Cruise departures from New York-area ports are on hold as a powerful nor’easter brings unsafe marine conditions and pilotage services are temporarily suspended.
Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and two German cruise line ships remain docked until October 14, 2025.
Port cancellations have been revealed, with ships updating passengers as they receive weather updates.
A powerful nor’easter sweeping across the Northeast has forced multiple cruise lines to delay departures from New York-area ports, leaving thousands of passengers docked in the city as heavy rain, rough seas, and strong winds batter the coast.
Reports revealed that pilotage services in New York Harbor, which are mandatory for ships to depart or arrive, had been temporarily suspended due to the storm.
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, which accommodates up to 5,518 guests at double capacity, remains docked at Bayonne’s Cape Liberty Cruise Port after it was scheduled to set sail on October 12, 2025, for a 7-night Bahamas cruise.
The 228,081-gross-ton-ship was meant to be cruising to Port Canaveral, Florida, for an October 14, 2025, arrival, and then visit the island nation’s Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Instead, it is remaining in port until conditions are deemed safe.
Across the river in Brooklyn, MSC Cruises’ 171,598-gross-ton MSC Meraviglia has also been forced to remain docked.
The ship carrying up to 5,642 passengers had been scheduled to depart on October 12, also for a 7-night Bahamas sailing to Port Canaveral and Nassau, as well as the cruise line’s private island, Ocean Cay.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway, docked at Manhattan Cruise Terminal with just over 3,900 passengers, was also due to sail on October 12 on a 7-night voyage to New England and Canada with stops in Newport, Rhode Island; Boston; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and St. John, New Brunswick.
The cruise line has delayed departure until October 14 and adjusted the itinerary, removing Newport and Boston from the route and will head directly to Bar Harbor once it can safely sail.
Guests with shore excursions in cancelled ports will receive automatic refunds, according to a letter they received from NCL.
Meanwhile, the intimate luxury German line Hapag-Llyod Cruises’ MS Europa concluded a 21-night East Coast sailing in New York with 400 passengers and is scheduled to depart at 1 p.m. October 13 for a transatlantic repositioning voyage to Hamburg, Germany.
MSC Meraviglia In New York (Photo Credit: Mariusz Lopusiewicz)
That departure appears to be delayed due to harbor conditions.
Mein Schiff 1, also a German vessel operated by TUI Cruises, is currently docked in New York for an overnight stay with as many as 3,984 passengers.
It is not scheduled to depart until late October 14 and may avoid disruptions if conditions improve by then.
Guests from various ships have reported that vessels have opened gangways to passengers so they can explore New York City.
Storm Impact
The storm affecting New York Harbor is a nor’easter that has unleashed strong winds, heavy rains, and pounding surf across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Nearby beaches, particularly along the New Jersey Shore, have been eroded back to their boardwalks as they are pummeled by waves of 8 to 15 feet.
Gusts exceeding 60 miles per hour have been recorded along the coastline, accompanied by several inches of rain in parts of New York, New Jersey, and New England, with shoreside towns experiencing overnight flooding.
New Jersey and New York were each placed under a state of emergency through the evening of October 13, 2025, after high tide.
The storm, which also delayed ships in other ports along the coastline, is expected to pull away from the U.S. late on October 13, if not early on October 14. The ships anticipate an October 14 departure.
Carnival’s text alerts are a great way to stay informed on your sailing and make sure you don’t miss important updates from the cruise line.
This is especially important during the Atlantic Hurricane Season, but delays, changes, and cancellations can and do occur year-round.
Guests with US mobile numbers can sign up for this feature during Carnival’s online-check in process.
I don’t know about you, but I am a cruiser who always wants to be in control. For my sanity, I need to stay in the loop and want to be among the first to know about potential itinerary changes.
When sailing with Carnival Cruise Line, the best way to do this is to sign up for text alerts during the online check-in process.
Guests who opt in to this useful feature will receive text notifications to their phones in the event of an itinerary change, delay, or cruise cancellation.
