Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced the cancellation of three Norwegian Epic cruises. All crusing in 2025, the cruise line cites a dry dock the ship is scheduled for throughout the spring of 2025.
The cancellation is one in every of a number of that Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced recently, together with 13 cruises between December 2023 and April 2024. NCL has additionally cancelled a number of cruises onboard different ships in current weeks for numerous causes.
Three Norwegian Epic Cruises Cancelled
Norwegian Cruise Line lately despatched friends an e-mail saying the cancellation of three scheduled sailings on the Norwegian Epic. The affected voyages, scheduled to sail on April 15, April 20, and Might 5 in 2025, have been scrapped on account of a dry dock and revitalization of the ship.
In a letter issued to friends and journey companions, Norwegian Cruise Line states: “As a part of our dedication to constantly provide extraordinary trip experiences all over the world for our friends and to uphold a constant world-class product throughout our fleet, Norwegian Epic can be present process a revitalization in 2025.”
“With a purpose to full these enhancements, Norwegian Epic’s sailings on April 15, 2025, April 20, 2025, and Might 5, 2025, have been canceled. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may increasingly trigger.”
The three cancelled cruises had been the primary of Norwegian Epic’s summer time season cruises in Europe. The dry dock will comply with the Epic-class ship’s transatlantic cruise from New York Metropolis on March 31.
Throughout the transatlantic cruise, the cruise ship will go to Kings Wharf, Bermuda; Ponta Delgada, Azores; Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; Livorno and Naples, Italy; and concludes in Civitavecchia on April 15.
In gentle of the cancellations, Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced a full refund for the friends booked on these cruises. Along with the refunds, the cruise line additionally presents a ten% low cost within the type of a Future Cruise Credit score (FCC) for a future voyage. This credit score can be utilized for any crusing via December 31, 2025.
With area for 4,100 passengers at double occupancy, the 155,873 gross-ton Norwegian Epic was the third-largest cruise ship on the planet when she launched in 2009.
Sixteen Cruises Canceled for Norwegian Epic in One Month
The cancellation of the three cruises in 2025 follows an identical sample to a sequence of cancellations of Norwegian Epic’s sailings introduced in Might 2023, because of the vessel’s redeployment. In whole, 16 cruise cancellations have been introduced for Norwegian Epic within the final two weeks.
In direction of the top of Might 2023, Norwegian Cruise Line introduced it might cancel 13 European cruises and as an alternative mentioned it opted to redeploy Norwegian Epic to the Caribbean. The ship will provide friends seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Jap and Western Caribbean.
In January, NCL cancelled a full month of cruises onboard Norwegian Pleasure for a dry dock in early 2024. Twelve Alaska cruises had been additionally cancelled for Norwegian Spirit lately, though the ship will stay in service for constitution sailings. The 2025 transatlantic crossing for Norwegian Breakaway has additionally been cancelled.
Unhealthy Planning?
This cancellation sample raises some questions on Norwegian Cruise Line’s operational methods. Most cruise strains schedule dry docks and constitution sailings nicely upfront to keep away from disrupting their cruise schedules.
The query that naturally arises is why NCL put cruises up on the market solely to cancel them later in favor of constitution sailings or dry docks.
Learn Additionally: Norwegian Cruise Ships – Latest to Oldest
You will need to perceive that this follow impacts not solely the passengers who’ve booked in anticipation of a soothing cruise. It additionally impacts journey brokers and businesses who must cope with the inconvenience and disappointment of their shoppers.
Whereas the provide of refunds and reductions for future voyages considerably cushions the blow for affected passengers, the potential long-term implications of those disruptions on NCL’s status and buyer loyalty might be important.
