoing expedited assessments and repairs under a recovery task force, as officials and partners sought to restore traveler confidence and reduce economic losses in an industry that generates more than $197 million annually for the region.

For travelers on upcoming Caribbean and Bahamas cruises, Carnival has continued to direct guests to opt in to sailing alerts and ensure their contact details are current, noting that changes can be confirmed close to departure or implemented during a sailing depending on conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Carnival ships had itinerary changes due to Hurricane Melissa?

Carnival confirmed itinerary impacts on Carnival Celebration, Carnival Dream, Carnival Liberty, Carnival Sunrise, and Carnival Vista, with later updates also affecting Carnival Paradise, Carnival Pride, and Carnival Magic. Carnival Horizon also canceled a guest call at Ocho Rios while still scheduling a brief supply-delivery stop.

What ports did Carnival use as replacements for canceled calls during Melissa?

Replacements varied by sailing. Carnival Liberty substituted Mahogany Bay, Honduras, and Belize City, Belize, after canceling Montego Bay and dropping Grand Cayman. Carnival Celebration rerouted to Cozumel after canceling Grand Turk and Amber Cove, while Carnival Sunrise and Carnival Vista made swaps that included Nassau.

Will guests be refunded for canceled shore excursions and port fees?

Yes. Carnival said shore excursions purchased through the cruise line for canceled ports would be refunded, and that port taxes and certain fees tied to missed calls would be returned when applicable. Refunds were communicated as being processed back to onboard accounts for affected sailings.

What aid has Carnival provided to Jamaica following the hurricane?

Carnival arranged for Carnival Horizon to deliver supplies to Ocho Rios rather than conduct a standard guest call. Carnival Corporation also partnered with the Miami HEAT and the Arison Family Foundation on a $1 million donation to Direct Relief to support medical and frontline response needs.

How can passengers get real-time updates if itineraries change?

Carnival has urged guests to enroll in sailing alerts and ensure contact information is current, including through Cruise Manager on Carnival.com, so they can receive updates by email and text as changes are confirmed.