While Carnival does also send out email updates before passengers are onboard, the texts are usually seen sooner and help to ensure that you don’t accidentally miss an important message.
Once onboard, Carnival will also update guests with letters delivered to their cruise cabins and/or by making announcements through the PA system.
During the unpredictable Hurricane Season, which will remain active through November 30, 2025, it’s more important than ever to be on the lookout for potential cruise disruptions.
Multiple Carnival cruise ships bound for the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda have already been rerouted due to recent storms and hurricanes, which, again, highlights the importance of these text alerts.
So far, this season has seen 11 named storms form, four of which became major hurricanes.
But there could still be an uptick in activity through the end of the season, as historically, October is one of the most active months for stormy weather.
And per historical data from the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) and the National Weather Service in Miami, the majority of hurricanes that make landfall in areas like South Florida occur after the season’s peak – which is on or around September 10.
As we are in the middle of the 2025 hurricane season, stormy weather is naturally top-of-mind when thinking about possible disruptions to cruising.
However, Carnival’s text alerts aren’t just meant to provide an extra form of communication during this one season.
Instead, the text alerts are available year-round to provide updates on delays, early arrivals, or cancellations related to other issues as well.
For example, a ship that is experiencing propulsion issues might be delayed returning to its homeport, which leads to delays in disembarkation and embarkation for the subsequent sailing.
Carnival Cruise Line Text Alerts (Photo Credit: Amy Sweezey)
“Carnival’s mobile travel alert service provides our guests with timely and important information or updates regarding their cruise (not to exceed ten text messages),” Carnival’s website states.
“Alerts may include changes affecting your ship’s arrival and departure time on the day of embarkation,” it continues.
Unfortunately for international guests, this service is currently only available to guests with US cellphone numbers.
Guests who do have a US phone number are able to sign up for Carnival’s text alerts during the online check-in process, which can be completed from 14 days before embarkation day and until midnight EST on the day before departure.
There will be a question asking if you want to opt in for text alerts. All you have to do is click on the box that confirms your answer is “yes.” In my experience, the button has said “get started.”
You will then be taken to a page where you can enter your cellphone number. Hit “save & continue” once done, and the whole process is complete in less than a minute.
Carnival will not charge you to send text alerts, but you may incur fees from your cellular provider depending on your plan and if you have purchased a Carnival internet package or not.
And if you sign up for alerts and then change your mind, it’s easy to opt back out as well – although I would personally never say no to more information!
Norwegian Getaway is remaining overnight in New York instead of departing on Sunday, October 12, as planned.
Pilotage services have been temporarily suspended due to the nor’easter impacting the region and the ship cannot navigate safely out of the harbor.
Because of the departure delay, the visits to Newport, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts have been cancelled.
As a strong nor’easter continues to pound the east coast of the US from Delaware to Maine, another cruise ship has had to change plans and remain in its homeport longer than expected. Guests aboard Norwegian Getaway received the news as they boarded the ship in New York on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Embarkation proceeded as planned, but the 145,655-gross-ton vessel is unable to depart on schedule for her 7-night sailing, which is having a knock-on effect and also cancelling ports of call.
“A Nor’easter is forecasted to impact the region beginning Sunday afternoon, bringing strong winds and rough seas,”the letter delivered to boarding guests read.“In anticipation of these conditions, and as a precautionary measure, local authorities have suspended pilotage services in New York, a necessary step to ensure safe navigation in and out of the port.”
This means Norwegian Getaway is unable to leave on Sunday evening as originally planned. Instead, the ship is remaining overnight in the Big Apple. The plan is for departure on Monday, October 13, though the time of that departure has not yet been confirmed and will depend on when pilot services can safely resume.
Because of the necessary delay, the ship will be unable to make her planned visits to Newport, Rhode Island on Monday, October 13 or Boston, Massachusetts on Tuesday, October 14.
Instead, Monday will now be departure day, and Tuesday will be spent at sea as the ship makes her way toward Bar Harbor, Maine.
