P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter arrives at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal on August 20, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. . Photo:
James D. Morgan/Getty
A tropical cyclone has forced several cruise ships to shelter far out at sea.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall in Brisbane, Australia on late Friday or early Saturday, causing several cruise liners from Carnival, Royal Caribbean and others to weather the storm at sea or divert to other ports, according to 9 News Australia and Daily Cargo News (DCN).
A tropical cyclone is similar to a hurricane or a typhoon. It forms over tropical water and causes high winds, heavy rain and storm surges, among other hazards.
Carnival Cruise Lines’ Luminosa ship and Royal Carribean’s Quantum of the Seas — which both set sail from the city — were informed that the ships would not be able to dock in Brisbane on Thursday or Friday as planned, the Port of Brisbane said, per DCN.
Carnival Luminosa, which is currently on a voyage through the South Pacific, has chosen to steer clear of Brisbane until “possibly” March 8, the cruise line told PEOPLE in a statement. In the meantime, the ship is “staying a safe distance from the storm to minimize discomfort for our guests.”
People walk along Surfers Paradise Beach behind a warning sign on the Gold Coast on March 6, 2025. Tropical Cyclone Alfred was 285 kilometres (180 miles) east of busy Brisbane city after unexpectedly slowing above the Coral Sea overnight, government forecasts said. DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty
Some sailings that were scheduled to depart this weekend were canceled, Carnival confirmed to PEOPLE.
“Given its current track, the storm is expected to directly impact the Brisbane area in the coming days and the port is now closed. Regrettably, we had no option but to cancel Carnival Luminosa’s 3-day cruise planned to depart on March 6. Guests will receive a full refund for their cruise fare and all pre-purchased items.”
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According to The Street, Royal Caribbean reportedly sent out a message to guests letting them know that their trip would be impacted. PEOPLE has reached out to Royal Caribbean for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
An infographic titled “Tropical Cyclone Alfred” created in Ankara, Turkiye on March 6, 2025. Tropical Cyclone Alfred could inundate some 20,000 houses in the Australian city of Brisbane alone. Yasin Demirci/Anadolu via Getty
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli shared on March 3 that P&O Cruises’ Australia’s Pacific Encounter would dock in Brisbane while two other cruise ships, including Cunard’s Queen Anne Cruise, would need to be diverted.
Passengers on the Pacific Encounter shared video of large ocean waves battering the sides of the cruise ship amid the heavy winds as it returned to the Brisbane Port on Tuesday, March 4.
“It wasn’t that bad for us, but some people had a difficult time coping with the waves,” one passenger on the ship recalled to 9 News. “The captain did an excellent job to steer us away from it and to go into the waves rather than be rolled by waves.”
The Bureau of Meteorology reportedly warned about “abnormally high” ocean tides of up to 9 meters (29 ft.) and destructive winds on the coast of Brisbane, per the same outlet.
The Port of Brisbane shared on Wednesday that winds are likely to exceed 75MPH, and possibly reach as high as 96MPH in the next several days.
