Another Carnival Cruise Ship Recently Slowed by Mechanical Issues

Just days after Carnival Horizon developed significant propulsion issues in mid-November, another Carnival cruise ship experienced some technical issues of its own.

On November 20, 2025, guests onboard Carnival Conquest received letters informing them that the Conquest-class flagship had developed propulsion issues that limited her speed.

“Overnight, the ship developed a mechanical issue that is limiting its speed,” Captain Giuseppe Donato wrote to the up to 2,980 guests onboard.

“Our engineers are working to resolve it, but since we are sailing slower than required, our arrival into Celebration Key will be later than scheduled,” the letter continued.

Rather than cancel the port call entirely, the plan was to shorten the call to Celebration Key in the Bahamas on November 20, 2025, by several hours.

This was the second and final call of a 4-night Bahamas sailing that was based out of Miami, Florida.

The 2002-launched ship arrived at the island destination at around 11:30 a.m. instead of the previously scheduled 8 a.m. A $50 onboard credit was issued for the inconvenience.

Debarkation Gets Rearranged

Soon after learning of the propulsion issues, cruisers were also notified that debarkation in PortMiami had been moved to a new terminal on November 21.

Instead of returning to Terminal D, where the cruise originally embarked, the voyage would now conclude at Terminal F.

“When we return to PortMiami, we will be docking at Terminal F instead of Terminal D, where we embarked,” Hotel Director Martin Fowler wrote to guests in another letter that was delivered on November 20, 2025.

While a specific reason for the change was not given, it would be a big coincidence if the cause was not related to the propulsion situation.

While the two terminals are within walking distance, the walk can be cumbersome when carrying luggage. Therefore, complimentary shuttles were available to bring guests back to Terminal D.

This, of course, would force guests embarking on the November 21 sailing, which was a 3-night voyage to Celebration Key, to adjust their plans as well.

Why Do Propulsion Problems Happen?

Per cruise tracking data, Carnival Conquest now appears to be operating normally and is in the middle of a 4-night Bahamas sailing that embarked on November 24.

Cruise Hive reached out to Carnival to ask if the issue was indeed resolved, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

But before the cruise community gets too harsh toward the ship’s hiccup, keep in mind that propulsion issues can happen for a variety of reasons related to mechanical failures, electrical problems, and even external factors.

As these ships operate 24/7 every single day of the year with rare exception, sometimes onboard systems simply end up out of whack – even with constant maintenance and inspections.

It’s unclear what caused the recent propulsion issues onboard Carnival Conquest, or if the reason might be related to similar difficulties that impacted the ship earlier this year.

In January, engine troubles delayed the 110,000-gross-ton vessel’s return to Miami by several hours at the end of a 3-night getaway cruise to Nassau, Bahamas.

Proving that this vessel is not alone, Carnival Horizon experienced a propulsion-related delay in mid-November that even prompted a personal apology from Carnival President Christine Duffy.

Meanwhile, guests booked onboard MSC Meraviglia’s November 30, 2025, voyage have been notified that their Bahamas itinerary has been altered due to speed limitations.

If you find your cruise has been impacted by engine troubles, it’s important to do your best to remain patient, flexible, and respectful.