Key Aspects:
- Carnival Dream will remain longer in Nassau on Christmas Eve due to maintenance.
- The onboard casino and shops will be closed while the ship remains docked.
- There is no other change to the ship’s itinerary and no other onboard services are impacted.
Guests onboard Carnival Dream will have a bit more time to enjoy Christmas Eve in Nassau, as the ship will now be remaining in port for three extra hours on that day.
“Wednesday, December 24, our engineers will be conducting maintenance work that will take some time to complete,” the captain notified guests. “As a result, we have made an adjustment and our departure from Nassau is now expected to be around 7:00 p.m.”
The ship was originally expected to be in port from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The arrival time has not changed, but now the all-aboard time will be 6:30 p.m.
This later departure gives guests an amazing opportunity to experience Nassau’s holiday decorations after dark, or even visit the unique Christmas Carnival at Fort Charlotte, just over a mile east of the cruise terminal. Other holiday displays and special events are sure to be happening that day as well.
If necessary, shore excursions purchased through Carnival Cruise Line will be adjusted and guests will be notified if their tours are impacted.
Carnival Dream departed Galveston, Texas on Friday, December 19 for the 8-night holiday Bahamas sailing. The ship will be visiting three ports in the Bahamas – Celebration Key, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.
Following the now-extended stay in Nassau, the ship will have two full days at sea as she returns to the Lone Star State for debarkation on Saturday, December 27. This will provide plenty of time for slight speed adjustments to ensure there is no delay for Carnival Dream to reach Galveston as planned.
The 128,250-gross-ton Carnival Dream offers both Western Caribbean and Bahamas sailings from Texas, welcoming as many as 3,646 guests onboard for each voyage.
Onboard Amenities to Remain Closed
The slight delay in leaving Nassau does mean that some onboard amenities cannot be opened, which might impact guests’ enjoyment of Christmas Eve onboard.
“While we are docked in Nassau, the casino and shops will remain closed, but all other onboard activities and entertainment will continue as planned,” the letter confirmed.
It is standard procedure for the casino and onboard retail shops to remain closed while cruise ships are docked in Nassau. This is to comply with the regulations of the Bahamas, as well as most other ports of call, and applies to all cruise ships, not just Carnival Cruise Line.
Read Also: Christmas on a Cruise Ship – What to Expect
This does not impact bars or specialty restaurants, however, and all dining and entertainment will be available to guests.
Because it is Christmas Eve, this means guests will be treated to special shows and other festive fun, and on Christmas Day, they will be able to feast on the cruise line’s special Christmas Gala Dinner.
Nature of Maintenance Not Disclosed
Carnival Cruise Line has not offered any further details about the nature of the maintenance that requires Carnival Dream to remain docked for a few extra hours in Nassau.
The maintenance could be related to the ship’s propulsion system, which typically requires the ship to be docked for any technical work.
Two Carnival ships have had propulsion-related mechanical issues in the past few weeks. Both Carnival Horizon and Carnival Conquest had difficulties that required itinerary adjustments in November 2025.
There has been no such announcement of difficulties with Carnival Dream, and the maintenance may just be routine work that cannot be completed during the typical port visit.
This could be a staffing consideration owing to holiday schedules, or may simply be coincidental.
Hopefully Carnival Dream will have no difficulty departing Nassau on her adjusted schedule and guests will continue to enjoy a merry holiday sailing.
