Sun Princess’ first transatlantic crossing and subsequent inaugural arrival to the United States has been delayed by Hurricane Milton. She was initially scheduled to arrive at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
As of Tuesday evening, the US Coast Guard has set Port Everglades to Port Condition Yankee meaning she can not access the port at all at this time. With the uncertainty of Hurricane Milton, Sun Princess will remain at sea away from the storm until the port is safe to access. Princess Cruises is planning on the ship finishing her transatlantic crossing and making her inaugural debut in the US on Friday, October 11, 2024.
Princess Cruises said, “Due to the Hurricane Milton’s approach to Florida, the U.S. Coast Guard has restricted ship access to all ports in South Florida effective at midnight tonight including Fort Lauderdale, where we were scheduled to disembark on Tuesday. As a result of our inability to access the port, the ship now will remain safely at sea well away from the storm. We will continue to monitor the storm’s path closely and ensure that we remain well away from any dangerous weather, prioritizing guests’ safety and comfort. While the Coast Guard has not provided a specific reopening date, Sun Princess is currently planning to return to Fort Lauderdale on Friday, October 11 to disembark, pending clearance.”
Sun Princess first sailing is a 5-night sailing scheduled for October 14, 2024, and it is possible it will not be impacted. She will then offer Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings through March 2025.
At the time of this writing, Hurricane Milton is classified as a Category 5 storm over the southern Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday evening, “Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.” With that said, if you are in its path, do all you can to stay safe.