Carnival Splendor cancels port stop in Moreton Island after marine pilot unavailable

• Carnival Splendor has cancelled a scheduled stop to Moreton Island due to not being able to find a marine pilot.
• Marine pilot’s are used in Moreton Island to locate the tricky seas and help larger ships come to shore.
• Guests were offered $100 per cabin as compensation for missing the port.

Cruisers on Carnival Splendor were scheduled to visit Moreton Island as their only scheduled port a four-day cruise. However, the trip became a cruise to nowhere when Moreton Island couldn’t be visited because there was no marine pilot available.

Entering Moreton Island requires the presence of a specialised pilot, who can help guide large ships into Moreton Bay. Marine pilots are generally specialists in particular waters, and have expert knowledge in the necessary safety procedures and natural hazards of that particular section of the ocion.

On this occasion, Carnival had to let passengers know that they wouldn’t be visiting Moreton Island because a pilot couldn’t be found.

“A marine pilot is required to be on board the ship as we enter and exit Moreton Bay to get to Moreton Island. Unfortunately, our pilotage provider has advised us that they will not be able to provide us with a pilot in time tomorrow, due to unexpected circumstances.”

A letter to guests read: “A marine pilot is required to be on board the ship as we enter and exit Moreton Bay to get to Moreton Island. Unfortunately, our pilotage provider has advised us that they will not be able to provide us with a pilot in time tomorrow, due to unexpected circumstances.”

Cruisers have reported on social media that they were told that the pilot was sick, but this hasn’t been confirmed,

Cruisers instead spent the day at sea, making the four-day cruise one without a port visit and rather one to explore all the things to do on Carnival Splendor. Guests are being given $100 onboard credit per cabin as compensation for the missed ports.

Cruise lines sometimes don’t given compensation for missed ports when the port is missed due to bad weather or other circumstances outside of the cruise lines control, but in this case compensation was given, likely due to the nature of the cancellation.

Moreton Island is actually known as a location that commonly experiences bad weather, and many cruisers report attempting to visit on various occasions without making it. It will also be the scene of new Carnival beachside cabanas, which will be able to be rented by guests to have their own beachside space for the day.