Cruise lines getting back to normal

Florida ports including Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and PortMiami returned to some semblance of normality Tuesday after assessing damage from Hurricane Irma.

Cruise lines that had kept passengers on board to weather the storm returned to let them disembark. Some cruise itineraries have been altered with new destinations.

At Port Canaveral, the U.S. Coast Guard opened the port at noon Tuesday under restrictions to allow commercial vessel transit, including fuel for Florida consumers and cruise ships that were diverted from because of the storm. The port welcomed back ships Wednesday and will begin regularly scheduled cruises starting Friday. That includes Disney Dream’s planned Friday sailing to the Bahamas and Disney Fantasy’s planned seven-night Caribbean sailing Saturday. Both Disney ships will make calls in the Bahamas to Castaway Cay.

Both Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas and Carnival Magic returned to port Wednesday morning and will disembark on a shortened four-night itineraries today. Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas had its Sept. 15 Bahamas cruise canceled as the line is using that ship and Miami-based Empress of the Seas for humanitarian efforts.

Initial inspections at Port Canaveral have shown mostly cosmetic damage and debris, CEO John Murray said, adding passengers should check with cruise lines to confirm itineraries.