Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced the cancellation of over a dozen cruises scheduled for 2025, attributing the decision to a combination of factors including geopolitical events, dry dock adjustments, charter bookings, and shifting demand dynamics.
According to a spokesperson from the cruise line, the cancellations stem from several contributing factors. These include ongoing concerns surrounding the situation in the Red Sea and Israel, modified dry dock schedules aimed at enhancing ship facilities, a full ship charter, and adjustments made to accommodate the rising demand for shorter voyages closer to home, particularly to destinations like the Bahamas.
The affected voyages span across several NCL ships and were slated to cover diverse regions including the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Adriatic Sea, the Middle East, the Red Sea, Asia, and Northern Europe.
Among the cancelled cruises are voyages scheduled for Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Star, and Norwegian Viva. These cancellations range from various dates throughout the year, affecting departures as early as February and as late as September.
For instance, the February sailing of Norwegian Epic from Port Canaveral has been called off. However, NCL’s website reflects a rescheduled sailing for the Epic from February 15 to February 22, 2025.
The spokesperson reiterated NCL’s commitment to delivering exceptional vacation experiences while acknowledging the necessity for occasional itinerary modifications to optimize guest experiences or accommodate unforeseen circumstances.
Affected passengers are assured of a full refund and a 10 percent discount applicable to any sailing through December 31, 2025, as compensation for the inconvenience caused by the cancellations.