Fog-stranded cruise ship on the move; next boarding canceled

Tampa, Florida — The Brilliance of the Seas is on the move.

The U.S. Coast Guard is helping escort the Royal Caribbean cruise ship and its 2,500 passengers into Channelside, after heavy fog kept it out to sea for nearly a day.

However, the ship’s next scheduled sailing, which was originally supposed to depart Monday night, has been canceled.

“We understand that this was not what our guests were expecting, and not what we said last night, and we share in their disappointment,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement.

Royal Caribbean says it will provide full refunds of cruise fare, as well as a future cruise certificate for 25% of the cruise fare paid for their original sailing.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen other ships are still being kept from entering or leaving the port.

TRACK CRUISE SHIPS: Real-time map
FORECAST: Fog lingers, some showers on the way

The Coast Guard says the heavy fog makes conditions too dangerous for large ships to enter or leave. Aside from the exception with the cruise ship, Port Tampa Bay remains closed.

“The Coast Guard’s primary concern at all times is the safety of the recreational and commercial boating public,” said Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Pankey in a statement. “We are implementing the port closure out of an abundance of caution to eliminate the risk of a possible accident occurring within the affected areas. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we truly appreciate the public’s patience during this situation.”

At least 15 ships were affected by this delay, including the Brilliance of the Seas, which was originally scheduled to come into the port on Monday.

Click here to track the Brilliance of the Seas’ progress.

A spokesperson for the Port Tampa Bay says they are at the “mercy of Mother Nature” and will reopen when the fog lessens. However, they have no time frame on when that may happen.

Several ships spent the night stopped 20 miles from shore, west of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

One of the people on the Brilliance of the Seas is Urban Meyer, Ohio State and former University of Florida head football coach. He’s part of an Ohio State cruise raising money to fight cancer.

Pictures from Ohio State alum Dustin Fox show you just how thick the sea fog is. Fox is one of the passengers taking part in the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer.

Not only are there 2,500 cruise passengers stranded out in the Gulf, who should have come home Monday — but 2,500 other people are stuck in Tampa, waiting to get onboard that same ship to start their own cruises.

“They’ve got all of our suitcases, so we have no clothes,” says cruise passenger Irene McBride.

Hundreds of passengers like her, who were waiting to board the cruise ship Monday, were left stranded on land while their luggage sat in storage at Port Tampa Bay.

“We have nothing new to put on tonight, nothing new to wear tomorrow,” says McBride.

The stranded cruisers say they’ve been told to be ready to board the Brilliance of the Seas at 11 a.m. Tuesday after the ship docks and the current passengers depart, but 10 Weather meteorologist Bobby Deskins says the fog at sea may last well into the afternoon.

A spokesperson at the Port says they are at the mercy of Mother Nature, and will reopen when the fog lessens. However, they had no ETA on when that might be.

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Cruise ships stuck in the gulf due to fog