Carnival cruise ship cancels port visit amid ongoing propulsion problems

Carnival Horizon’s propulsion problems have now affected the disembarkation and embarkation of two consecutive cruises. However, the ongoing speed issues continue to frustrate guests with last-minute port cancellations. 

The Vista Class developed mechanical problems while on an 8-night cruise to the Southern Caribbean, which resulted in a delayed arrival in Miami, Florida. Consequently, Carnival had to push back the next sailing's embarkation, with check-in times rescheduled for as late as 10:00 p.m. 

Originally, embarkation was going to begin around 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. The delay, however, caused the earliest appointment times to be pushed back to 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. The latest appointments, which were scheduled for 1:30 - 2:00 p.m., were moved to 9:30 - 10:00 p.m. 

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After losing out on the entire first day of their cruise vacation, the disappointment continued, with guests learning that they had to cancel their stop in Grand Cayman on Nov. 19 because of the ongoing mechanical issues. 

Ever since departing from Miami, Florida, Carnival Horizon has been sailing at around 16 to 17 knots (equivalent to 18 to 20 miles per hour [mph]). Comparatively, Horizon's typical speeds are around 19 to 20 knots, or 22 to 23 mph. 

This means that, in addition to the cancelled visit to Grand Cayman, passengers' time in Cozumel, Mexico, was cut short. Instead of arriving at 8:00 a.m., they were told that the ship's anticipated arrival on Tuesday, Nov. 18, would be around noon. 

No changes to the ship's scheduled visit to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, have been announced yet

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As of right now, Carnival Horizon will arrive in Ocho Rios on Nov. 20 before heading back to PortMiami. 

Carnival was one of the first cruise lines to resume sailings to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa's catastrophic landfall, allowing guests to disembark on Nov. 8.  

Not only that, but Carnival Horizon was among one of the first cruise ships to deliver essential relief supplies to Jamaica. Carnival Cruise Line posted about the ship's visit on their social media channels. 

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"The team onboard Carnival Horizon made a relief call today to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, to deliver thousands of much-needed supplies to support Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts. From bottled water and baby food to hygiene items and cereal, these supplies were handed over to Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management," read the cruise line's Facebook post. 

Not the first Vista Class ship to suffer devestating propulsion problems

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Last year, Carnival Vista seemed to be in the headlines every other week due to mechanical issues. For example, nearly every port time was adjusted on the Aug. 24 sailing due to reduced speed capabilities. 

The cruise line also altered the itinerary on the Sept. 1 cruise. Instead of calling at Amber Cove and Grand Turk, Carnival Vista stayed in The Bahamas and visited Nassau and Freeport. 

Similarly, guests aboard the Aug. 10 cruise were not told of the last-minute itinerary change until they were onboard. Rather than visiting the Southern Caribbean, Carnival Vista's new itinerary included stops in The Bahamas. Those who were unhappy with the change were given the opportunity to disembark and receive a FCC. 

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Carnival Vista was finally pulled from service in September, with the Sept. 7 voyage cancelled to allow for necessary repairs. Guests were offered a full refund and 100% future cruise credit (FCC). 

Years before that, Carnival Vista suffered from a series of mechanical problems. In June 2019, the Vista Class ship was removed from service for three weeks after one cruise had its itinerary revised due to reduced cruising speeds. 

As such, the July 6, 13, and 20 sailings were canceled, so the necessary repairs could be made to the ship's two azipods to allow for smooth voyages in the future.