Following an environmental complication and fluid spill that required quick cleanup, Carnival Freedom was capable of go away Port Canaveral after 11 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
The late departure has meant a big change to the ship’s itinerary for her 4-night Bahamas getaway, however fortuitously friends will nonetheless be visiting all of the deliberate ports of name.
The unique itinerary had the 110,556-gross-ton vessel spending Friday in Nassau and Saturday in Princess Cays. The final day of the crusing was to be a Enjoyable Day at Sea earlier than the ship would return to Port Canaveral on Monday, January 27.
Now, the itinerary has been reversed and Carnival Freedom is spending Friday at sea, with the port visits reversed. This implies the ship will go to Princess Cays nonetheless on Saturday and might be in Nassau on Sunday. The deliberate return to Port Canaveral is unchanged.
The time visiting Princess Cays has not been impacted, however Nassau’s go to will now be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. relatively than the initially deliberate 10 a.m. to six p.m.
Any shore excursions for Nassau that have been pre-booked by means of Carnival Cruise Line might be rescheduled for the brand new day and time if attainable. If the excursions can’t be rescheduled, friends will obtain a full refund for these excursions.
It’s unclear whether or not the itinerary reversal is because of the leakage and late departure from Port Canaveral or if different elements resembling port congestion or climate could also be a part of the choice.
By making Friday a day at sea, Carnival Freedom can extra simply make up the time from her late departure with out fully cancelling any port visits.
Visitors onboard have been understandably upset and pissed off on the ship’s late departure, since onboard retail outlets and the on line casino have been unable to open as deliberate whereas Carnival Freedom remained in port. Now, nonetheless, all amenities are open and onboard actions are shifting forward as deliberate.
Carnival Cruise Line has not disclosed the reason for what seems to have been some kind of gasoline leak, however the subject has been resolved. At no time have been any issues of safety compromised, and all onboard operations have functioned as regular.
A Dangerous Luck Ship?
Carnival Freedom is beginning to tackle a little bit of a cult following for her uncommon incidents. This started in Might 2022 when the ship caught hearth within the starboard wing of her iconic whale story funnel, inflicting cruise cancellations and an emergency dry dock for repairs. The ship emerged from that dry dock with out her traditional funnel.
Carnival Freedom regained her wings throughout a deliberate dry dock in October 2023 and proudly sported a brand new funnel – for lower than six months. In March 2024, a lightning strike prompted one other funnel hearth, this time on the portside wing, and as soon as once more the ship misplaced her whale story.
Now, the spillage is inflicting some friends to query the ship’s health to sail. All programs are working as anticipated, nonetheless, and Carnival Freedom is completely seaworthy and in compliance with all laws.
Whereas it doesn’t occur usually, it isn’t remarkable for a cruise ship to have varied mechanical issues – propulsion points, energy outages, sprinkler malfunctions, damaged pipes, and extra can all impression a ship.
It should be famous that these very complicated ships function 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, twelve months a yr. This may place unimaginable pressure on varied programs, and cruise traces have groups of engineers and technicians onboard to make sure every thing operates easily and any points could be rapidly resolved.
Learn Additionally: Carnival Ships by Measurement – Greatest to Smallest
Each cruise ship undergoes common dry dock updates for repairs and upkeep. Carnival Freedom‘s final common dry dock was in October 2023, when she obtained her short-lived funnel.
Whereas it’s unlucky that this ship is as soon as once more within the highlight for a less-than-ideal purpose, many friends who’ve sailed on her love the format, actions, crew members, and itineraries provided by the Conquest-class ship and fortunately set sail a number of instances.
Carnival Freedom can welcome 2,980 friends and can be dwelling to 1,150 worldwide crew members. Homeported year-round from Port Canaveral, the ship affords 4- and 5-night Bahamas and Japanese Caribbean itineraries.
