Norwegian Cruise Line Pushes Back Departure Due to...

It’s been a chaotic weekend of flight cancellations and delays for cruisers following the US assault on Venezuela, which resulted within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closing airspace in Puerto Rico and impacting journey throughout the Caribbean.

The 4,070-passenger Norwegian Epic, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, is amongst a number of cruise ships affected. The cruise line has knowledgeable booked company that the vessel won’t be departing as scheduled.

The ship’s January 4, 7-night Caribbean cruise from San Juan was initially scheduled to depart at roughly 7:30 PM, however has now been moved to 10:00 PM.

“In gentle of the current airspace closure and reopening in Puerto Rico which will have impacted some journey plans, we’ve adjusted Norwegian Epic’s departure at the moment, January 4, 2026, to 10:00 PM native time. Wishing you clean travels and we sit up for welcoming you aboard very quickly. Your Epic journey awaits!” NCL mentioned in a message to passengers.

Right now, the cruise line has not adjusted Norwegian Epic’s itinerary. The vessel remains to be scheduled to name at Tortola within the British Virgin Islands on January 5, St Johns in Antigua on January 6, Bridgetown in Barbados on January 7, St. Lucia on January 7, St. Maarten on January 8, and the ultimate port of name at St. Thomas within the US Virgin Islands.

The 155,873 gross ton ship remains to be scheduled to return to San Juan as deliberate on January 11, 2026. Nicely earlier than then, the flight scenario must be again to regular with no additional influence on cruises.

Luis Muñoz Marin Worldwide Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico has already issued an replace with a news conference held on January 3. The airport plans to reopen at 1:00 AM on Sunday. Nonetheless, the federal authorities may nonetheless lengthen the closure.

Extra Cruise Ships Impacted Out of San Juan

Norwegian Epic is just not the one vessel affected by the airspace closure. Virgin Voyage’s Valiant Girl has been one of the impacted ships, with the cruise line even deciding to interchange two ports which are close to Venezuela.

The cruise line had already issued a discover to company on January 3 relating to the flight scenario, stating that “All Sailors should disembark by 10:30 a.m. as initially scheduled.“

In a follow-up, Virgin Voyages also decided to make an itinerary adjustment, changing the decision to Aruba on January 5 with a name to Bridgetown, Barbados. Additionally, changing the decision to Curacao with St. Lucia on January 6. The remainder of the voyage is unchanged.

Grand Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, also experienced a departure delay and an itinerary change. The vessel is remaining in San Juan till Monday, January 5, 6:00 PM.

With the unique departure being on January 4, it means the cruise is reduce brief and the cancellation of St. Thomas on January 5. Nonetheless, the two,610-passenger ship will add a name to St Kitts to make up for it on January 6.

There have additionally been impacts for Royal Caribbean passengers, with Jewel of the Seas delaying its January 3 departure from San Juan from the scheduled 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM.

Cruise Hive will proceed to maintain cruisers knowledgeable on all the newest developments which are impacting cruises. You can too have your say over on the Cruise Hive Boards.