Carnival Cruise Line warns guests about traffic issues

Carnival Cruise Line has sent an email to guests who booked aboard sailings March 25, 2023 carnival view And carnival dream that a significant road closure to Galveston may affect travel times to the cruise terminal.

Guests setting sail this weekend should adjust their ride or ride-sharing plans to ensure they reach the cruise terminal at a convenient time.

Traffic warning for two Carnival cruise ships

Guests sail aboard carnival view or carnival dream This weekend, due to a local highway closure, allow additional travel time to reach the Galveston cruise terminal. Carnival Cruise Line has reached out to guests to let them know of the potential difficulties.

“Officials in Galveston have informed us that there is a planned road closure along I-45 southbound to Galveston.” read the email. “Please allow enough time to commute to the cruise terminal in order to arrive on time within your preselected arrival date.”

Guests who have arranged transfers through Carnival Cruise Line may also be impacted by their travel plans, although the cruise line will make adjustments to accommodate delays as necessary.

“For guests who have purchased Carnival’s transfer service, we are working closely with our transportation provider to account for any delays that may occur.” the email explained.

Guests who have arranged independent ridesharing or shuttles should contact their transportation provider to adjust pickup times if necessary, while guests self-driving to the port should plan to depart earlier than expected to allow time for traffic delays.

carnival viewSaturday 25th March is a 7 night cruise to the Western Caribbean visiting Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico. carnival dream‘s Cruise is an 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise to Key West and three ports of call in the Bahamas – Freeport, Half Moon Cayand Nassau.

No changes to the ships’ departure times have been announced, nor should their itineraries be affected by the motorway closure.

About the roadblock

Interstate 45 is a major artery in Texas that not only connects Houston to the Galveston area, but also runs north to Dallas. The southbound closure will dramatically affect travel times from these metro areas as well as major airports, potentially causing congestion and delays for many cruise travelers.

Also Read: How to Travel from Houston to Galveston, TX Port

According to local Texas news reports, the road closure will begin at 9 p.m. Friday, March 24 and will last through 5 a.m. Monday, March 27, also affecting several ramps in close proximity.

The closure is due to marking work and a general freeway renewal that will eventually increase the number of southbound lanes to 1-45. The hardest-hit area will be between the NASA bypass and FM 518, a stretch that’s only 2 miles long, but traffic may back up significantly ahead of the closure.

The closed area is approximately 28 miles (45 km) from the Galveston Cruise Terminal.

Impact on other Galveston cruises

In addition to the two Carnival ships, there are also those of Royal Caribbean International Adventures of the Seas also sets sail on Saturday and guests may be affected by traffic congestion. This cruise is a 5 day Western Caribbean itinerary to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

Traffic problems can also occur on Sunday trips. Princess Cruises Ruby Princess and Royal Caribbean Oasis class fascination of the seas both depart from Galveston that day.

The lockdown is expected to be completed by Monday morning shine of the seas And carnival breeze returning from their last sailings, but with guests not disembarking until around 7-7:30am and the road reopening at 5am, traffic problems on the day should be minimal.

All cruise guests, regardless of their home port, should remain in close contact with their cruise line at all times and be provided with up-to-date email, phone, and text contact information for last-minute delays, traffic alerts, and other information while they cruise prepare for departure.