Port Canaveral Is Closing Sat to Cruise Ship Traffic It will effect Sun and Mon cruises.

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Port Canaveral will be under a mandatory evacuation starting Sunday at 8:00 a.m. The port leaders are closing the port to all cruise ship and cargo ship late Saturday night. https://www.wftv.com/news/local/brevard-county-prepares-for-hurricane-dorian/980972900

 

[ScooterScott44]

I am comfortable in stating 100% that it will not impact DCL’s Sunday cruises at Port Canaveral.

 

[ScooterScott44]

Sorry had to joke first.

They already re-scheduled the Monday Dream so yes it has/will.

Wanted to add that with the unpredictability of storms, since Dorian is slowing the approach to the coast do people think the adjusted schedule will work?

The current models are still having the storm along the east coast on Wednesday. Seems unlikely that the port will be cleared for traffic by the time the Dream should be returning.

So follow up question, do they extend or port elsewhere?I am guessing that since they already adjusted the 3 night to a 5 night and pushed it to the western Caribbean there was a backup plan already forming. Being on the west side of the state it makes it easier to bring the Dream into Tampa. That allows DCL to keep the 4 day as a 2 day and just sail the ship back to the east side of the state after the port is open.

 

[mmouse37]

Back with Hurricane Jeanne (2004 I think) when the port closed they had both the Magic and Wonder return to Ft. Lauderdale. Our 7 day turned into a 5 day and that cruise before us was extended at sea. We were bused by Disney down to Ft. Lauderdale from WDW. Instead of boarding the Magic on a Saturday we boarded late afternoon on Monday.

They have never ported in Tampa so we will see what happens.

MJ

 

[NancyDVC]

In 2004 we were on the Magic after the 2 previous cruises were changed due to storms. PC was closed for several weeks..
As were all the ports in Florida two weeks before our cruise. Cruise lines can not just ‘choose’ to stop at any port that is nearby (except perhaps in a real emergency). There are many things involved including port fees, what other ships are due in, the size of the port and the size of the ships that can be accommodated. Tampa is a relatively small cruise ship port that is located well up a river/canal. Many of the current ships from different cruise lines are unable to port there.
Port Canaveral can port as many as 5-6 very large ships. I do not believe that Tampa is equipped to port the larger ships or nearly as many.

 

[NancyDVC]

All ports are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard decides when and if to close a port, not the cruise lines, not the port authority not the businesses.
“As of 5 PM Saturday, August 31 the Coast Guard Captain of the Port set port condition at ‘Yankee’ for Port Canaveral terminals and facilities due to the expectation of sustained gale force winds generated by Hurricane Dorian that may arrive within 24 hours.” Port Condition Yankee closes the port. You can read the full statement on www.portcanaveral.com.
Under “Updates” click on ‘Click here for the most current information.’ Then scroll down to Coast guard sets Port condition Yankee for Port Canaveral.
When they talk about where the storm will ‘come ashore’ they are referring to the center of the storm (eye of the storm) the storm is much larger than its center/eye and will affect a much larger area no matter where the center comes ashore.
After the storm passes the Coast Guard and possibly if necessary the Army Corps of Engineers will evaluate the port and the ship channel for safety and decide when shipping can resume. In 2004 the issues included possible silting in the channel making it too shallow for large ships to navigate safely. The wind can force tides into the channel and port causing erosion and silting which can interfere with shipping.
Just because the ‘storm center may head east’ does not mean that there will not be effects along the Florida coast.

 

[SamFaniam]

Being on the west side of the state it makes it easier to bring the Dream into Tampa.

They might have to bring her back into Miami or Fort Lauderdale, but the Dream can’t go to Tampa, she won’t fit under the bridge.

 

[ScooterScott44]

They might have to bring her back into Miami or Fort Lauderdale, but the Dream can’t go to Tampa, she won’t fit under the bridge.

Thanks for confirming. Was just speculating at the options. The main point was that the Dream likely will not return to on Wednesday, at least at Port Canaveral. Having sailed under Lions Gate bridge in Vancouver and also having listened to the discussions about changing the port there it was something on my mind. With some of the mega ships out there the Dream class, even as big as they are, is getting to be more of mid-sized.

I also was not saying that DCL or Disney is totally autonomous in the decision as some other posters insinuated and also realize that storms a big and impacts can be hundreds of miles from the storm center.