Blog Page 10

P&O Ventura Delayed a Full Day by Storms Austen and Boelo

Melissa Mayntz
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P&O Ventura Delayed a Full Day by Storms Austen and Boelo

Key Aspects:

  • P&O Cruises’ Ventura was delayed a full day returning to Southampton and arrived on Sunday, October 25 instead of Saturday due to Storms Austen and Boelo.
  • The October 24 departure has subsequently been delayed a full day and will now be a 6-night sailing, and guests are receiving a one-day prorated credit for a future cruise.
  • Ventura will not visit Cherbourg as planned due to protests in France, but the rest of the itinerary is unchanged.

Both storms and protests are impacting the current sailing of P&O Cruises’ Ventura, which has arrived in Southampton, UK a day later than originally planned.

The 3,192-guest ship was supposed to conclude her previous 7-night itinerary in Southampton on Saturday, October 24, 2026, but rough weather forced a delay and the ship did not arrive until 6:07 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, according to the Associated British Ports schedule.

Guests who expected to board the ship on Saturday were notified of the late arrival on Friday, October 23. At that time, they were advised of changes to their itinerary, as well as compensation for their now-shortened sailing.

“Due to the impact of Storm Austen and Storm Boelo our Southampton operations team and the Port Authority have delayed Ventura’s arrival into Southampton by 24 hours,” the email confirmed. “Your embarkation will now take place one day later than originally planned on Sunday 25 October.”

Guests’ cruise terminal check-in times remained unchanged, only shifted to Sunday’s embarkation rather than on Saturday. The port schedule confirms that Ventura is expected to depart Southampton at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

The cruise was to have been a 7-night France, Spain, and Portugal itinerary. Now a 6-night sailing instead, the first port and only stop in France, Cherbourg, is now cancelled.

“Following recent protests and civil unrest in France, we have also taken the decision to cancel the planned call to Cherbourg on Sunday 25 October,” the email confirmed.

Of course, the ship’s now-delayed departure from Southampton would have ruled out the visit to Cherbourg regardless.

There are no further changes to the itinerary at this time. Ventura is still scheduled to visit Porto on Tuesday, October 27, followed by Lisbon on Wednesday and Vigo on Thursday before returning to Southampton for debarkation on Saturday, October 31.

Compensation Offered But Not All Guests Want It

As compensation for the loss of a day of their sailing, P&O Cruises is offering all guests a future cruise credit prorated to the value of one day of their cruise. This credit must be used on a future P&O Cruises booking and is not being offered in cash.

The offer of a credit rather than a refund is frustrating to some guests, particularly those who do not have a future cruise vacation planned with the line.

P&O Ventura in Southampton
P&O Ventura in Southampton (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)

“The refund should be in cash, not a future cruise credit. I know it’s not their fault, but we’re not getting the 7-night cruise we paid for,” one guest commented on Facebook in response to the email notification.

“I haven’t got a future cruise planned with P&O and don’t intend to either,” another guest commented in a similar conversation.

Other guests asked about refunds for drink packages and WiFi access on the now shorter cruise, but those packages and any possible refunds were not mentioned in the initial notification emails.

Multiple Cruises Impacted by Same Factors

Storms Austen and Boelo, as well as the protests and strikes in France, have been impacting multiple ships from multiple cruise lines.

Cruise Hive has already reported several such disruptions, including MSC Virtuosa remaining in Southampton longer than expected and cancelling her planned visit to La Rochelle.

P&O Cruises’ Arvia and Iona have also had storm-related adjustments, as have Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition and MSC Cruises’ MSC Preziosa.

While the Met Office does not have any current warnings issued for the English Channel on Sunday, Windy.com noted wind speeds of 35-40 miles per hour throughout the Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning. This is down only slightly from late Saturday evening, though wind speeds are expected to continue decreasing throughout the day.

MSC Virtuosa Held in Southampton as Storm and Strikes Upend Itinerary

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Virtuosa Held in Southampton as Storm and Strikes Upend Itinerary

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Virtuosa will remain overnight in Southampton to wait out Storm Austen and will not depart until 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25.
  • The visit to La Rochelle is also cancelled due to poor weather, and the visit to Le Havre is cancelled because of strike activity.
  • A visit to Vigo has been added to the 7-night itinerary for Thursday, October 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa is spending extra time in Southampton, UK, as Storm Austen brings rough weather to the English Channel. Instead of departing at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026 as planned, the ship will not leave until 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 25.

