Princess Cruises Holds Departure as Airspace Closu...

What was speculated to be a Sunday evening departure from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has become an sudden in a single day keep, as Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess delays crusing amid regional flight cancellations.

Princess Cruises mentioned the choice was made to permit further time for passengers whose flights to Puerto Rico had been cancelled on January 3, 2025, after the Federal Aviation Administration shut down US airline operations.

The disruptions occurred throughout the Caribbean following US army assaults in Venezuela, leaving 1000’s of vacationers unable to reach or depart.

In a discover to visitors, the cruise line mentioned the 107,517-gross-ton ship would stay docked in San Juan, deliberately giving affected passengers an opportunity to achieve the ship as soon as flights resume.

Learn Additionally: San Juan Cruise Port: Amenities and What’s Nearby

“As a consequence of airspace closures over Puerto Rico, Grand Princess will lengthen her departure from San Juan till Monday, January fifth, at 6 p.m.,” the cruise line mentioned.

The 7-night Southern Caribbean crusing was initially scheduled to depart San Juan on the night of January 4. Friends who’re already in San Juan or who can arrive on January 4 are nonetheless welcome to embark as deliberate, with the ship remaining in port in a single day.

The change will have an effect on the ship’s itinerary, not calling on St. Thomas within the US Virgin Islands on January 5. As an alternative, the vessel will proceed on to Basseterre, St. Kitts, for its scheduled go to on January 6.

As compensation, Princess Cruises will present as much as 2,610 visitors a prorated refund equal to in the future of their cruise fare, together with taxes, charges, and any Princess Plus or Premier packages bought for that day.

Passengers nonetheless unable to achieve San Juan in time to embark on January 5 due to journey delays are instructed to contact Princess Cruises’ En Route Help Group for additional steerage.

Flight Shutdowns Drive Changes

Port officers stress that cruise operations in San Juan are persevering with, regardless of the aviation disruptions. San Juan Cruise Port mentioned all cruises scheduled to name at its piers on January 3 and 4 are nonetheless working as deliberate.

Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas and Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Girl returned from vacation cruises on January 3, 2026, however disembarking passengers had been unable to catch flights dwelling, whereas some arriving passengers had been unable to make embarkation for subsequent cruises.

Each cruise strains proceeded with the next voyages, as scheduled, with Valiant Lady altering its itinerary to skip calls in Aruba and Curaçao because of the shut proximity to Venezuela’s shoreline. As an alternative, the vessel will go to Barbados and St. Lucia.

San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín Worldwide Airport says the earliest reopening will happen at 1 a.m. on January 4, however may change as army operations proceed.

Grand Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment’s Ilma had been all scheduled to depart on January 4, with Princess Cruises suspending departure.