Any excursions booked through Norwegian Cruise Line for either Newport or Boston will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.
The visits to Bar Harbor on Wednesday, October 15 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. as well as Saint John, Canada from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 are unchanged at this time. Similarly, the visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia on Friday, October 17 is not impacted.
The last day of the sailing is a day at sea, and Norwegian Getaway should return to New York on Sunday, October 19 as planned.
Norwegian Getaway in New York (Photo Credit: Steve Heap)
While guests may be disappointed at the change, the safety of the ship and everyone aboard is always the first priority. As soon as it is safe to do so, Norwegian Getaway will be on her way and guests are sure to have a fabulous vacation.
In the meantime, all onboard operations are fully functional, including dining, entertainment, and other activities. While options on the outer decks may be limited due to bad weather, guests can still find plenty to enjoy.
Other Ships Impacted
Norwegian Getaway is not the only ship impacted by the strong storms making their way up the US East Coast.
Because of that, her October 12 sailing will be departing on October 13 instead, but the ship will still be able to visit Bermuda as planned on what will now be a 5-night sailing instead of a 6-night cruise.
Hopefully, guests aboard all three ships will still enjoy memorable and safe cruise vacations, even if the itineraries may not be exactly what they had hoped.
A powerful nor’easter is impacting New Jersey, where Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas was due to set sail on a 7-night Bahamas Voyage on October 12, 2025.
Because of current conditions, the port has temporarily closed and the ship will be stuck in New Jersey until the stormy weather passes.
Itinerary changes have not been confirmed at this time, but they are likely coming soon.
It’s no secret that stormy weather can be unpredictable, and Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas has had to change plans a second time to avoid a powerful nor’easter that is impacting the US East Coast.
The voyage in question is the Oasis-class ship’s 7-night sailing to the Bahamas that embarked in Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on October 12, 2025.
The plan was to depart at approximately 1 or 1:30 p.m. EST, instead of 3:00 p.m. EST.
But now that embarkation day is here, it’s no longer safe to try to out-sail the storm and the Port of New York and New Jersey has temporarily closed until the storm passes early next week.
For context, Cape Liberty is located in Bayonne, New Jersey, which sits within the New York Harbor on the Upper New York Bay.
New Jersey was placed under a state of emergency on the night of October 11 due to the weather, with flooding and wind advisories in effect for both New Jersey and New York through at least the evening of Monday, October 13.
New York was also placed under a state of emergency that will be in effect from 12 p.m. EST on October 12 through 8 p.m. EST on October 13.
“Flood & Wind advisory in effect from today 12 noon to Mon 10/13 6PM. The region is forecasted to experience sustained winds of 15-25MPH with 35-50MPH gusts,”Port of NY & NJ posted on X.
Several inches of rain are still expected to fall in the next day or two, and stronger gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour have already been reported.
Ship Likely Stuck in Port Until Tuesday
As seen on cruise tracking data, the Royal Caribbean ship did briefly leave the pier to make way for a container ship, but she has since re-docked.
“It is now official, staying in port overnight per a ship announcement,”one current guest shared on Facebook. “Leaving dock briefly to make room for a container ship but then returning to the dock.”
Previous email communications from the cruise line to current passengers also make it clear that Symphony of the Seas will not leave the port until it is safe to do so.
“Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, we will continue to monitor the ocean storm system and only depart once we deem it is safe to do so,”Royal Caribbean wrote.
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas Docked at Cape Liberty (Photo Credit: Brian Logan Photography)
Although the cruise line hasn’t announced itinerary changes just yet, they are likely coming.
The Port of New York and New Jersey isn’t expected to reopen until the morning of Tuesday, October 14, 2025, which coincides with when the 5,518-guest ship was supposed to make her first port call of the sailing in Port Canaveral, Florida.
“The Sandy Hook Pilots are not currently operating due to a temporary closure of the Port of New York and New Jersey until 11:00 AM on October 14, 2025,”a current passenger confirmed.