Guests were alerted to the change for the 7-night itinerary after boarding the ship on Saturday, as well as additional changes due not only to the storm, but also to strike activity in France.

“We would like to inform you of an important itinerary adjustment to our itinerary that we have made for your safety and comfort following a careful assessment of Storm Austen, which is expected to bring challenging weather conditions across the English Channel and Bay of Biscay, as well as strike action affecting parts of France,” the letter delivered to guests’ staterooms explained.

MSC Virtuosa will not be able to visit La Rochelle as planned on Monday, October 26, due to sea conditions that are expected to make entering the port unsafe. Instead, the 4,842-guest ship will spend Monday at sea.

The visits to Bilbao on Tuesday and A Coruna on Wednesday will proceed as scheduled. Rather than a day at sea on Thursday, October 29, MSC Virtuosa will now visit Vigo from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Because of planned strikes in France that are expected to close the port, the planned visit to Le Havre on Friday, October 30 is no longer possible. Instead the ship will spend that day at sea, making her way back to Southampton for debarkation on Saturday, October 31 as scheduled.

If guests had pre-paid for shore excursions through MSC Cruises for La Rochelle or Le Havre, those excursions will automatically be cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. In the meantime, tours for the port visit to Vigo will be available for booking through the MSC for Me app.

English Channel Weather Conditions

Conditions in the English Channel were blustery on Saturday evening. MSC Virtuosa was expected to depart at 8 p.m., but Windy.com reported wind speeds at roughly 40 miles per hour just past the Isle of Wight at that time.

By 7 p.m. on Sunday, when MSC Virtuosa is now expected to depart Southampton, high winds will still be present in the eastern part of the Channel, but speeds should have lessened along the southwestern route the ship will take as she heads for Bilbao.

Nevertheless, guests are asked to be cautious in the potentially rough weather.

“While MSC Virtuosa is designed to operate safely in these conditions, some movement of the ship may still be experienced,” the notification letter said. “For your safety, please avoid outer decks and balconies, use handrails when moving around the ship, and note that outdoor activities and pools may be temporarily unavailable.”

Storm Austen has impacted multiple cruise ships over the past several days, and this is not the first impact felt by MSC Virtuosa.

On the previous sailing, the ship arrived in Southampton at 7:37 p.m. on Thursday evening, October 22 (as reported by the Associated British Ports schedule) instead of in the early hours of Saturday morning as originally planned. By arriving early, the ship was able to stay ahead of the worsening weather to seek shelter more comfortably.

MSC Preziosa, P&O Cruises’ Arvia and Iona, and Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition have all confirmed various itinerary changes due to Storm Austen.

Royal Caribbean Warns Odyssey of the Seas Guests About Naples Protests

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Warns Odyssey of the Seas Guests About Naples Protests

Key Aspects:

  • Guests onboard Odyssey of the Seas were alerted about protests planned in Naples during the ship’s Saturday, October 24, 2026 visit.
  • The protests were not related to the ship but had the potential to disrupt traffic in the Piazza Garibaldi region of the city, a major transportation hub.
  • Guests were guaranteed to return to the ship if they had a tour booked through Royal Caribbean but had to be cautious if exploring Naples independently.

Exploring ports of call is the highlight of a cruise vacation for many guests, but travelers currently onboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas were warned not to explore Naples, Italy, in one specific region.

The 4,198-guest ship departed Civitavecchia (Rome) on Sunday, October 18, 2026 for a 7-night Greek Isles and Italy sailing. While the calls to Messina, Santorini, and Mykonos have gone smoothly, the final port destination in Italy is Naples, and it was not quite smooth sailing for the ship’s visit on Saturday, October 24.

Guests received letters in their staterooms on Friday, October 23, noting the potential challenges if they had independent exploration plans ashore in Naples.

“Local authorities have advised us that public demonstrations are planned in Naples, Italy tomorrow. The demonstrations are expected to primarily affect the Piazza Garibaldi area, near Naples Central Railway Station,” the letter explained.

Piazza Garibaldi is a major transportation hub for Naples, while the Naples Central Railway Station is one of the busiest passenger railway stations in Italy. The piazza is located roughly a mile and a half northeast of the cruise port.

