Fog Shuts Down Tampa Bay Leading to Delays for Three Royal Caribbean Ships Arrival
A dense fog on Saturday morning, December 6th, significantly impacted cruise operations at the Port of Tampa Bay, Florida. With visibility severely reduced, the port was temporarily closed, leading to delays for three Royal Caribbean ships.
Delays at Tampa Bay Port
The fog disrupted the docking schedules of:
- Rhapsody of the Seas
- Enchantment of the Seas
- Grandeur of the Seas
Each vessel faced delays of at least eight hours, affecting both returning passengers and those scheduled for new voyages. All ships involved belong to Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class, which consists of some of the older ships in the fleet, ranging in gross tonnage from approximately 73,800 to 82,900 tons.
Impacts on Cruise Schedules
Rhapsody of the Seas was returning from a seven-night itinerary in the Western Caribbean and was slated for another cruise with stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Belize. Enchantment of the Seas had just completed a five-night cruise to two Mexican ports and was preparing for a similar journey. Meanwhile, Grandeur of the Seas had finished a seven-night cruise and was scheduled to set sail for a week-long voyage, including stops in Cozumel, Belize, Roatán, and Costa Maya.
Originally, all three ships were expected to dock in the early morning hours. Due to the fog, passengers were unable to disembark until late afternoon or evening. For instance, those on Rhapsody of the Seas who planned to arrive at the terminal around 11:00 a.m. were instead instructed to arrive between 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Communication and Resumption of Operations
The Port of Tampa Bay confirmed that all cruise traffic was affected by the weather conditions. Royal Caribbean promptly notified guests via email, explaining that the terminal would remain closed until visibility improved. Adjustments to boarding schedules were communicated as necessary.
Finally, Rhapsody of the Seas was cleared to enter the bay first, allowing operations to resume later in the day. The disruption caused significant inconvenience, impacting the travel plans of many passengers awaiting their voyages.
