Key Aspects:
- A minor mechanical issue has impacted Carnival Horizon‘s speed towards the end of its March 28 sailing.
- Carnival has informed guests that the ship will arrive late back at PortMiami on April 5.
- Embarkation for the next April 5 sailing is likewise shifted two hours later.
Guests currently onboard Carnival Horizon are going to get a slightly longer vacation than anticipated, as a mechanical issue has slowed the ship. This means she will be returning to Miami a bit later than originally planned on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
The delay is not a significant one but may impact guests’ onward travel plans, particularly for anyone who may have hoped to catch an early flight on Sunday morning.
“Our engineers are actively working to repair a minor mechanical issue, which requires us to reduce our speed slightly,” a letter delivered to guests’ staterooms said. “As a result, we now expect to dock in Miami at 8:30 AM, a little later than originally scheduled.”
Carnival Horizon is finishing an 8-night Southern Caribbean itinerary that departed Miami on Saturday, March 28. The classic “ABC” voyage visited Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.
The ship is now at sea heading back toward the Sunshine State. Satellite tracking confirms a speed of 20 knots (23 miles per hour), which is close to the ship’s top sailing speed of 21.5 knots (25 mph), which seems to indicate that the minor mechanical issue has been successfully resolved.
Nevertheless, Carnival Horizon will still be slightly late back to Miami. Originally, the ship was scheduled to begin debarking at close to 8 a.m., but now debarkation will not likely begin until 9 a.m.
Guests are being asked to vacate their staterooms no later than 8:45 a.m. in order to permit housekeeping teams to turn over the rooms for the next sailing, minimizing any delay between cruises.
Carnival Cruise Line has opened the WiFi for the up to 4,977 guests onboard Carnival Horizon to help them adjust travel plans for the revised arrival and debarkation times. This will be essential for travelers who may have arranged taxis, ride shares, or pickups from the cruise terminal.
Some guests may also need to adjust flight times, particularly if they were planning early flights. With seven ships in port in Miami on Sunday, as well as ongoing construction in the area, traffic may continue to be congested as guests leave the port area.
Next Embarkation Delayed
Guests booked on Carnival Horizon‘s next sailing are also being notified about the delay.
The April 5, 2026 cruise is a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary with visits planned for Celebration Key, Ocho Rios, and Grand Cayman before the ship returns to Miami on Saturday, April 11.
Read Also: What Is Wrong With Carnival’s Vista Class Ships?
While the overall itinerary is not likely to be impacted by the brief delay, guests are being advised to delay their cruise terminal arrival appointment by two hours to accommodate the change in debarkation for the previous sailing. Further updates to arrival times may yet be forthcoming as the ship arrives, and guests should opt in to text alerts for the latest information.
It is important for debarking guests to have time to claim luggage, clear customs, and exit the terminal and parking areas before new guests begin arriving to start their vacation, or else congestion will become even worse.
Propulsion Issues a Common Concern for Vista Class Ships
This is not the first time Carnival Horizon has had mechanical issues that affect the ship’s cruising speed.
Cruise Hive has previously reported on multiple similar issues for the vessel, including in August 2018, just four months after she first debuted. Other propulsion issues have been noted in 2021 and most recently in November 2025.
Interestingly, the most recent mechanical trouble was also at the end of an 8-night “ABC” itinerary, causing a delay in her return to Miami and a later embarkation for the next sailing.
The cruise line’s other Vista Class ships, Carnival Vista and Carnival Panorama, have likewise had multiple propulsion problems throughout their respective service careers.
Exact details of the propulsion difficulties in any of the instances, including the most current trouble, have not been disclosed, but all other onboard activities, entertainment, dining, and hotel operations are running smoothly.