Odyssey of the Seas Naples Letter
Odyssey of the Seas Naples Letter

“If you are planning to explore Naples independently, we recommend avoiding this location during the afternoon as localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicle traffic may occur,” the letter cautioned guests. “Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to safely travel to and from the pier and to arrive back on the ship before our planned departure.”

Odyssey of the Seas was visiting Naples from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and AIS tracking confirms the ship departed on schedule and without incident.

Guests were assured that if they were on a shore excursion booked through Royal Caribbean, their return to the ship was guaranteed.

What Protests Were Scheduled?

The protests on Saturday, October 24, were not confined to Naples, but instead were organized in several major cities across Italy, including Rome, Milan, Turin, Bologna, and Florence.

According to Euronews, the demonstrations turned violent in several cities as protesters clashed with police, throwing stones and bottles, setting off firecrackers, and other actions that led police to respond with water cannons and tear gas in some locations.

Rising living costs amid economic hardship, along with government policies, military spending, migrant detention plans, and other concerns are at the heart of the protests. As tensions have mounted, additional soldiers have been deployed in several cities in an attempt to curb violence and drone surveillance has been used to monitor demonstrations.

While Odyssey of the Seas was still able to visit Naples, civil unrest has impacted cruise travel in other European nations recently. P&O Cruises’ Iona skipped a planned visit to Le Havre, France on Sunday, October 18, due to ongoing protests, and shuffled the rest of the itinerary to adapt to the change.

This was Odyssey of the Seas‘ last roundtrip Mediterranean sailing of the season, as her October 25 departure begins the 14-night transatlantic cruise that will bring Odyssey of the Seas to Cape Liberty, New Jersey, for the winter season with sailings to Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. The Quantum-Ultra-class ship will return to Europe in April 2027.

Harmony of the Seas Makes Itinerary Change as Bahamas Weather Turns

Melissa Mayntz
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Harmony of the Seas Makes Itinerary Change as Bahamas Weather Turns

Key Aspects:

  • Port visits have been rearranged for the October 24 departure of Harmony of the Seas due to expected rough weather in the Bahamas next week.
  • The ship will still visit all the same destinations, but Nassau is now first on the itinerary, while Perfect Day CocoCay has been moved later in the schedule.
  • There is no impact to the ship’s return to Port Canaveral at the end of the 5-night cruise.

Guests boarding Harmony of the Seas in Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 24, 2026 were notified the day before embarkation of a shakeup to their itinerary. Fortunately, the Oasis-class ship will still be visiting all the planned ports of call on the 5-night itinerary, but in a different order than originally scheduled.

“Due to a weather system expected to bring unfavorable conditions to the Bahamas next week, we’ve rearranged the order we’ll visit our ports of call,” the email notification confirmed.

Originally, Harmony of the Seas was to have a day at sea on Sunday, then visit Perfect Day CocoCay on Monday, October 26, followed by Nassau on Tuesday, October 27. After another day at sea on Wednesday, the 5,697-guest ship would return to the Sunshine State on Thursday, October 29.

Now the ship’s departure and return remain the same, as well as the final day at sea, but all the other days on the itinerary have changed.

Instead of a day at sea, Sunday, October 25, will be spent in Nassau from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the same time frame as the original schedule but on a different day.

Monday will now be a day at sea, and Harmony of the Seas will be at Perfect Day CocoCay on Tuesday, October 27, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., also the same port times but a different day than the original schedule.

The email notes that any shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean for either Nassau or Perfect Day CocoCay will be rescheduled for the appropriate day.

If the excursions cannot be changed, they will be automatically cancelled and refunded as onboard credit to guests’ SeaPass accounts. Any refundable amounts remaining after the end of the cruise will be reimbursed to the card on file.

Harmony of the Seas Weather Letter
Harmony of the Seas Weather Letter

While the change in port order might throw some guests’ plans off if the new days and times might conflict with onboard reservations such as spa treatments or specialty dining, these changes are relatively minor compared to other recent itinerary adjustments.

Also on Friday, the day before embarkation, guests aboard Independence of the Seas learned they would be sailing to Canada instead of Bermuda for their 5-night sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, the same rerouting that happened to Vision of the Seas for that ship’s October 17, 2026 departure from Baltimore, Maryland.

Bahamas Weather Update

On Monday, when Harmony of the Seas was originally scheduled to visit Perfect Day CocoCay, Windy.com is forecasting wind gusts that may be as high as 30 miles per hour, along with a strong chance of thunderstorms throughout the day.