Port Canaveral will almost definitely have to be skipped, but there may still be hope for the other two ports on the itinerary.
As things currently stand, Symphony of the Seas is expected in Nassau, Bahamas, on October 15, and Perfect Day at CocoCay on October 16.
Additional cruise ships that are currently in New York Harbor, including MSC Cruises’ MSC Meraviglia and NCL’s Norwegian Getaway, may also be similarly impacted by the weather-related closure.
Meanwhile, cruise tracking data shows that TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1 and American Cruise Lines’ ACL American Glory, which were due to arrive in New York tomorrow on October 13, have also arrived in the port early.
Cruise Hive will continue to keep you updated as more details are known.
For many cruisers, the primary reason they book specific sailings is because of the exciting destinations they will get to visit. But what happens when a port of call gets cancelled?
These are the most common reasons why a port call may get scrapped, as well as what a cancellation means for your cruise vacation and for your wallet.
The cruise lines never want to disappoint guests by removing a destination they may have been looking forward to, but sometimes external factors leave them with no other options.
Usually, cancellations are the result of matters of safety, port availability, unexpected maintenance needs, and/or Mother Nature’s refusal to cooperate.
Safety
The safety of the vessel and all guests and crew members onboard is always the top priority for the cruise lines.
With this in mind, ports of call that could potentially put guests in danger may be removed from itineraries, if only out of an abundance of caution.
Royal Caribbean’s Labadee Destination (Photo Credit: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock)
For example, Royal Caribbean has famously cancelled more than six months of visits to its private resort at Labadee, Haiti, due to ongoing unrest in Haiti’s capital – which is more than 100 miles away.
While cruise ships are well equipped to handle rough seas, docking during windy conditions and heavy rain can be dangerous because it increases the risk of collision with port infrastructure or other ships that may be in the harbor.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships in Developing Storm (Photo Copyright: Cruise Hive)
Tendering during poor weather conditions is even more dangerous, as guests must be able to safely transfer to and from smaller vessels (which are much more impacted by wind and big swells than the larger cruise ship).
Natural Disasters
Less commonly, a natural disaster like an earthquake or landslide may force a cruise ship to alter course.
These unfortunate events may cause damage to port infrastructure, making docking impossible.
Landslide in Port Vila following 7.3-magnitude earthquake. (Photo Credit: Dan McGarry)
Alternatively, damage within the town or city itself may make it impractical, or even dangerous, to welcome an influx of cruise guests.
This is a category that can apply to both cruise ports and to cruise ships.
The cruise ports have to maintain their infrastructure to make sure everything remains safe and functional, and may schedule routine maintenance after a cruise line has already released its itineraries for the years ahead, which can lead to scheduling conflicts.
On the other hand, there are situations where a pier or other infrastructure is damaged unexpectedly by a cruise ship or weather and has to turn vessels away until repairs can be made.
As this was the only pier in San Juan that could accommodate larger mega-ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships, many port calls had to be cancelled during the months-long closure.
On the cruise ship side of things, unexpected technical problems, such as propulsion issues, may limit the vessel’s speed.
Speed limitations may make it impossible to reach a planned destination timely, which subsequently leads to a cancellation.
Alternatively, a cruise ship that experiences an unexpected issue may remain stuck at a previous destination, and will have to cancel port calls that come later to allow time for repairs to be completed.
Port Congestion & Pier Reassignments
The cruise lines often plan and release itineraries years in advance, and things can sometimes change as embarkation day approaches.
Sometimes, this results in overbookings, excessive port traffic, or pier reassignments that makes it unsafe or impractical for a cruise ship to make its planned visit.
Port Accessibility Challenges
Sometimes, there is simply an obstacle in the way that makes it impossible for the cruise ship to reach the dock.
For example, a build up of sediment can make water levels too shallow to navigate a certain area. This is what barred Princess Cruises’ Island Princess from visiting Puerto Chiapas, Mexico, in September 2025.
