Several cruise ships are stuck at sea as Cyclone Alfred approaches Queensland, Australia.
Passengers booked on Carnival Luminosa's February 23 sailing were informed their return to Brisbane has been delayed because of Alfred. They were scheduled to return on Thursday, March 6.
John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line's Brand Ambassador, shared a statement issued by Luminosa's captain, Captain Marchi, on Facebook: "We remain very optimistic that the post-storm assessment will be successfully completed sometime Saturday, 8 March, but given current forecasts, it seems more likely that we will not be able to head into port until Sunday, 9 March. Forecasts can change, however, and we are hopeful for a more positive outcome."
With Luminosa's delay indefinitely delayed, the 3-day getaway cruise slated to depart on March 6 was canceled.
"Our Fleet Operations Center continues to keep a close eye on Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Given its current track, the storm is expected to directly impact the Brisbane area in the coming days and the port is now closed as it prepares," read an email sent to guests.
"Regrettably, we have no alternative but to cancel your voyage. We know this is disappointing and we are truly sorry for the disruption to your holiday plans."
Carnival Luminosa isn't the only ship remaining at sea to avoid the storm. Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas isn't returning to Brisbane on March 7 as scheduled, either.
Quantum was supposed to embark on a 3-night cruise on March 7; however, passengers booked on the short sailing were informed that their cruise would not proceed as planned.
"We have been monitoring the progression of Tropical Cyclone Alfred as it slowly moves toward Brisbane. Due to the development of the storm and the closure of the Port of Brisbane, the previous Quantum of the Seas sailing has been delayed returning to port, and as a result, our 3-Night sailing has unfortunately been cancelled," reads the notice.
According to a Reddit post shared by Jester_Fleshwound, Quantum is now expected to dock on Monday, March 10.
This means that guests currently onboard will enjoy an additional four days on the 168,666 gross registered ton (GRT) ship. Three of those days will be spent at sea, with the fourth spent at Noumea, New Caledonia.
Because of the unexpected changes, Royal Caribbean gave guests 60 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi to help them stay connected while adjusting their travel plans. They also extended paid VOOM Surf & Stream packages at no extra cost.
However, guests must pay to extend certain packages, including the Deluxe Beverage Package and Royal Refreshment Package. The rates are $35 per day for the alcoholic package and $14 for the non-alcoholic one. There's no extra charge for the Classic Soda Package.
That said, guests who don't want to extend their drink packages will receive 50% off beverages bought individually.
"Extremely rare" storm
Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city, was last hit by a cyclone (or hurricane, as they're commonly called in the United States) in 1974. Current forecasts anticipate Alfred to make landfall in Brisbane by Saturday morning.
Like the Port of Brisbane, Brisbane's airport has also suspended operations as the powerful storm barrels towards Queensland. All bus services, trains, and ferries in Brisbane are temporarily stopped until further notice, too.
Qantas Airways confirmed they won't operate flights from the hub until at least noon on Saturday, with no domestic flights until Sunday, MSN reported.
All commercial flights through Sunday from the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport have also been canceled due to high winds. The Ballina Airport is roughly 116 miles from Brisbane.
As of 4:00am AEST on March 7, Alfred was a Category 2 storm with sustained winds near the center of 95 kilometers (59 miles) per hour and wind gusts up to 130 kilometers (80 miles) per hour.
The intensity isn't expected to weaken before it crosses the coast Friday evening or early Saturday, according to the Australian Government's Bureau of Meteorology. Alfred will likely make landfall close to Moreton Bay between Noosa & Coolangatta.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
