The Miami area has been hit by wild weather over this weekend with strong wind gusts and heavy rain. Official data counted about 1.2″ in the Miami area officially on Saturday, but wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour also hit the region. As well, tide levels reached moderate flood stage, causing havoc:
We’ve seen wind gusts as high as 56mph along parts of the South Florida coastline. The constant onshore wind is pushing us into moderate flood stage during times of high tide, about 2.2 feet higher than normal. #Miami #FLwx pic.twitter.com/oQZVVGjPTP
— Brandon Orr (@BrandonOrrWPLG) December 17, 2023
As of Sunday morning, the port announced on its website and Twitter that due to the weather, “all PortMiami cruise ship boardings and departures will be delayed.”
The notice says cruise passengers should contact their cruise line for more details.
There will be a delay on Sunday, December 17th embarkation due to recent weather conditions. Please contact your cruise line for instructions and more information. pic.twitter.com/3POAPbDODc
— PortMiami (@PortMiami) December 17, 2023
Given this delay is occurring on a weekend when more ships end their trips and begin new ones (known as “turnaround day), it has a significant impact on a large number of passengers. A check of ship-tracking site CruiseMapper.com shows Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas in port with MSC Divina, with Oceania Insignia and Norwegian Encore in the process of docking. Meanwhile, several other ships sit offshore, waiting their turn to come into port.
Typically ships arrive in port early in the morning, between 6-7 a.m. local time. As of 11 a.m. local time today, many ships had yet to dock.
All told, nine cruise ships are scheduled to be in port today before heading back out this evening:
- Scarlet Lady (carries 2,770 passengers at double occupancy)
- Oasis of the Seas (5,602 pax)
- Grandeur of the Seas (1,992 pax)
- Norwegian Encore (3,998 pax)
- MSC Divina (3,078 pax)
- Oceania Insignia (698 pax)
- Carnival Horizon (3,960 pax)
- Carnival Celebration (5,374 pax)
- Vision of the Seas (2,050 pax)
Combined, these ships have a passenger capacity of roughly 30,000 at double occupancy. Considering that the passengers both debarking and embarking are impacted by the delay, that could mean roughly 60,000 passengers in total will be affected if the ships are sailing full.
This no doubt includes a number of passengers with flights home scheduled for later today that will likely have to be rescheduled.
If you have a cruise arriving or departing Miami today, then your cruise line should be in touch with instructions. No matter what, it’s important to pack some patience as an already busy day in port is set to be even busier.
