Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Valor has been delayed in returning to its homeport of New Orleans due to the lingering effects of Tropical Depression Francine.
Initially, the ship’s arrival was expected to be delayed by only a few hours on Thursday, September 12,. However, following a post-storm assessment by port officials, the return has now been postponed until Friday, September 13.
The storm, which made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in Louisiana on the evening of September 11, caused power outages, flooding, and minor damage in the New Orleans area.
Carnival Valor will remain offshore in safer waters until the Port of New Orleans is inspected and deemed safe for docking. This inspection will cover terminal conditions, potential debris in docking channels, and power restoration to ensure safe disembarkation and embarkation.
| In a text alert, Carnival Cruise Line confirmed, “The storm made landfall in Louisiana yesterday evening and it will take some time for port officials to fully conduct a post-storm assessment. It is now clear that the ship will not be able to return to New Orleans until sometime Friday, 09/13/2024. We will be in touch by 10:00 AM (CT), today, 09/12/2024, with more details.” |
The 95-mile path from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the port of New Orleans will first need to be filled and assessed by the U.S. Coast Guard and port authorities.
Carnival Valor offers year-round sailings from New Orleans, primarily to the Western Caribbean. Guests aboard the current cruise have reported rough seas in various Facebook groups but are otherwise unaffected as onboard operations remain normal.
As the ship’s return is delayed, the subsequent 4-night sailing to Cozumel is likely to be adjusted. The other Carnival ship based in New Orleans, Carnival Liberty, is not due until Sunday, September 15.
Related: What to Expect Cruising During Hurricane Season
