Cruise Ship Pressured to Keep In a single day in Port as Mediterranean Storm Hits

With Cyclone Harry wreaking havoc within the Mediterranean Sea, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Muse made the clever determination to hunker down in Valletta, Malta, to attend out the worst of the climate.

The smaller, 632-guest ship was already meant to remain in a single day in Malta from January 18 to 19, 2026, however this was prolonged till the morning of January 20, 2026.

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“Our chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, and I’ve been carefully monitoring the sturdy low-pressure system affecting the area that’s anticipated to deliver sturdy winds and excessive seas alongside our deliberate path to Tunisia,” Ship Captain Kosta Doroshenko wrote to friends.

“With the forecast displaying no enchancment, we shall be extending our keep in Valletta till tomorrow morning, departing at roughly 7 a.m.,” he continued.

The delay seems to have additionally been prolonged additional, as cruise monitoring information exhibits that Silver Muse was nonetheless docked in Valletta as of 4 a.m. on the morning of January 21, surrounded by swells reaching 4.7 meters (round 15 toes).

Affect to the Itinerary

Unsurprisingly, the decision to La Goulette-Tunis, Tunisia, on January 20, was cancelled.

The following name to Cagliari (Sardinia), Italy, on January 21 can also be not potential, on condition that Cyclone Harry is at present battering Italy and the 40,791-gross ton ship didn’t go away Valletta well timed.

However on a hopeful word, the 2017-launched ship is planning to sail a modified route with the intention of arriving in Valencia, Spain, on time at 8 a.m. on January 23.

“We nonetheless count on to reach in Valencia as scheduled on Friday morning,” the Royal Caribbean-owned model confirmed.

Valencia is the ultimate port name on the 20-night crusing, which embarked in Lisbon, Portugal, on January 4, 2026. Disembarkation is scheduled in Barcelona, Spain, on January 24.

Friends Generously Compensated

When passengers guide their sailings, they comply with a cruise contract that states that the cruise line doesn’t have to compensate friends for itinerary modifications associated to climate.

However on this case, Silversea Cruises went above and past by providing friends a future cruise credit score valued on the prorated 2-day cruise fare paid for the 2 missed port calls.

“We absolutely acknowledge the influence these weather-related modifications have in your journey,” the cruise line acknowledged.

“To thanks in your understanding, you’ll obtain a Future Cruise Credit score (FCC) valued on the prorated 2-days cruise fare paid,” the letter added.

The credit score shall be out there inside 20 enterprise days after disembarkation and have to be used in direction of a brand new reserving made throughout the subsequent two years.

Worst of the Climate Has Handed

Valletta, Malta, was hit with the worst that Cyclone Harry needed to supply shortly after the storm actually ramped up on January 19, 2026.

On the night time of January 19, Malta was below probably the most intense pink climate advisory from the Met Workplace because the island was battered by intense rain, coastal flooding, and winds of as much as 55 knots (round 63 miles per hour).

In keeping with Civil Safety Malta, emergency providers responded to 85 tree obstructions, 54 particles clearance operations, 20 electrical hazards, and 6 HAZMAT spills within the first 30 hours after Cyclone Harry arrived.

In the meantime, Tunisia skilled its heaviest rainfall in additional than 70 years, resulting in extreme flooding that has killed no less than 4 individuals. Nevertheless, that is from a distinct storm system and isn’t associated to Cyclone Harry.

As of the time of publication, situations in Valletta have improved considerably. The climate is cloudy with scattered rain showers. La Goulette, Tunisia, is just experiencing gentle rain, which is predicted to proceed by means of January 24.