Update (10/7 9:22 a.m.)
Cruise passengers who need to make decisions about boarding planes and traveling to their cruises are often desperate for information. You don't want to get on a plane and head into bad weather only to have your cruise canceled.
On the other hand, you don't want to cancel your flight and run the risk of losing your cruise. Even people who have purchased insurance generally need to meet certain conditions in order to qualify for a refund.
Related: Carnival and Royal Caribbean share Hurricane Milton updates
The problem is that large weather systems take days to develop and their paths often change. Models can predict where they may go, but not with any certainty.
That puts the cruise lines in a tough position of looking as if they are ignoring their customers because they simply have nothing to tell them. Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald often finds himself as the go-between between his cruise line and its passengers.
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Carnival shares a new update
Update: 10/7 9:18 a.m.
Heald keeps updating Carnival passengers, but he has not had much hard information to share.
HURRICANE MILTON
As far as the ships are concerned the men and women at the Fleet Operations Center are working 24 hours a day to monitor the track of the hurricane and talk constantly with the Captains. They in turn will advise the guests what is happening.
The only changes so far have been some changes to arrival and departure times in ports of call ( not homeports) and announcements made to let everyone know that the ship’s will always be kept a safe distance from the storm.
Meanwhile, our Chief Communications Officer Chris and his team will keep you all updated if any changes are needed and I will of course do the same.
Heald has promised to share more as he gets the information and had a request for his followers.
"Please remember that I will be here to listen as will thousands of others so please stay in touch and let me know how you are doing," he added.
Carnival shares what it knows
Heald has been sharing as much as he can all of Sunday, Oct. 6, and his latest update was delivered at about 3:20 East Coast time.
"Good evening from England everybody. I wanted to share this very important update from our Chief Communications Officer Chris and his team which was sent to guests via email," Heald shared:
GUEST ADVISORY
WEATHER ALERT
HURRICANE MILTON
October 6, 2024
Dear Carnival Guest,
Our Fleet Operations Center is actively monitoring Hurricane Milton that has developed in the Gulf of Mexico. The system is expected to impact certain parts of Florida in the next few days.
At present, there is no change to our plans for your cruise, but we will continue to monitor the forecasts and provide timely updates. In the meantime, to stay up to date on our operational plans,
Please sign up for our text alert service by visiting Cruise Manager on Carnival.com, or by texting the below code to CRUISE (278473):
• CCL1 for Carnival Elation (October 10, 2024)
• CCL2 for Carnival Paradise (October 10, 2024)
Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received confirmation from us on when your cruise will operate.
"Thank you, I know for a lot of you this is déjà vu, and with so many still without power and having told me of the difficulties you’ve been facing after the previous hurricane I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you. I sincerely hope that you all stay safe and well," Heald wrote. "We will, of course, continue to update you."
While many of the comments on Heald's post complained about the cruise line not sharing definitive information, some did see the bigger picture.
ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise
"My prayers are with everyone in the path of this storm whether you are sailing or not. Stay safe, and plan accordingly...None of this is going to be easy for any of us. Thank you, John Heald and the amazing staff, crew, and everyone involved just to make a cruise happen," wrote Cathie Reilly.
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