Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruises delayed by Cyclone Alfred

Cruise lines are adjusting operations as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches Queensland, Australia.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Luminosa ship will be delayed returning to Brisbane, the cruise line told USA TODAY. “Given its current track, the storm is expected to directly impact the Brisbane area in the coming days and the port is now closed,” a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The ship departed from Brisbane on Feb. 23 for a cruise that was set to end on Thursday, according to CruiseMapper.

Carnival Luminosa will return once it’s safe to do so, possibly on Saturday morning, the spokesperson added. “The Captain is sailing a safe distance from the storm to minimize discomfort for our guests,” the statement said.

The vessel’s next cruise, which was set to start on Thursday, was canceled. Guests will get a full refund of their fare and any pre-purchased items.

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Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas was also delayed due to the storm. “Guests currently onboard will spend three extra days cruising the South Pacific before returning to Brisbane,” a spokesperson for the line’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, told USA TODAY in an emailed statement.

The ship left from Brisbane on Feb. 28 and was scheduled to return on Friday, according to CruiseMapper. The company did not address a question about the ship’s subsequent sailing or whether guests would receive compensation.

Cyclone Alfred stalled off Australia's east coast on Thursday as officials shut airports, schools and public transport while residents stockpiled supplies and sandbagged homes against flooding expected when the category-two storm hits.

The storm is now likely to make landfall by Saturday morning near Brisbane, Australia's third-most populous city, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update, compared with a prior projection of landfall by early Friday.

Brisbane Airport said it would suspend operations around 4 p.m. on Thursday but keep its terminals open for defense operations.

Qantas Airways said its international operations from Brisbane would remain suspended until Saturday noon and domestic flights until Sunday morning.

Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY; Renju Jose, Reuters

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cyclone Alfred keeps Carnival, Royal Caribbean ships at sea