Carnival Cruise Line Faces Technology Glitches: What UK Cruise Holidaygoers Need to Know
Carnival Cruise Line recently experienced significant technology issues across its fleet. This led to embarkation and debarkation delays for three ships on Monday, 9th February 2026. The affected ships were the Carnival Breeze, Carnival Glory, and Carnival Freedom. Each was set to embark on short Caribbean and Bahamas cruises.
Embarkation Delays and Adjusted Arrival Times
Due to the tech disruptions, Carnival Cruise Line reached out to passengers directly. They used email, text, and phone calls to inform guests of the changes. Passengers were advised to arrive two hours later than their original terminal arrival times. For instance, an 11:00 AM slot was moved to 1:00 PM. Despite these delays, all guests needed to be onboard by 4:30 PM to ensure timely departures.
Itineraries Remain Unchanged
The itineraries for the affected ships remain the same. Carnival Breeze is on a five-night Western Caribbean cruise from Galveston, visiting Cozumel and Progreso. Carnival Glory is on a four-night Bahamas trip from Port Canaveral to Nassau and Celebration Key. Meanwhile, Carnival Freedom is on a five-night Bahamas journey from Port Canaveral, stopping at Celebration Key, Nassau, and Half Moon Cay. Carnival has encouraged guests to sign up for text alerts for any further updates.
Debarkation Challenges with Manual Processes
The technology failure also impacted debarkation. Without functioning scanning systems, crew members had to manually count guests. This significantly slowed down the process of leaving the ship. As a workaround, Sail and Sign cards were collected from guests instead of being scanned and returned. Unfortunately, these cards, often kept as souvenirs, cannot be returned or reissued due to security reasons.
Previous Disruptions and Future Precautions
This isn’t the first time Carnival has faced such issues. Just a day earlier, on 8th February, Carnival Liberty experienced a two-hour embarkation delay in New Orleans due to a system outage. Carnival advises guests to stay informed by opting into text alerts for any future updates.
For UK cruise holidaygoers, staying informed and flexible is key. While technology issues can be frustrating, Carnival is working to resolve these problems swiftly. Keep an eye on updates and enjoy your cruise adventure!
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