Similarly, on Tuesday, conditions near Nassau are forecast to also include gusty winds up to 25-27 miles per hour with morning and afternoon storms.

By rearranging the visits, Harmony of the Seas should see calmer conditions in Nassau on Sunday with winds only 12-15 miles per hour. Just when wind gusts are expected to begin rising, the ship is scheduled to depart the capital of the Bahamas.

Tuesday at Perfect Day CocoCay may still be blustery, but winds should be dying down later in the day.

“Please know being onboard is one of the safest places to be because our ship can quickly move out of the way of any inclement weather,” the email notification reassured guests.

If further changes are needed as weather forecasts are refined, guests will be notified onboard as any adjustments are confirmed.

Royal Caribbean Blames Speed Restrictions for Cancelled Icy Strait Point Visit

Calvin Musquez
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Royal Caribbean Blames Speed Restrictions for Cancelled Icy Strait Point Visit

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean has removed Icy Strait Point from Anthem of the Seas’ May 7, 2027 Alaska cruise, citing speed restrictions.
  • The cancelled visit was replaced with a sea day, while Ketchikan’s scheduled stop has been shortened by two hours.
  • Affected Royal Caribbean shore excursions will be adjusted or cancelled, with refunds for cancelled tours issued within 14 business days.

Royal Caribbean has removed a port call at Icy Strait Point from the May 7, 2027 7-night, round-trip sailing of Anthem of the Seas from Vancouver, replacing it with a sea day. The cruise line cited speed restrictions as the reason for the itinerary adjustment.

The 4,180-guest ship was originally scheduled to visit Icy Strait Point on May 9, followed by scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier and visits to Sitka and Ketchikan, returning on May 14. A guest shared a notice informing them of the change, received October 21, 2026, on Facebook. 

“To comply with speed restrictions and maintain a comfortable sailing experience, we’ll enjoy an additional Sea Day in place of our visit to Icy Strait Point, Alaska,” the notice read. 

In addition to the cancelled Icy Strait Point call, the final call in Ketchikan was shortened by two hours and will depart at 5:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. as originally scheduled. Hubbard Glacier scenic cruising as well as the port call in Sitka and return to Vancouver remain unchanged. 

Royal Caribbean told guests that all prepaid shore excursions booked through the cruise line for Icy Strait Point will be automatically cancelled. Affected Ketchikan excursions will be rescheduled or cancelled, with refunds for all cancelled tours issued to the original form of payment within 14 business days.

This May 7 cruise marks the first sailing of the Quantum Class vessel’s 2027 Alaska deployment. Following this voyage, Anthem of the Seas will offer one-way, 7-night Alaska cruises between Vancouver and Seward through late September 2027.

Do We Know Why Speed Restrictions Are Affecting the Cruise?

Royal Caribbean’s explanation for the itinerary adjustment left questions about what exactly prompted the change. The guest who shared the notice on Facebook expressed frustration and confusion over how a speed limitation was not taken into consideration before the itinerary was announced.

“I understand that speed restrictions need to be followed, but I would think those factors would have been considered when planning the itinerary in the first place,” the guest said.

Ovation of the Seas With Whale
Ovation of the Seas With Whale (Photo Credit: pizzaboy420)

The cruise line has faced difficulties in the region due to cruising speed limitations before. For example, Cruise Hive reported in 2025 when Serenade of the Seas also skipped Icy Strait Point after a technical issue onboard forced the ship to sail at reduced speed.

In June 2026, Royal Caribbean came under scrutiny after the 168,666-gross-ton Ovation of the Seas arrived in Seward with a dead, pregnant fin whale on its bow. This prompted the Center for Biological Diversity to issue a plea to the cruise line to adopt a mandatory policy to reduce its speeds when sailing in known whale habitats.

This plea was for the cruise line to voluntarily adopt the policy and did not represent any actual law being imposed. The request was given several months after the cruise line’s 2027 deployment was announced, though it has not been officially linked to the Anthem of the Seas changes.

Other speed restrictions are in place around Alaska and can sometimes change after itineraries are announced. Royal Caribbean has not identified which speed restrictions prompted the revised itinerary.

