'Enough supplies': How cruise ships reacted at sea to avoid Cyclone Alfred

Leisa Hassall from Brisbane was on the P&O Cruises Pacific Encounter on Monday, March 3, when she posted a video to TikTok showing what it was like to be on a cruise ship ahead of a cyclone.

"Apparently there's a cyclone," she said, looking unphased from a seat on the deck.

"Yes, it's blowing 35/40 knots, yes there are three-and-a-half, five-meter swells, yes the boat goes up and down. Just go to the bar and get another drink.

"It's not that bad."

Ms Hassall is a "boatie" and wasn't phased by the rocky seas. But she said others were.

"We've done six cruises now. We knew the cyclone was coming and we prepared and were watching the warnings and alerts out there. We took our travel sickness tablets and wore our wrist bands," she told Explore.

Some others on the ship were "not having a great time".

She said the swells were high and they got a lot of spray on the top deck.

She praised the staff for their communication and making the cruise fun even though it was "like a rollercoaster" because of the high seas.

She and her husband arrived home on Tuesday, but other ships are still at sea.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) cancelled a scheduled stop in Brisbane, sailing straight on to Cairns instead in an epic five-days-at-sea journey to avoid the cyclone.

The Norwegian Sun was scheduled to sail from New Zealand to Brisbane on March 1 when NCL sent a letter to the 2323 passengers alerting them they would be changing their route.

The cruise line said while the business had made "every effort to preserve the original itinerary", passenger and crew safety remained the cruise line's "top priority".

"Due to the forecasted impact of Cyclone Alfred on Brisbane, Australia, during our scheduled call on March 5, 2025, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our stop and instead spend the day sailing directly to Cairns, Australia, to avoid rough seas," they wrote.

"We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this weather-related change may cause and appreciate your understanding."

Shore excursions for Brisbane were automatically cancelled and passengers were given refunds.

Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas was off the coast of New Caledonia. The ship, which was hosting 4819 passengers, was spending more time at sea to ride out the cyclone before heading home to Brisbane.

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"Along with our Chief Meteorologist, we have been closely monitoring the progression of Cyclone Alfred. Guests currently onboard will spend three extra days cruising the South Pacific before returning to Brisbane. Guests have been notified of the changes directly," a spokesperson said.

Carnival Cruise Line was also affected. Its Luminosa was due back in Brisbane after visiting the South Pacific, but instead sailed well off the Queensland coast to avoid the cyclone.

A letter from the captain, Vittorio Marchi, to the 4819 passengers on board, said Brisbane port was closed as officials prepare for landfall, and once the storm passed officials must conduct a post-storm assessment before ships can be cleared to safely return to port.

He expected the ship will be able to head into port on Sunday, March 9, however this was dependent on the weather system.

"As things stand now, we still have enough supplies and are equipped to take care you for the extra days," he said.

"We are in a safe position from the storm, but we will continue to monitor it and keep you updated. The internet service remains available for you to stay connected with your loved ones back home."

He said when the ship heads back to Australia, they will "sail a safe distance from the storm".

"If we happen to encounter adverse weather, winds or waves may cause added movement of the ship. Our highly trained and experienced officers and I will do everything possible to minimize any discomfort. For everyone's safety, please take extra precaution while walking around the ship and use handrails when possible," he said.

A Carnival Luminosa three-day voyage was cancelled, and customers refunded.

Both Pacific Encounter and Carnival Luminosa have a marine pilot onboard from the Port of Brisbane. The pilot helps guide the ship into port.

Globally, Carnival Cruise Line has a fleet operations centre, to monitor hurricanes and cyclones, among other events, and work with the ship's captain on how best to avoid bad weather.