Dense fog forced the closure of Port Tampa Bay on 24th November 2025, delaying both arriving and departing cruise ships and disrupting travel plans for hundreds of passengers.
The affected vessels were Carnival Paradise and Margaritaville at Sea Islander, which were unable to navigate Tampa Bay safely for several hours due to dangerously low visibility.
The port was eventually reopened once conditions improved, allowing both ships to resume their slow transit towards their cruise terminals later in the afternoon.
Port Closure Causes Major Guest Disruption
The temporary shutdown created knock-on effects for both disembarking guests trying to get home and embarking passengers beginning new sailings.
Carnival Paradise was returning from a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise that departed Tampa on 20th November 2025, while Margaritaville at Sea Islander was completing a 6-night sailing that began on 18th November 2025.
Both ships were held offshore until visibility in the channel improved enough to allow safe passage.
Carnival Paradise Faces Late Departure
Carnival Paradise’s next sailing, a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise, was significantly delayed.
At around 3 pm, Carnival Cruise Line sent an update to waiting passengers outlining revised terminal arrival times.
The cruise line shifted embarkation appointments by around nine hours, compressing check-in windows to speed up the process:
- Original 10–11am now 7–7.30pm
- Original 11am–12pm now 7.30–8pm
- Original 12–1pm now 8–8.30pm
- Original 1–2pm now 8.30–9pm
Carnival also confirmed that:
- Main dining rooms would offer open seating
- The Lido Marketplace buffet would be open
- Staterooms would be available on boarding
The cruise line warned that the itinerary may be adjusted once the ship departed.
Margaritaville at Sea Islander Also Impacted
Margaritaville at Sea Islander, which was returning from a 6-night cruise, also experienced significant disruption.
Debarkation was pushed back to around 4.15pm, with embarkation for the next 4-night Cozumel sailing beginning at approximately 6.30pm.
Earlier in the day, the cruise line had advised guests to delay their arrival at the terminal, warning of a six-hour delay.
The ship’s upcoming itinerary includes:
- One port of call in Cozumel
- A sea day before the port visit
- A sea day after, allowing flexibility to absorb schedule changes
Fog Eventually Clears
By late afternoon, the fog lifted enough for both ships to begin moving through Tampa Bay.
Once underway, the vessels resumed their transit towards their terminals, bringing relief to both arriving passengers and those anxious to begin their long-awaited cruises.
Cruise lines thanked guests for their patience, stressing that safety remained the top priority during the weather-related disruption.
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