Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Other Cruise Ships Stuck at Sea by Tropical Cyclone

A tropical cyclone has caused several cruise ships to seek shelter far out at sea.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall in Brisbane, Australia, late Friday or early Saturday. As a result, cruise ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and others are either riding out the storm at sea or diverting to alternative ports.

A tropical cyclone, similar to a hurricane or typhoon, forms over tropical waters and brings high winds, heavy rain, and storm surges, among other dangers.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Luminosa and Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, both of which departed from Brisbane, were notified that they wouldn’t be able to dock in the city on Thursday or Friday as originally scheduled, the Port of Brisbane announced, per DCN.

Currently sailing through the South Pacific, Carnival Luminosa has opted to stay away from Brisbane until at least March 8, according to a statement from Carnival. The ship is “keeping a safe distance from the storm to reduce discomfort for guests.”

Carnival also confirmed that some sailing scheduled for this weekend have been canceled. The cruise line explained, “Given the storm’s current path, it’s expected to directly impact the Brisbane area soon, and the port is now closed. Unfortunately, we had no choice but to cancel Carnival Luminosa’s 3-day cruise planned to depart on March 6. Guests will receive a full refund for their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items.”

Royal Caribbean also informed guests about the impact of the storm on their voyages, though the company has not yet responded to requests for comment.

On March 3, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced that P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter would dock in Brisbane, while two other ships, including Cunard’s Queen Anne, would need to be rerouted.

Passengers on Pacific Encounter shared footage of large ocean waves crashing against the sides of the ship as it returned to Brisbane on March 4. One passenger recalled, “It wasn’t too bad for us, but some people had a harder time with the waves. The captain did a great job steering us into the waves to avoid being tossed around.”

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for “abnormally high” tides of up to 9 meters (29 feet) and destructive winds along the Brisbane coast. The Port of Brisbane also reported that winds could exceed 75MPH, possibly reaching 96MPH in the coming days.