Storm Forces Independence of the Seas to Abandon Bermuda for Canada

Melissa Mayntz
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Storm Forces Independence of the Seas to Abandon Bermuda for Canada

Key Aspects:

  • The October 24, 2026 sailing of Independence of the Seas will be visiting Canada instead of Bermuda for the 5-night cruise.
  • A gale warning off the East Coast of the U.S. makes sailing to Bermuda too unsafe and uncomfortable for the planned itinerary.
  • The ship will be staying overnight in Saint John, New Brunswick and guests are being provided with onboard credit as compensation.

Royal Caribbean has reached out to guests booked on the Saturday, October 24, 2026 sailing of Independence of the Seas to alert them to a complete itinerary change. Instead of the 5-night sailing heading for Bermuda, the 3,858-guest ship will be heading to Canada.

Guests were notified of the change late on Thursday, October 22, less than 48 hours before embarkation in Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

“Along with our meteorology team, we’ve been closely monitoring inclement weather developing off the East Coast,” the email explained. “The weather’s impact make is hard to provide you with a safe and comfortable journey to Bermuda.”

Independence of the Seas was to have had an overnight visit to King’s Wharf at the Royal Naval Dockyard from 9 a.m. on Monday, October 26 until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27. Because that is no longer possible, the ship will be sailing north.

“After exploring all of our options, we’ve decided to sail to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada for an overnight stay instead,” the email confirmed.

The ship will arrive in Saint John at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Monday and will remain docked until 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Compensation Provided Per Stateroom

Royal Caribbean is providing guests a refundable onboard credit for this change. Each credit is per stateroom, with $150 USD for inside staterooms, $200 for outside staterooms, $300 for balcony staterooms, and $500 for suites. For third or more guests in each stateroom, an extra $50 will be added to the onboard credit.

The email notification also confirmed that any pre-paid shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean for Bermuda will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.

Any credit amounts remaining at the end of the sailing will be refunded to the credit card associated with those onboard accounts.

Multiple Cruises Changing Course

Several different ships have made similar itinerary changes recently due to poor weather.

Cruise Hive reported that the October 18, 2026 departure of Oasis of the Seas from Cape Liberty was rerouted to Halifax, Nova Scotia instead of Florida and the Bahamas for its 7-night itinerary.

NOAA Satellite Image of East Coast Storms
NOAA Satellite Image of East Coast Storms

The October 17, 2026 departure of Vision of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland was also rerouted to Canada with a visit to Saint John, New Brunswick instead of the original Bermuda itinerary for the 5-night cruise. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the last-minute change for that sailing, guests were not permitted off the ship to explore Saint John.

Ironically, less than a month earlier, the September 24, 2026 Vision of the Seas sailing was rerouted in the opposite direction, sailing south to Florida and the Bahamas instead of north to Canada and New England when a powerful nor’easter impacted multiple ships at the end of September.

Weather Update

The National Weather Service has a gale warning in place for the mid-Atlantic waters off the east coast, between the U.S. and Bermuda, in the wake of Post-Tropical Cyclone Josephine. The warning area extends from 60-250 nautical miles offshore.

Winds on Friday, October 23, are 15-25 knots, which will increase to 25-35 knots on Saturday and as high as 40 knots through Saturday night and into Sunday. Seas will range from 7-19 feet over the next several days, with scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the region.

Arizona Surgeon Among Three Arrested Boarding Norwegian Jewel in Miami

Melissa Mayntz
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Arizona Surgeon Among Three Arrested Boarding Norwegian Jewel in Miami

Key Aspects:

  • Three different cruise guests were arrested at PortMiami on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, on drug charges.
  • All three guests were attempting to board Norwegian Jewel for a 5-night adult-only Bahamas cruise, but there is no indication they knew each other.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection made the arrests as part of Operation Temptation before the suspects were turned over to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

Three individuals, including an Arizona orthopedic surgeon, have been arrested at PortMiami for drug charges as they attempted to board the same cruise ship on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The arrests were made as part of Operation Temptation by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

According to the Gila Herald, 38-year-old Dr. Jacob Lee Henrichsen of Central, Arizona, was arrested after his luggage was inspected and found to contain THC gummies; several MDMA-containing gummies, pills, and capsules; and psilocybin mushroom chocolate bars. He is employed by Mount Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford, Arizona, which has stated it is “taking the allegations seriously.”

