Carnival cruise ships delayed by dense fog

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Dense fog delayed a cruise ship outside of Tampa Bay, stranding it for more than twelve hours and causing hundreds of passengers to wait to disembark, and others to set sail.

Carnival Paradise was supposed to have docked at 8:00 a.m. Thursday.

Instead, the stormy and foggy weather caused the Coast Guard to close the port.  The boat did not dock until about 9:30 p.m.

Some passengers were allowed to stay aboard for an extra night.

Those scheduled to have taken the 4:00 p.m. cruise to Cozumel will have to wait until Friday to board.

Their cruise will not make any stops, in other words, be a "cruise to nowhere," and it will also be a day shorter.

"No one can control the weather," said passenger Debora Sousa, who traveled from Calgary.  "Obviously we are disappointed, but what can we do?"

Passengers will be offered a 50 percent refund, and a future trip at half price.

About a dozen other ships were delayed.