Carnival Spirit Repositioning Cruise Faces Delay and Lost Port Stop
Key Aspects:
Carnival Spirit‘s April 12 departure from Mobile is delayed due to the need for unspecified repairs.
The ship will remain in Alabama until Monday afternoon before leaving to head to Seattle.
The visit to Cartagena, Colombia is cancelled but the other port visits are not changed.
Carnival Spirit is due to head for Alaska with her April 12, 2026 departure from Mobile, Alabama, but guests have learned that her departure will be delayed and one key cruise port is now dropped for that one-way repositioning sailing.
In an “Operational & Itinerary Update” email to booked guests, Carnival Cruise Line explained the change and how it will impact this unique voyage.
“Our engineers need to conduct in-service repair work on the ship before we begin our journey to Seattle. The work, which will not affect shipboard services, can only be completed while the vessel is docked and will require extended time in port,” the email explained.
Cruise Hive previously reported on changes to Carnival Spirit‘s current sailing, a weeklong Bahamas itinerary, that necessitated dropping the Bimini port visit and adjusting the visit to Celebration Key due to “in-service work.”
The ship was expected to set sail on her upcoming cruise at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 12. Because of the need for these repairs, however, Carnival Spirit will not set sail until midafternoon on Monday, April 13. An exact time for her departure has not yet been confirmed.
Embarkation will still be on Saturday as planned and guests are reminded to still use their pre-selected terminal arrival appointment time. Guests can, however, choose to go back ashore in Mobile on Sunday, but must return to Carnival Spirit by 11 p.m.
On Sunday evening, due to customs regulations, the retail shops and the onboard casino must remain closed. All other onboard activities, including dining and entertainment, will be open and operating as planned.
The 85,920-gross-ton Carnival Spirit can welcome 2,610 guests aboard. She is scheduled to remain in Alaska through mid-September and will make one unique voyage to Hawaii before returning to Mobile in October for the winter season.
Port Visit Removed From Itinerary
A delayed departure from Mobile is not the only adjustment being made to Carnival Spirit‘s repositioning cruise.
“As a result of this revised departure time and given the strict timeline for our transit of the Panama Canal, we will not have enough time to visit Cartagena, Colombia,” the email noted.
The visit to Cartagena was to have been the first port visit for the sailing, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 16. Instead, the ship will spend that day at sea en route to the Panama Canal.
This change will naturally be disappointing to guests, as visits to Colombia are relatively rare for cruise ship itineraries. It is a popular stop, however, for cruises that transit the Panama Canal, making it another highlight of this particular voyage.
Carnival Cruise Line is giving all staterooms onboard this sailing a $100 onboard credit as compensation for the lost port. All pre-booked Carnival shore excursions for Cartagena will be automatically cancelled and also refunded to guests’ Sail & Sign accounts.
There are no other changes to the ship’s itinerary at this time. Guests will still enjoy a stop in Costa Rica on Sunday, April 19 as well as Cabo San Lucas on Thursday, April 23. Carnival Spirit should arrive in Seattle on Tuesday, April 28.
The nature of the repairs being made to Carnival Spirit have not been announced. Because the ship must be docked, and because port visits have been adjusted, it is possible the repairs involve the propulsion system. The safety systems, navigation, and other onboard systems do not appear to be impacted.
Guests booked on Carnival Spirit‘s first sailings in Alaska, where she will offer 7-night itineraries, should stay in close communication with the cruise line in case further repairs may be needed and their cruises could be affected.
Carnival Spirit Repositioning Cruise Faces Delay and Lost Port Stop