Key Aspects:
- Norwegian Escape will be unable to visit Bermuda overnight as planned due to Tropical Storm Gabrielle.
- The ship will still be going to Bermuda, but just for a visit on Sunday instead of remaining in port until Monday.
- Several other ships might also have itinerary changes, but no official adjustments have yet been confirmed.
EDIT: Norwegian Cruise Line has confirmed that as of Friday afternoon no itinerary change is yet in place for Norwegian Escape. A temporary glitch in the Norwegian Cruise Line app earlier in the day made it appear as if the itinerary change had been implemented. The glitch has been corrected.
Despite pre-season predictions of a more active hurricane season than typical, it certainly has been relatively quiet this year, with one exception. Cruises to Bermuda have been dramatically impacted by various storms, and the next one is already brewing in the Atlantic.
Norwegian Escape is now the first ship to alter her itinerary due to Tropical Storm Gabrielle. With forecast tracks showing a close pass near Bermuda in the next few days, the ship will not be staying as long at the Royal Naval Dockyard as long as originally planned.
The impacted cruise is Norwegian Escape‘s Friday, September 19, 2025 departure from New York. The 5-night sailing was to have spent an extended overnight in Bermuda, from 8 a.m. on Sunday, September 21 until 3 p.m. on Monday, September 22.
It is good news that the ship will still be visiting Bermuda, even if not for as long as guests might have wished.
Guests are now being notified that Norwegian Escape will be in Bermuda only from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, shortening the visit by a full 24 hours.
The change has also been noted on the Norwegian Cruise Line app, though guests may need to log out and log back in to see the updated port times.
While this news may be disappointing to booked guests, the safety of the ship, her guests, and her crew members is always the most important consideration.
Neither Norwegian Escape‘s departure from New York nor her return to the Big Apple on Wednesday, September 24 are impacted.
Update on Tropical Storm Gabrielle
Norwegian Escape‘s guests may still be in for a windy day in Bermuda on Sunday. That is when the winds from Tropical Storm Gabrielle are first expected to reach the British territory.
At that time, Gabrielle is also likely to be an official hurricane, albeit no more than a Category 1 or Category 2 storm.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), as of Friday morning, the tropical storm is located about 945 miles southeast of Bermuda, moving west-northwest at 12 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds have been recorded at 50 miles per hour.
By Friday night, Gabrielle should begin turning toward the northwest, then further north by Sunday night. The storm will then turn back toward the east early next week as she passes Bermuda.
While direct landfall is not expected with this storm, she will be at her closest approach to Bermuda on Sunday night and into Monday, but remaining east of the island.
This means that just when Norwegian Escape was to have been enjoying her extended visit, winds and waves would be at their worst. This could make it dangerous for guests to use the ship’s gangways and might damage the ship with inadvertent pier impacts.
While no other cruise lines have yet made adjustments to this weekend’s itineraries to steer clear of the storm, several ships might be impacted.
Read Also: Cruising During Hurricane Season – What You Must Know!
Carnival Venezia is scheduled to be in Bermuda on Saturday, September 20, but the storm should still be sufficiently far away at that time.
On Monday, September 22, 2025, Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas is scheduled to begin an overnight visit, and it is possible that itinerary may yet be adjusted. The ship could arrive later than originally planned to ensure the storm has moved away, or the ship might be rerouted away from Bermuda altogether.
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Norwegian Aqua is scheduled to arrive in Bermuda on Tuesday, September 23, by which time Gabrielle should be far away and any impacts minimized.
Guests booked on any Bermuda itinerary this weekend or early next week should stay in close communication with their cruise line for prompt updates and any change notifications.
