Cyclone Causes Cancelled Cruises With Passengers Stranded At Sea

by
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You can receive cruise news updates straight to your inbox, so you don't miss a thing! Subscribe here.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is wreaking havoc on cruise itineraries along the Queensland coast, forcing multiple cruise ships – including Carnival Luminosa, Pacific Encounter, and Quantum of the Seas – to remain at sea for several extra days due to the closure of Brisbane Port.

Brisbane Cyclone

With sustained winds reaching 102 miles per hour and the potential for dangerous flooding, the storm has prompted Australian authorities to shut down ports, airports, and public facilities, leaving thousands of cruise passengers unexpectedly stranded at sea.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Luminosa, which was originally set to return to Brisbane on 6th March, has now been delayed until 9th March 2025, according to the ship’s captain, Captain Marchi.

9th March update – the ship was able to return to port on 9th March as hoped. The rest of this article remains as-is from the original publish date of 7th March.

The 2,260-guest ship had already cancelled its scheduled 3-night cruise that was due to depart on 6th March, with Carnival Cruise Line closely monitoring the storm’s progress before making further decisions.

The Carnival Luminosa cruise ship is captured cruising on a clear day with its red and black funnel standing out against the ship's white structure with yellow lifeboats. The name 'CARNIVAL LUMINOSA' is prominently displayed on the hull, highlighting the ship's identity as it makes its way across the serene blue waters.

Captain Marchi reassured guests that the ship remains safely positioned away from the cyclone’s strongest winds and rough seas, though there is still uncertainty regarding when the ship will be able to return.

Carnival’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, shared updates on Facebook, stating:

“I am thinking of the guests and crew on the Carnival Luminosa as she has another extra day at sea sheltering from the cyclone.”

The cruise line has yet to confirm compensation or alternative plans for affected passengers.

Heald did give a short update on the morning of 7th March, thanking the passengers for their patience and the crew for acting to keep everyone safe.

He did offer some trademark jokes about the situation too:

“I had people asking me yesterday if there was enough food on board? The best way I can answer that is tomorrow every guest will be provided with a fishing rod.

“Seriously, please don’t worry. The beards plan for this on every ship with extra food and provisions although this being a ship full of Australians and knowing how much they love to have Fun in any situation, there may be one or two ummmm, beverage items that may be running low.”

Pacific Encounter also stranded at sea

Passengers aboard P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter were also caught in the storm’s disruption.

The 108,865-gross-ton ship, carrying up to 2,600 guests, was due back in Brisbane on 8th March but has now been forced to remain at sea indefinitely.

In a statement to passengers, P&O Cruises Australia said:

“The cyclone has slowed and is now expected to make landfall some time on Saturday morning and the port will be closed, preventing us from sailing as scheduled.”

Pacific Encounter was supposed to embark on a 7-night Pacific Island Hopper voyage, visiting Noumea and Lifou, New Caledonia, and Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo, but these calls have now been cancelled due to the storm.

Passengers on the delayed cruise will remain on board until Brisbane Port reopens, while those scheduled for the now-cancelled Pacific Islands itinerary are waiting for further updates on whether an alternative sailing will be offered.

Quantum of the Seas’ return pushed back by three days

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, which left Brisbane on 28th February for a 7-night South Pacific sailing, is also caught in the cyclone’s aftermath.

The 4,180-passenger ship was originally scheduled to return on 7th March, but its arrival has been pushed back three days to 10th March.

Quantum of the Seas

As a result, the cruise line has cancelled its next 3-night mini-cruise, leaving thousands of would-be guests scrambling to make alternative travel plans.

Beyond these three vessels, several other cruise ships in the region have had to adjust their routes due to Cyclone Alfred’s intensifying conditions.

Norwegian Sun (Norwegian Cruise Line) and Queen Anne (Cunard) are also delayed in returning to Australian ports, and the Brisbane shipping channel remains closed, with officials awaiting a full post-storm damage assessment before reopening.

Authorities have issued flood warnings and advisories for much of Queensland and northern New South Wales, with rainfall expected to reach 30 inches in some areas.

With Brisbane Port closed and no clear timeline for reopening, thousands of cruise passengers face uncertain travel plans.

While the affected ships remain in safe waters, their extended time at sea is causing significant disruptions to upcoming itineraries.

Cruise lines are expected to offer compensation or alternative routes for affected guests, though details remain unclear. Passengers booked on upcoming cruises should check for updates as the situation develops.

For now, Carnival Luminosa, Pacific Encounter, and Quantum of the Seas will continue to shelter at sea, waiting for Cyclone Alfred to pass and for port authorities to give the all-clear.

Related posts

If you found this interesting, please share!

Cruise Mummy

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me



Leave a comment