Key Aspects:
- Rough weather has forced Norwegian Star to skip her visit to Nuuk, Greenland and remain at sea instead.
- Wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour have been recorded, conditions far too risky for the cruise ship’s visit.
- It is not unusual (though always disappointing) for ships to skip Greenland ports due to poor weather.
Despite Tropical Storm Erin causing concern among cruise passengers, another ship has adjusted course and skipped a port for entirely different weather-related reasons.
Norwegian Star has been unable to call on Nuuk, Greenland as planned due to rough weather thousands of miles away from the Caribbean.
The ship is currently sailing a 14-night one-way voyage from New York to Reykjavik, Iceland. The ship left the Big Apple on Thursday, August 7, 2025 and Nuuk was to have been her first of two planned stops in Greenland.
Unfortunately, as the vessel approached the capital of Greenland on the southwest coast, the weather was too challenging for a safe visit. The ship was to have been visiting from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 14.
As the ship was nearing the port, however, the winds were steady from 35-40 miles per hour. Winds were expected to increase through the morning, and by 9 a.m. gusts were as high as 80 mph.
Combined with rain expected to last for several hours, it was determined to be too unsafe for the ship to visit.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s website lists Nuuk as either a tender port or one with docking capabilities, but this varies based on ship and arrival date. Undoubtedly, the rough weather would have made either option unsafe for Norwegian Star.
Guests were notified of the cancellation with an announcement from the ship’s captain at approximately 7:30 a.m. as the ship was pulling away from the coast.
Satellite tracking data confirms that Norwegian Star attempted an approach and waited briefly nearby while assessing the conditions before departing.
The skipped port was not related in any way to the overboard incident earlier in the voyage, while the ship was sailing in Canadian waters.
Instead, the ship will spend Thursday at sea with extra activities and entertainment, in the hopes that she will successfully visit Paamiut on Friday, August 15 as planned.
Following Greenland, Norwegian Star will continue on to Iceland to visit Isafjordur, Akureyri, and Grundarfjordur on August 18, 19, and 20. The ship is scheduled to arrive in Reykjavik on Thursday, August 21.
Greenland Port Visits Are Always Challenging
While every guest is hopeful that their cruise itinerary moves forward as planned, it’s well known among experienced cruisers that Greenland is always an unpredictable destination.
Several times, Carnival cruise ships on special Greenland journeys have missed every port in the remote destination due to foul weather.
Because of the stunning fjords, cruising Greenland can be gorgeous. Those same fjords, however, make navigation extra challenging, particularly with strong winds and rough waves.
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Furthermore, many Greenland ports are small communities with narrow harbors that do not have strong dock facilities to accommodate large cruise ships.
For example, Nuuk is Greenland’s capital and largest city, but only has a population of just over 20,000. For comparison, Norwegian Star is one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s smallest ships but can still welcome 2,348 guests – more than 10% of the city’s population.
Larger ships often use tenders in Greenland, but rough waves can make it too risky to use those smaller boats either for passengers or risk damage to the boats, as they may be tossed about.
Safety is the highest priority for any cruise line. Skipping a port is a far better alternative than risking guests, crew members, and the vessel itself in uncertain weather.
Hopefully, Norwegian Star will find smoother waters and have an enjoyable day at sea while she continues her amazing voyage.