Henrichsen was attempting to board Norwegian Jewel for a 5-night “Temptation Caribbean Cruise” to Key West and Nassau, and the arrest report confirms he was arrested at PortMiami’s Cruise Terminal B.

Temptation Cruises is a company that organizes adult-only charter sailings, described as “the ultimate adults-only playground at sea” with judgement-free zones and events geared toward different preferences.

While THC products are legal in Arizona, MDMA is not, and neither is psilocybin. Furthermore, none of the products are legal to take onboard cruise ships, which Norwegian Cruise Line makes very clear as the #1 point in its “What can’t I bring onboard?” FAQ.

Miami-Dade court records show that Henrichsen now faces three felony drug-related charges, including possession of controlled substances and drug trafficking. He was released on $10,000 bond and his attorney has entered a plea of not guilty with a request for a jury trial.

Henrichsen’s attorney is arguing that the alleged amounts of illicit substances in the gummies, candies, and chocolate have been overstated because of the composition of the items, which are largely sugar and water.

Two other cruise guests, Kimberly Shannon of Norton, Ohio and Lori Watt of Plainfield, Illinois were also arrested during the same operation, also while attempting to board the 2,376-guest Norwegian Jewel.

Norwegian Jewel Arrested Passengers
Norwegian Jewel Arrested Passengers (Left to right: Dr. Jacob Lee Henrichsen, Lori Watt, & Kimberly Shannon)

The 57-year-old Shannon and the 51-year-old Watt were both carrying THC gummies and vapes. Both women now face a felony charge for possession of controlled substances and each was released on $2,500 bond.

There is no indication that the three guests knew each other in any way or that their cases may be connected. Norwegian Cruise Line referred media questions to the CBP, though it is possible that all three individuals may face bans from the cruise line, preventing them from setting sail in the future.

All three individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Drug Arrests Not Uncommon

These are not the first drug-related arrests made as guests attempt to board cruise ships, and such incidents are not confined to Norwegian Jewel or PortMiami.

Cruise Hive reported in July 2026 that a guest onboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady was arrested on suspicion of drug charges while the ship was sailing to Greece, and ultimately the individual was deported back to his home country of Spain.

In July 2025, four Carnival Cruise Line guests were arrested in Bermuda on charges related to alleged possession and intent to distribute various drugs, including THC vapes and gummies as well as carfentanil.

A former Florida deputy was arrested while attempting to board Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas in January 2025, having been found allegedly trying to smuggle narcotic pills onboard to sell.

Storms Austen and Boelo Force Ambassador Ship to Swap Five Norway Ports

Melissa Mayntz
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Storms Austen and Boelo Force Ambassador Ship to Swap Five Norway Ports

Key Aspects:

  • Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition has changed five port visits in Norway on her current sailing due to expected rough weather.
  • The Land of Northern Lights itinerary will now be visiting ports further south along the western coast instead of northern destinations.
  • These changes will permit the ship to still explore Norway but at less risk from inclement weather when returning to the UK.

Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition is currently sailing a 17-night Land of Northern Lights itinerary that departed Bristol, UK on Friday, October 16, 2026, with nine port visits planned along the Norwegian coast. Unfortunately, after just the third port of call on the trip, the return schedule to the UK must be drastically altered due to Storms Austen and Boelo.

Guests onboard have been updated about the changed itinerary and why the adjustments are necessary, as well as what alternative ports have been arranged for the remainder of the journey.

The five remaining port destinations on the original itinerary were to have been Alta, Hammerfest, Harstad, Leknes, Narvik, and Bodo.

“We have been closely monitoring local weather forecasts and have been in contact with the relevant port authorities for the remainder of the voyage,” the cruise line explained in a Facebook post.

“Storms Austen and Boelo are forecast to bring winds of up to 70 knots and swells of up to 7 metres, which would cause disruption to Ambition’s planned calls. Continuing with the original itinerary in these conditions would put our guests, our crew and the ship at risk.”

Instead, the cruise line has arranged alternative berths at different, more southerly destinations in Norway. While the ship will still visit Alta on Friday, October 23, the remaining five ports after Friday’s call have now been changed to the following:

  • Monday, October 26: Andalsnes
  • Tuesday, October 27: Molde
  • Wednesday, October 28: Alesund (a second visit for this sailing)
  • Thursday, October 29: Bergen
  • Friday, October 30: Stavanger

Because these ports are all much further south along the western coast, the possibility of spectacular northern lights viewing is greatly diminished. Of course, such viewing is always subject to weather conditions, solar activity, and cloud cover.

