Carnival Miracle Warns Guests of Busy Seattle Embarkation
Carnival Cruise Line has issued a strict arrival advisory for guests on Carnival Miracle's final Alaska sailing from Seattle on September 17, 2026, due to
Carnival Cruise Line is asking guests booked on the Carnival Miracle's September 17, 2026, departure from Seattle to strictly adhere to their pre-selected terminal arrival appointments. The cruise line sent a notice on September 11, 2026, warning of an unusually busy day at Smith Cove Cruise Terminal at Pier 91.
Early arrivals will not be accommodated. "Guests who arrive earlier than their assigned time will be asked to return within their designated timeframe," the notice stated. The advisory is due to two factors: the terminal will be shared with another cruise ship, and a routine U.S. Coast Guard inspection is scheduled for the same day.
Despite the expected congestion, the ship's 4:00 p.m. Departure time remains unchanged. Guests must be on board the 88,500-gross-ton, 2,124-passenger ship by the time indicated on their boarding passes. Carnival also reminded guests to use porters wearing orange vests for luggage and to carry travel documents and medications personally.
Two Ships at Pier 91
The Port of Seattle's schedule identifies the other vessel sharing Pier 91 as Cunard's Queen Elizabeth. She is scheduled to depart at 5:00 p.m. On September 17, 2026.
The two ships have different itineraries below.
| Ship | Departure Time | Itinerary | Return Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Miracle | 4:00 p.m. | 9-night Alaska voyage to Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, Victoria, with scenic Endicott Arm cruising | September 26, 2026 |
| Queen Elizabeth | 5:00 p.m. | 7-night Alaska voyage to Ketchikan, Juneau, Victoria, with scenic Endicott Arm cruising | September 24, 2026 |
Itinerary Adjustments and Final Alaska Season
The Carnival Miracle's upcoming 9-night Alaska itinerary was modified earlier in 2026. Carnival removed scenic cruising through Tracy Arm due to unstable geological conditions following an August 2025 landslide and tsunami in the area. The sailing will now feature scenic cruising in Endicott Arm instead.
This September 17 voyage marks the final Alaska cruise for the Carnival Miracle in the 2026 season. Following this sailing, the ship will reposition to Galveston, Texas.
Repositioning to Galveston and Beyond
The repositioning will begin with a 16-night Panama Canal cruise departing Seattle on September 26, 2026. That itinerary includes calls at Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas, and Cartagena before the ship arrives in Galveston on October 12, 2026.
From its new homeport in Texas, the Carnival Miracle will operate a series of Caribbean voyages through early May 2027. The ship is then scheduled to depart for Europe on a transatlantic sailing on May 6, 2027. Carnival's recent notice mirrors a similar terminal-arrival reminder sent to guests on Carnival Venezia in New York, as previously reported by Cruise Hive.
