High winds in the Port of Key West trapped one ship in port and caused others to skip the port altogether. Winds around 30 mph were reported. While 30 mph may seem insignificant to us, winds at those speeds can be dangerous when maneuvering a ship, especially in a tighter port like Key West.
The high winds in Key West apparently prevented the Celebrity Constellation from departing at her scheduled time, and forced the ship to stay docked overnight. The Constellation reportedly departed Key West earlier this morning. The Constellation will no longer be calling in Cozumel as originally planned, but will spend at day at sea instead.
The winds also forced the Carnival Destiny to drop the port from its schedule. Instead, the Destiny will sailed directly to Cozumel, using yesterday as a day at sea.
There have been a few minor cruise ship accidents this past year that have been blamed on high winds. Earlier this month, the Costa Pacifica had a minor collision with a port structure after the ship was moved by a large wind gust. This past September, high winds broke the Norwegian Star’s mooring lines and forced the ship into the side of the Explorer of the Seas.
All in all, it is probably smart that the Constellation remained in port and the Carnival Destiny decided not to attempt docking. While the ship’s Officers and crew do not like to alter their guest’s itinerary, they made the right decision by placing safety over keeping a schedule.
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Photos: Mike Faust
