SpaceX Halts Rocket Launch Due to Royal Caribbean Ship
Port Canaveral, we have a problem. On Sunday evening, a cruise ship sailed into the hazard area for the flight path of a Falcon 9 rocket, halting the countdown at 33 seconds.
Royal Caribbean’s mega ship Harmony of the Seas was departing Port Canaveral during the launch and crossed into a boundary area that was defined by the U.S. Coast Guard as restricted. During rocket launches, the coast guard issues special notices to mariners that restrict navigation in certain areas during a space launch, and no vessel is permitted to be in the zone.
The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the communication breakdown.
The rocket eventually lifted off successfully at 6:11 pm yesterday.
STORY: Cruise Ship Halts SpaceX Rocket Launch
Discovery Princess Delivered to Cruise Line
Princess Cruises’ ship Discovery Princess was delivered during a handover ceremony in Italy on Monday.
The vessel expands the Princess fleet to 15 ships, and is the line’s sixth and final Royal-class new build.
On March 27, Discovery Princess is set to begin sailing from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera and California Coast. In May, the ship will begin a season of seven-night Alaska cruises from Seattle.
STORY: Princess Takes Delivery of Final Royal-Class Cruise Ship
Mardi Gras Has Been Sailing Six Months
Monday marked six months since Carnival Cruise Line’s biggest ship debuted — Mardi Gras.
Since July 31, 2021, the vessel has carried over 110,000 guests to destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Of those guests, over 30,000 have taken a ride on the ship’s BOLT roller coast — the first roller coaster on a cruise ship.
In November, Mardi Gras’ sister ship Carnival Celebration is set to debut in PortMiami.
