Norwegian Cruise Line Criticized for Last-Minute I...

Key Features:

• Norwegian Cruise Line has altered a number of itineraries by the top of the 12 months for Norwegian Getaway and at the very least one cruise for Norwegian Pearl.
• The brand new itineraries exchange ports like Nassau and Nice Stirrup Cay to prioritize calls to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
• Impacted company have expressed outrage on the late changes to their cruise holidays.

Norwegian Cruise Line is within the sizzling seat after making some last-minute itinerary adjustments to a number of sailings earlier than the top of 2025 that might be operated by Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Pearl.

These are all Bahamas or Caribbean-bound sailings which were adjusted to revolve round a port name to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, allegedly to enhance the cruise line’s relationship with the Caribbean vacation spot.

“To reinforce the visitor expertise, diversify our Caribbean choices, and strengthen partnerships with key locations, we’ve modified choose itineraries to incorporate extra calls to the Dominican Republic by the top of the 12 months,” NCL wrote in emails to future company of Norwegian Getaway.

The brand new sailings exchange widespread ports of name within the Bahamas, resembling Bimini, Nassau, and Nice Stirrup Cay – which is the cruise line’s private island in the Berry Islands – with a day in Puerto Plata.

On Norwegian Getaway sailings, an additional sea day has additionally been added after the newly inserted port.

The cruise line has confirmed that Norwegian Getaway’s November 3, November 10, and December 15 embarkations have been reworked.

Impacted passengers of the Breakaway Plus-class ship additionally report receiving itinerary adjustments for the Miami-based sailings embarking on October 29 and December 11.

Just one crusing for the Norwegian Pearl has been affected to this point, which is an 11-night Caribbean voyage that can set sail in Miami on December 8.

It’s additionally potential that extra sailings could possibly be impacted, so company embarking earlier than the top of the 12 months ought to preserve an eye fixed out for potential updates.

The change additionally comes after NCL canceled dozens of sailings for 2026 and 2027 onboard Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Daybreak, Norwegian Getaway, and Norwegian Pleasure on the finish of September resulting from redeployments.

NCL Hit With Important Backlash

Visitors who had been booked on these sailings will not be blissful and don’t see strengthening partnerships as a sound cause for altering their itineraries on the final minute.

Many noticed this as a shady method to do enterprise, because it’s too late for impacted company to cancel or reschedule their sailings with out penalty.

NCL cruises that are canceled inside 30 day get no refunds, cruises canceled inside 31-60 days have a 75% cancellation price, and cruises canceled inside 61-90 days have a 50% penalty.

The entire impacted sailings will embark earlier than the brand new 12 months, which is just 72 days away as of the time of publication.

“THIS IS NOT AN ITINERARY CHANGE!! It’s a completely completely different cruise. They need to offer free cancellation or a large FCC,” one passenger reacted.

“To take action after ultimate cost and for a non climate or emergency cause is so tousled,” one other stated.

“NCL is gaining a well-deserved repute as an unreliable, if not shady, cruise line. No different cruise line comes near the quantity of last-minute itinerary adjustments NCL springs on their prospects,” a 3rd chimed in.

Learn Additionally: What You Should Know About Cruise Port Cancellations

Others puzzled if the trigger behind the adjustments was truly associated to partnerships with the cruise port, or if the cruise line is hiding the actual cause.

Whereas this has not been confirmed by Norwegian Cruise Line, some have theorized that the cruise line must reroute some ships away from Nice Stirrup Cay resulting from building wants for the new pier that is currently being built.

The brand new multi-ship pier is meant to be open and operational sooner or later earlier than the top of the 12 months.

“If I’m placing my conspiracy hat on for a second, I’m considering this has much more to do with the pier at GSC and the drink bundle bleeding cash at GSC than it does with strengthening partnerships,” one cruiser weighed in.

“It appears fairly apparent that they should end up GSC and aren’t taking passengers there. I’ll be blissful after they have a dock,” another person agreed.

However as irritating as these adjustments could also be, it’s within the phrases and situations that company comply with upon booking their sailings that the cruise line can cancel and alter itineraries – with out penalty or issuing compensation – for a mess of causes.