Carnival Spirit's Seattle Return Slips a Day, Cabo Call Dropped, Cruise Shortened
If you are booked on Carnival Spirit's repositioning cruise from Seattle, your sailing now departs Friday, October 9, not Thursday, October 8, so check your flights and hotels. Carnival will reimburse non-refundable airfare change fees or travel-related expenses up to $200 per person, but you must submit receipts. FLY2FUN air bookings are adjusted automatically. Watch for Carnival's follow-up by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, and look for refunds on your Sail & Sign account by the end of the day on October 10.
My read is that Carnival protected the one thing guests care about most. The Panama Canal slot on October 19 is the highlight of this repositioning, and the line gave up Cabo San Lucas on October 13 rather than lose it. That is a sensible trade, and John Heald confirmed it on video after guests wrote to him with concerns. The compensation is generous for a one-day loss: a one-day pro-rated refund, $250 per stateroom in onboard credit, and up to $200 per person in expenses. Carnival has not said what the repair was. The ship making 22 knots toward Seattle, close to top cruising speed, suggests the line is trying to hold the schedule. Guests with pre-paid Cabo excursions or packages come out whole. The losers are anyone with rigid flights or hotels. If I were booked, I would keep every receipt and wait for the October 6 message before rebooking anything non-refundable.