Three Royal Caribbean ships—Rhapsody of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas—experienced significant delays on December 6 due to dense winter fog in Tampa Bay, which prevented them from entering the port until the afternoon.
Port Tampa Bay issued a fog delay alert, confirming that all cruise ships were being held.
As a result, embarkation for upcoming sailings was pushed back, with Rhapsody of the Seas guests seeing their terminal arrival times delayed by eight hours (for example, 11 a.m. arrivals moved to 7 p.m.). Royal Caribbean notified passengers throughout the morning about the shifting schedule and advised guests to monitor updates in case itinerary changes become necessary.
The incident highlights how winter fog—caused by cold northern air meeting the bay’s warm waters—regularly disrupts cruise operations at Port Tampa Bay.
Fog can be a significant problem for cruise ships, causing major delays, itinerary changes, and passenger frustration because it severely reduces visibility, making it unsafe to navigate busy ports, channels, and open waters, even with advanced technology, forcing ships to wait offshore until conditions improve for safe docking and departure. On rare occasions, cruise ship accidents have occurred due to the impact of heavy fog, causing accidents and passenger injuries.
Waks and Barnett is a law firm that specializes in cruise ship injury claims.
For more information from our attorneys, please call us today. There is no obligation with the call – and – the call with our attorneys is free. Call today at 1-305-271-8282.
Our cruise ship accident lawyers have been helping injured passengers and crew members for more than 35 years. We help you understand your rights and will assist you in filing an injury claim against the cruise line. If you believe negligence played a role in your injury – or just have questions about the your accident – please contact our office today.
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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique and should be evaluated by an experienced cruise ship accident or maritime injury attorney.