Key Aspects:
- The final port call of MSC Euribia’s current 7-night voyage, which is in Flåm, Norway, will unfortunately be cut short.
- This change was made to avoid the worst of the strong winds that will impact the vessel’s journey back to Kiel, Germany.
- As the MSC ship may still encounter some rough seas, the pools will be drained and guests are encouraged to be extra cautious during the final leg of the voyage.
We are in the middle of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, but the stormy weather isn’t limited to just the Atlantic Ocean.
On the other side of the world in Northern Europe, strong wind gusts are bringing very rough seas, leading to an itinerary change for MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia.
The 6,327-guest ship is nearing the end of a 7-night sailing to Denmark and Norway that embarked in Kiel, Germany, on September 27, 2025.
Unfortunately, strong winds reaching over 50 knots per hour (or 57 miles per hour) will impact the final port call of the voyage, which is scheduled for Flåm, Norway, on Thursday, October 2.
Specifically, the winds are expected to impact the 184,011-gross ton vessel during its journey from Flåm back to Kiel, where disembarkation will take place on the morning of October 4.
As a result, the time in Flåm will be shortened from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – which is a difference of four hours and thirty minutes.
“Rough seas are expected in the Northern Sea this week, with wind gusts forecasted to exceed 50 knots on Thursday, 2 October. This may affect our navigation to Kiel,” MSC Cruises wrote to current guests.
“To ensure your safety and comfort, we will now be departing earlier, at 13:30, so that we can sail ahead of the worst of the weather,” the update continued.
Due to the new time constraints, shore excursions like the popular “Norwegian Waterfalls and Dramatic Sceneries by Train (FLA04 and FLA22)” have been cancelled.
They will be automatically refunded in the form of an onboard credit, which can be used to book alternative shore excursions.
A Rough Voyage Home
Thanks to sophisticated stabilization systems and heavy steel hulls, modern cruise ships are perfectly capable of handling rough seas.
However, the forecasted winds may cause big swells, which can make the journey back to Kiel uncomfortable, especially for passengers who are prone to seasickness.
Every now and then, a rogue wave can make cruise ships rock or tilt dramatically, but these events are rare, and it’s extremely unlikely for a vessel to completely tip over.
Read Also: Can a Cruise Ship Tip Over? – All You Need to Know
As disappointing as the early departure from Flåm may be, it will help mitigate the rockiness onboard at least somewhat.
But as the Meraviglia-Plus Class ship is still expected to encounter some bad weather, the 1,711 crew members are taking precautions to make sure everyone stays safe.
“Following our departure on Thursday, we expect challenging navigational conditions due to this weather system,” MSC Cruises advised.
“For your safety, all pools on board will be emptied, and we strongly advise guests to avoid the outer decks. Please exercise caution when moving around the ship and always use handrails.”
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Cruise ship pools are routinely drained during stormy weather to prevent flooding and to promote stability.
The other advice is meant to prevent possible slips and falls, as strong winds can blow people around and make the ship rock unexpectedly.
