Key Facets:
- Norwegian Epic has skipped Curacao and Norwegian Sky has eliminated the port from a January crusing.
- No cause has been supplied aside from “naval workout routines” and “up to date port availability.”
- Native information sources be aware that rising tensions between Venezuela and the US could also be inflicting the modifications.
Each Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Sky are skipping port visits to the favored southern Caribbean vacation spot of Curacao. Whereas Norwegian Epic has already skipped the tropical vacation spot, no less than certainly one of Norwegian Sky‘s upcoming voyages can be impacted.
Norwegian Epic skipped her go to to Willemstad that had been deliberate for Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The ship is at present crusing a 7-night Caribbean voyage roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico that departed on Sunday, December 14.
Visitors aboard that weeklong cruise reported on Reddit that the ship’s captain introduced the explanation for the change was “naval workout routines,” and it was essential for the ship to depart the realm close to Curacao. As an alternative, the ship would head for Barbados as a substitute port go to.
The captain’s announcement additionally indicated that each one Norwegian Cruise Line ships can be skipping Curacao, however that has not but been confirmed. Cruise Hive has reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for clarification however has not but heard again.
Satellite tv for pc monitoring does present the 155,873-gross-ton Norwegian Epic docked in Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday, December 18. In keeping with the present itinerary, that day was initially deliberate as a day at sea.
Norwegian Sky to Skip Curacao in January
One other Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Norwegian Sky, has additionally up to date future itinerary plans and eliminated Curacao from the ship’s January 5, 2026 departure.
“Resulting from up to date port availability, we’ll not be visiting Willemstad, Curacao,” the notification letter despatched to booked friends and journey brokers said.
There have been no additional particulars offered about why the ship can be skipping the favored port and no different vacation spot has been added to the 9-night itinerary.
Norwegian Sky will nonetheless be visiting Cabo Rojo, Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, and Tortola in the course of the cruise.
Two different minor itinerary modifications have additionally been confirmed. Norwegian Sky will set sail from her La Romana homeport at 4 p.m. fairly than 5:30 as initially scheduled. She can even depart Tortola barely later than deliberate, at 2:30 p.m. as an alternative of two:15 p.m.
The 77,104-gross-ton Norwegian Sky is likely one of the oldest and smallest ships within the NCL fleet, and her days are numbered.
Norwegian Cruise Line introduced in April 2025 that Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Solar can be leaving the fleet in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Each ships have been offered to Cordelia Cruises and can proceed to sail with that cruise line after updates and rebranding.
Why Is Curacao Cancelled?
Whereas Norwegian Cruise Line has not but given any additional clarification concerning the port cancellations aside from “naval workout routines” and “up to date port availability,” the explanations could also be extra advanced.
The NL Instances notes that rising tensions between the US and Venezuela, in mild of drug trafficking operations and the presence of navy plane in business airspace, might be behind the cancellations.
Willemstad is on the southern coast of Curacao and simply 45 miles from mainland Venezuela. The island is just not beneath Venezuelan management, nonetheless, however is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands together with Aruba and Bonaire.
Whereas there isn’t any instant risk to any of the ABC islands, cruise strains might really feel obligated to take additional precautions to make sure the protection of their ships, friends, and crew members.
With the busy vacationer season simply starting for the southern Caribbean, a number of cancellations and itinerary modifications might have a major financial affect on the area.
In the meanwhile, no different cruise strains look like canceling sailings to the area or adjusting itineraries to keep away from Curacao.
Within the subsequent few weeks, ships from Royal Caribbean, AIDA Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Marella Cruises, Princess Cruises, Movie star Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and extra all have visits deliberate for Curacao.
Any friends booked on a southern Caribbean crusing with any line will need to hold in shut contact with their cruise line within the coming months in case their voyages could also be impacted by additional modifications.
Norwegian Cruise Ships Drop Curacao From Itineraries Amid Rising Tensions
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