Sea Ice Could Impact Upcoming Carnival Journeys Voyage
Carnival Cruise Line has another advisory for guests before Carnival Pride embarks on a 14-night Journeys cruise to Greenland and Canada on May 25, 2025.
Well before ships even set sail on a new cruise, the captain and his bridge team officers are already keeping an eye on weather conditions and possible hazards in their intended route.
In this case, the cruise line is giving guests a heads-up that there is a lot of sea ice in the waters around Greenland. No itinerary changes have been made at this time, but adjustments could still be made out of an abundance of caution.
“At present, in areas along our intended route, there is a significant presence of sea ice which could impact the itinerary. With support and guidance from our Fleet Operations center, Captain Giacalone has been closely monitoring real time sea conditions and weather forecasts for the region,” Carnival wrote to booked guests.
While this may sound strange as many in the US are starting to soak in the early signs of summer weather, temperatures around Greenland tend to average at around 39 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 27 degrees Fahrenheit at night based on historical weather data for May.
Sea ice can start to form when the surface of the ocean drops below 28 or 29 degrees Fahrenheit – and it’s not unusual for the water to be colder than the air.
“He has much practice sailing the waters in the area, but he will also have experienced local pilots from Greenland on board. Should any changes be necessary, Captain Giacalone will communicate them promptly,” the letter continued.
Sea ice should also not be confused with icebergs – which is what the ill-fated Titanic hit before tragically sinking. Icebergs are much more dangerous to cruise ships because they are more likely to cause catastrophic collisions and can sometimes be difficult to spot.
Sea ice, meanwhile, is frozen ocean water that forms and melts on the surface of the water. It isn’t likely to cause a disaster, but could still delay a cruise ship or damage the hull (bottom of the ship) in certain conditions.
Guests Already Warned About Accessibility
Prior to receiving this letter, the up to 2,124 guests that will be onboard for the Baltimore-based sailing were previously advised about accessibility concerns that are specific to this voyage.
Notably, the first three stops on the itinerary are tender ports – meaning guests will have to be ferried between the ship and the shore using smaller crafts (usually lifeboats).
These destinations include Nanortalik and Qaqortoq in Greenland and St. Anthony (Newfoundland and Labrador) in Canada.
The final two calls on the itinerary – which are on Corner Brook (Newfoundland and Labrador), Canada; and Sydney (Nova Scotia), Canada – allow cruise ships to dock at a pier.
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Because of the requirements of tendering and the undeveloped nature at the Greenland-based ports in particular, Carnival has advised that cruisers with limited mobility may need to take extra precautions or stay onboard during these visits.
“As the world’s largest island, Greenland showcases vast lands that are generally untouched by human activity, preserving much of its mostly rustic and scenic views. Like some of our destinations, facilities are not equipped for people with mobility limitations,” the cruise line advised at the time.
In order to use the tenders, guests must be able to safely use stairs – and will also need to navigate an inclined ramp to actually set foot in Greenland.
Additionally, guests who use mobility devices will only be able to bring them onboard the tenders if they are collapsible – so a last minute purchase might be in order for passengers who need these devices and would like to go ashore.