Image: Carnival Luminosa - Carnival Cruise Line. Weather forecast - Korea Meteorological Administration.
Carnival Luminosa's already eventful transpacific voyage has undergone another significant itinerary change, with Carnival confirming that planned calls at Otaru and Aomori have been cancelled as Tropical System Choi-wan affects the ship's route towards Japan.
In a letter delivered to passengers on 1 October, Captain Vittorio Marchi said Carnival's Fleet Operations Center had been closely monitoring the developing system and had modified the ship's plans to remain safely away from the storm.
Kobe has now been rescheduled for Sunday, 4 October, while Kochi has been added for Monday, 5 October. Carnival says it is also working to secure additional port visits before Luminosa's planned arrival in Tokyo.
Carnival confirmed the revised itinerary in a letter delivered to Luminosa passengers on 1 October. Image shared via the Carnival Luminosa Transpacific Facebook group.
Otaru and Aomori dropped from the itinerary
Carnival has now confirmed the revised itinerary directly to passengers.
Luminosa will visit Kobe from 8am to 8pm on Sunday, 4 October, followed by a newly added call at Kochi from 8am to 5pm on Monday, 5 October.
Carnival says it is also "actively working to secure additional port visits" before the ship's planned arrival in Tokyo, meaning the final Japanese itinerary may not yet be settled.
Shore excursions purchased through Carnival for Otaru and Aomori have been cancelled and will be refunded to guests' Sail & Sign accounts, while existing Kobe excursions have been transferred to the new date.
Tropical systems affecting waters around Japan
The itinerary changes come as two tropical systems are active in the western Pacific.
As of 1 October, Surigae was moving northeast away from Japan after passing through waters south of Honshu, while Choi-Wan had developed farther south near the Mariana Islands.
Passengers onboard Luminosa have attributed the latest itinerary changes to the two systems, although Voyage Ready has not yet seen written communication from Carnival detailing the revised Japanese itinerary.
Image: Choi-Wan - Korea Meteorological Administration
Image: Surigae - Korea Meteorological Administration
More changes for Luminosa's transpacific cruise
The latest cancellations follow significant changes during the Alaska portion of the same cruise.
Luminosa's scheduled visit to Icy Strait Point and scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier were previously cancelled, with the ship instead beginning a long southerly crossing of the Pacific towards Japan.
That means four major experiences from the originally advertised itinerary have now been affected, although Hubbard Glacier was a scenic cruising day rather than a port call and Carnival is attempting to replace the two cancelled Japanese ports.
The original itinerary had included Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Otaru, Aomori, Shimizu and Kobe before arriving in Tokyo.
Passengers react to further changes
Reaction among passengers has been mixed.
Some passengers posting from the ship said they understood the need to alter the itinerary for safety but were nevertheless disappointed after planning the lengthy transpacific cruise years in advance.
Others pointed out that weather-related changes are an unavoidable risk of cruising and supported the decision to change course.
Carnival's letter does not mention any additional compensation for the itinerary changes beyond refunds for cancelled Carnival shore excursions. Applicable port taxes and fees may be handled separately.
With Carnival reportedly still arranging the replacement calls, further changes to Luminosa's Japanese itinerary remain possible.
Sources
Cruise Industry News – Carnival Luminosa Sets Sail on 18-Night Cruise to Japan
