Technical Issue Slows Carnival Miracle

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,214-passenger Carnival Miracle has changed its Alaska itinerary on virtually all departures from May through late August. The company said the ship “has experienced a technical issue that is only impacting the ship’s maximum cruising speed. All safety and hotel systems are operating normally.”

In a statement, Carnival said the ship’s maximum cruising speed has been reduced from 21 knots to 18-20, depending on wind and sea conditions. The ship will continue to operate at reduced speeds until its next scheduled dry-dock in early 2015, which impacts some Hawaiian cruises as well.

Here are the itinerary modifications:

On the May 6 and May 13 departures, Sitka will replace the scheduled call in Skagway.

From May 20 through Aug. 26, the scheduled call in Ketchikan will be cancelled and calls in Juneau and Victoria will be extended.

The April 28 and Sept. 2 Alaska itineraries will not require changes.

The 16-day Hawaii cruise departing Sept. 18 will shorten a scheduled two-day call in Maui to one full day and evening. The ship will call on all the scheduled Hawaii ports but the sequence will be changed. 

The port sequence will change for the Sept. 10 itinerary, but none will be cancelled. In addition, no changes are required for the 16-day Hawaii cruise that departed Los Angeles on April 12.

Guests on the May 6 through Aug. 26 cruises and the Sept. 18 cruise will receive a $50-per-person onboard credit and a 25 percent discount on a future cruise. Guests can also cancel the cruise and receive a full refund.

John Heald, senior cruise director for Carnival, weighed in on the situation on Facebook: