Port Canaveral, the second busiest cruise port on the planet, had an unprecedented busy day on Monday, November 28, 2022. Difficulties arose not solely from the 4 cruise ships already scheduled on the port, but additionally as a consequence of Wonder of the Seas arriving a day later than anticipated after a medical evacuation.
Five Ships in Port
Four cruise ships from 4 totally different cruise strains had been initially scheduled to be at Port Canaveral at this time: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish, Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas, and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Liberty.
These are among the largest cruise ships, with double occupancy passenger capacities of three,963, 5,555, 3,634, and a pair of,974, respectively. Added collectively and accounting for each embarking and debarking company, this implies a complete of greater than 32,000 individuals shifting out and in of the port in just some hours.
This doesn’t rely, after all, the actions of cruise ship crew members, port employees, native authorities, and different native residents, in addition to cargo or naval visitors for the very energetic port.
What’s extra, Wonder of the Seas was additionally in Port Canaveral at this time, owing to the ship’s someday delay coming back from its most up-to-date crusing as a consequence of a medical evacuation.
Wonder of the Seas is the largest cruise ship on the planet, with house for five,734 company at double occupancy – including greater than 11,000 extra passengers out and in of the port, for a grand complete of greater than 43,000 passenger actions in a single day.
Traffic Snarls and Terminal Changes
Port officers started sending out visitors advisories and notifications in mid-morning, advising company to plan further time for port visitors and congestion. “Traffic is exceptionally heavy at Port Canaveral today – please allow extra time,” the advisory mentioned.
Because Wonder of the Seas requires a bigger berth and was not anticipated to be in port at this time, terminal assignments wanted to be juggled on the final minute, which accounted for extra congestion for shuttle buses.
This meant that passengers crusing on Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s different vessel in port at this time, had been embarking from Terminal 6 somewhat than Terminal 1, the place the ship was initially scheduled however the place Wonder of the Seas docked as an alternative.
Terminal 6 is definitely a Carnival Cruise Line terminal, north of the west turning basin, at practically the alternative finish of the port advanced from Terminal 1.
Cruise passengers for Independence of the Seas had been in a position to drop their baggage at Terminal 6, however transfer their autos to Terminal 1 – the place the Freedom-class vessel will return after the 4-night cruise it began at this time.
Free shuttle buses had been supplied for company to return to Terminal 6 for embarkation, as the 2 terminals are usually not inside strolling distance of each other.
Guests Unhappy
Guests from all of the ships had been understandably sad with the visitors congestion and confusion, noting that lengthy strains meant delayed boarding appointment instances, missed onboard reservations, and a disappointing begin to a cruise trip.
This is especially true for company aboard Independence of the Seas, coping with shuttle buses and even longer waits as a consequence of extra confusion and disruption.
Some company have speculated that because the port grows in recognition and cruise ships get bigger and bigger, such visitors issues are more likely to change into extra widespread.
It have to be famous, nevertheless, that a lot of the issue was as a result of unanticipated delay for Wonder of the Seas. The ship was a day late in returning to her new homeport, and if she’d been in port as deliberate on Sunday, November 27, all cruise ships would have been at their deliberate terminals without having for shuttle buses or different diversions.
Fortunately, regardless of the preliminary confusion and congestion, all 5 ships had been in a position to depart Port Canaveral easily. Norwegian Getaway is now on a 10-night crusing to go to The Bahamas, Jamaica, Aruba, Curacao, and the Dominican Republic, whereas Disney Wish is on a 4-night Very Merrytime cruise to The Bahamas, together with Disney Cruise Line’s non-public island, Castaway Cay.
Independence of the Seas is crusing a 4-night cruise to The Bahamas, additionally visiting Royal Caribbean’s non-public island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Wonder of the Seas will even go to CocoCay on its now-shortened 6-night crusing, together with different common Western Caribbean ports of name.