Key Features:
- Princess Cruises is delaying Grand Princess’ departure from San Juan to permit further time for passengers affected by flight cancellations.
- The delay has the ship spending the evening in Puerto Rico, then continuing on to St. Kitts.
- Affected company will miss a name in St. Thomas and obtain a prorated refund.
What was purported to be a Sunday evening departure from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has changed into an sudden in a single day keep, as Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess delays crusing amid regional flight cancellations.
Princess Cruises mentioned the choice was made to permit further time for passengers whose flights to Puerto Rico have been cancelled on January 3, 2025, after the Federal Aviation Administration shut down US airline operations.
The disruptions came about throughout the Caribbean following US army assaults in Venezuela, leaving hundreds of vacationers unable to reach or depart.
In a discover to company, the cruise line mentioned the 107,517-gross-ton ship would stay docked in San Juan, deliberately giving affected passengers an opportunity to achieve the ship as soon as flights resume.
Learn Additionally: San Juan Cruise Port: Facilities and What’s Close by
“Attributable to airspace closures over Puerto Rico, Grand Princess will prolong her departure from San Juan till Monday, January fifth, at 6 p.m.,” the cruise line mentioned.
The 7-night Southern Caribbean crusing was initially scheduled to depart San Juan on the night of January 4. Friends who’re already in San Juan or who can arrive on January 4 are nonetheless welcome to embark as deliberate, with the ship remaining in port in a single day.
The change will have an effect on the ship’s itinerary, now not calling on St. Thomas within the US Virgin Islands on January 5. As a substitute, the vessel will proceed on to Basseterre, St. Kitts, for its scheduled go to on January 6.
As compensation, Princess Cruises will present as much as 2,610 company a prorated refund equal to someday of their cruise fare, together with taxes, charges, and any Princess Plus or Premier packages bought for that day.
Passengers nonetheless unable to achieve San Juan in time to embark on January 5 due to journey delays are instructed to contact Princess Cruises’ En Route Help Staff for additional steerage.
Flight Shutdowns Pressure Changes
Port officers stress that cruise operations in San Juan are persevering with, regardless of the aviation disruptions. San Juan Cruise Port mentioned all cruises scheduled to name at its piers on January 3 and 4 are nonetheless working as deliberate.
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas and Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Woman returned from vacation cruises on January 3, 2026, however disembarking passengers have been unable to catch flights residence, whereas some arriving passengers have been unable to make embarkation for subsequent cruises.
Each cruise traces proceeded with the following voyages, as scheduled, with Valiant Woman altering its itinerary to skip calls in Aruba and Curaçao as a result of shut proximity to Venezuela’s shoreline. As a substitute, the vessel will go to Barbados and St. Lucia.
San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín Worldwide Airport says the earliest reopening will happen at 1 a.m. on January 4, however may change as army operations proceed.
Grand Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment’s Ilma have been all scheduled to depart on January 4, with Princess Cruises suspending departure.
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