A number of issues are causing Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) to cancel more than a dozen 2025 sailings on various ships. Affected customers are being compensated for the inconvenience.
Which Cruises Are Cancelled?
The announcement, sent out to travel agents, said 20 sailings are affected across seven ships. “Due to fleet redeployments, charters and one drydock, we have made the decision to cancel selected sailings onboard our ships,” the company said.
The following cruises and ships are now canceled for 2025:
- Norwegian Epic: November 1, 2025; and November 11, 2025
- Norwegian Jade: February 20, 2025; March 4, 2025; March 13, 2025; and March 24, 2025
- Norwegian Pearl: October 15, 2025
- Norwegian Sky: April 19, 2025; May 5, 2025; May 16, 2025; May 27, 2025; and June 5, 2025
- Norwegian Spirit: January 1, 2025
- Norwegian Star: May 17, 2025; May 29, 2025; and June 9, 2025
- Norwegian Viva: May 18, 2025; May 27, 2025; September 20, 2025; and September 29, 2025
The cruises’ itineraries include the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Adriatic Sea, Middle East, Red Sea, parts of Europe, and Asia. The Norwegian Viva, for example, was set to sail from Israel to Turkey, visiting Egypt, Greece, and other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. The continued conflict in Israel and the Red Sea led, in part, to the decision to cancel these itineraries.
Any passenger holding a reservation on one of the affected cruises is being offered their money back plus a 10% discount on a future cruise. They also have the option to rebook a cruise with a similar itinerary. NCL asks anyone affected to call the customer service line to rebook their cruise or contact their travel agent to review their options.
Port Problems
Earlier this year, Norwegian cut Venice out of its current and future sailings. This move happened after Venice declared its famed waterways as a national monument and banned large cruise ships in its ports. Since then, cruise companies, like Norwegian have been anchoring offshore and tendering passengers into the canal city. But, NCL said the experience wasn’t working, so it pulled all of its ships out of Venice.
Since the announcement, Norwegian has been either replacing Venice with another cruise port in Italy, Croatia, or Slovenia, or adding another day at sea to the itinerary.
Right now, cruises that depart from Venice technically leave from the port Trieste. This port is an hour and a half away from Venice. Other cruise companies also use this port or another one, Ravenna, which is even farther away from Venice.
About Norwegian Cruise Line
Founded in 1966 in Norway, Norwegian Cruise Lines is one of the top three largest cruise companies in the world. Primary rivals include Carnival and Royal Caribbean. NCL is incorporated in Bermuda, but headquartered in Miami, Florida.
NCL is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., which also owns Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Regent Seven Seas Cruises just announced its 2027 World Cruise. Bookings for the 71-port cruise go on sale on April 10, 2024.
Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its first-of-its kind “freestyle dining” program which eliminates required dinner reservations, and allows passengers to dine on their own time.
It also offers a variety of complimentary dining options, as well as world-class entertainment like Cirque du Soleil, singing, and comedy shows. “The brand continues to serve as an industry leader, continuously raising the standards of contemporary cruising with award-winning and varied food and beverage concepts; world-class, Broadway-style entertainment; and innovative recreation offerings,” NCL says on its website.
The cruise line sails to more than 400 destinations worldwide onboard 19 ships. Norwegian Cruise Line has several classes of ships, including its newest class, the Prima Class. “With 19 world class vessels, Norwegian Cruise Line has one of the most nimble and contemporary fleets in the industry,” NCL boasts on its website. “Sixteen ships are divided among six different classes, including the Sun, Dawn, Jewel, Breakaway, Breakaway Plus Class, and Prima Class.”
The Prima Class is the first new class of ships for NCL in ten years, and began sailing in 2022 with the Norwegian Prima. The Norwegian Viva launched in 2023, with the Norwegian Aqua launching in 2025. The Prima Class will eventually add three more ships by 2027, for a total of six ships.