Ambition will not return to northern Norway to offer another Land of Northern Lights itinerary until her March 8, 2027 departure.

While guests onboard are undoubtedly disappointed by the lower chance of seeing a fabulous aurora, many guests are noting that safety should always come first and they are pleased with the replacement ports.

“Thank you for taking care of us and the crew. We are sure that this will be the safest option, onto Alta tomorrow!” one guest commented.

“Thank you Ambassador Cruise Line for keeping us all aware and safe. I am having a great cruise and looking forward to visiting the newly announced ports!” another said.

There is no change to Ambition‘s return to Bristol on Monday, November 2 for debarkation as planned.

Storm Updates

Both Storm Austen and Storm Boelo are forecast to create rough seas between the UK and Norway that would make Ambition‘s northern itinerary unsafe and uncomfortable as the ship would be making her way south next week.

Cruise Hive has already reported on multiple itinerary changes for different ships heading to Southampton as Storm Austen approaches, and Storm Boelo is likewise impacting Scotland and Ireland.

While there are currently no warnings related to the storms directly for Norway, winds in the coming days could be very troublesome.

For example, according to Windy.com, winds from 40-50 miles per hour are expected off the western coast of Norway on Tuesday, October 27. While Ambition‘s originally planned call to Leknes on that day would not be impacted, the ship’s voyage back to the UK would need to pass directly through the strongest parts of the storms.

It can be challenging to predict exact weather conditions several days in advance, but Ambassador Cruise Line is taking no chances at the possibility of unsafe sailing conditions as Ambition returns from Norway.

By choosing a more southerly route and different destinations instead, the 1,200-guest ship can stay in safer harbors as the storms pass with plenty of time to still return to the UK on schedule.

NCL Confirms Norwegian Luna Speed Issue, Port Cancelled

Emrys Thakkar
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NCL Confirms Norwegian Luna Speed Issue, Port Cancelled

Norwegian Cruise Line has confirmed that Norwegian Luna is operating at reduced speed due to a technical issue during its October 17 sailing from Miami, Florida.

As a result, the ship’s call at Great Stirrup Cay, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas, has been cancelled and the ship is set for a sea day instead. Guests onboard are sharing details of the issue on social media.

One guest currently on Norwegian Luna posted on Facebook, “On the Norwegian Luna now 22/10 and they’ve cancelled the Great Stirrup Cay stop due to engine issues and given ANOTHER at sea day. Normally cruises offer goodwill gesture / on board credit etc – no mention of it. Anyone had any luck?“

Another guest onboard also posted on Facebook, “Norwegian LUNA is having ENGINE ISSUES and running at half speed. Great Stirrup Cay stop tomorrow is canceled and we will head back to Miami so they can fix the engine.“

A photo also shows the starboard Azipod at the aft of the ship running at reduced output, posted on Reddit by an onboard guest. The passenger also said the captain announced the issue and the cancellation of Great Stirrup Cay.

A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson stated to Cruise Hive, “The safety and security of our guests and crew is a top priority. We recently learned of a technical issue that requires us to operate the ship at a reduced speed. While this does not impact the safety of the vessel, we had to adjust the original itinerary.“

Norwegian Luna Cruise Ship
Norwegian Luna Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Just dance)

The 156,000 gross ton Prima Plus class cruise ship is completing a seven-night sailing that has already made calls to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic on October 19, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on October 20, and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands on October 21.

The vessel has cancelled its final port of call at Great Stirrup Cay on October 23. This means the ship is limping back to its homeport in Miami. At this time, it’s unclear what repairs are needed or how the next voyage, departing Miami on October 24, could be affected.

NCL also stated to Cruise Hive, “While we try to maintain ports of call as scheduled, at times modifications are made to accommodate certain circumstances. As such, the ship will no longer visit Great Stirrup Cay on October 23, 2026, and will instead spend an extra day at sea. We will advise impacted guests of any further updates as they become available. We appreciate our guests for their patience and understanding during this time and look forward to continuing to deliver an immersive cruise experience.“

Norwegian Luna is the newest ship in the fleet, having only entered service in March 2026. The 3,565-passenger ship is the sister ship to Norwegian Aqua and the second in the Prima Plus class.

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