Carnival Pride Sailing Under the Francis Scott Key Bridge (Photo Credit: Larry Syverson / Flickr)
Less commonly, environmental protestors in Europe have successfully prevented some cruise ships from docking by blocking their path with smaller vessels, or even people.
Changes to the Financial Situation
Some port of call cancellations can also be financially motivated. If a port has recently increased taxes and fees on cruise ships, the cruise line may opt to skip the port.
The other two options are usually not very appealing, especially if the fees were increased by a significant amount. The alternatives are for the cruise line to eat the financial loss or pass the fees onto their passengers.
It’s also worth noting that cruise lines are allowed to charge booked passengers for new port fees that go into effect after they reserved their sailing, even after they’ve already paid in full.
Onboard Emergencies
While the goal is for everyone onboard to stay safe, happy, and healthy for the duration of their sailing, sometimes medical emergencies occur and a guest will need to be evacuated to receive urgent treatment.
This could mean that the cruise ship has to deviate from its course to drop the guest off at the nearest port.
Alternatively, the ship may need to pause or relocate to rendezvous with first responders for an airlift at sea.
Overboard Icon of the Seas Crew Member
And in rare man overboard situations, the cruise line is required to stop and search for the missing person until they are found or until authorities arrive to take over search and rescue efforts.
Depending on how long the cruise ship is delayed or how far out of its way the vessel must travel, port calls may be delayed or cancelled.
Illness Outbreaks
In extreme situations, a port may turn a cruise ship away if there is an illness outbreak onboard that poses an imminent threat to public health.
Outbreaks are monitored on a case-by-case basis, and more often than not, passengers are still allowed to disembark and explore (with perhaps some extra precautions in place).
When Do Cruise Lines Decide to Cancel?
Cancelling a port call is not a decision that the cruise ports make lightly. It comes with a lot of thought and impacted guests are notified as soon as possible.
If a cruise line is made aware of factors like port accessibility or port congestion in advance, they may notify guests of the change, potentially weeks to months ahead of their voyage.
Navigation Systems (Photo Credit: Alexey Seafarer / Shutterstock)
This gives cruisers the opportunity to adjust shore excursions or potentially change their plans if the new itinerary isn’t satisfactory.
But many times, the decision to cancel or replace a port call isn’t made until the very last minute, after every possible option to still visit is explored.
In these cases, passengers may not learn of the change until they are onboard and just a few hours away from when they were due to arrive at the destination.
Once a cruise line has made the decision to cancel a port call, they have three alternatives to explore.
The first option, which is usually the most desirable, is to replace the scrapped destination with a new port of call.
But in order for this to work, the cruise line must find another desirable port that has availability and fits in with the rest of the itinerary.
Radiance of the Seas in Alaska (Photo Credit: Just dance)
The next option is to simply spend another day at sea, allowing guests more time to explore the ship and take advantage of the entertainment and amenities onboard.
In rare cases, the cruise line may opt to shorten the sailing, but this would only happen if there is something else going on (i.e., emergency maintenance or weather related) that would make it unsafe to complete the full voyage.
What Happens to Port Fees?
Port fees are fees and taxes that are levied on cruise ship passengers when they visit ports of call during their sailing.
The cruise lines typically collect port fees as part of the cruise fare, and then pay them on behalf of their passengers.
Carnival Ships in Cozumel (Photo Credit: B.D.S. Media)
In the event that a port call gets cancelled and isn’t replaced with a new stop, port fees are typically refunded automatically, either in the form of an onboard credit or to guests’ original form of payment.
If the cancelled port is replaced with a new destination, guests usually are not charged additional port fees. Their original payment would roll over to the new port and any excess would be refunded.
What Happens to Shore Excursions?
If a cancellation occurs, shore excursions for that destination that were booked through the cruise line will be automatically cancelled and refunded.
If the port call has been replaced with a different destination, the cruise line will usually roll out new tours for passengers to book.
However, the cruise lines are not responsible for land tours that are booked through independent vendors. Guests would be subject to the outside company’s cancellation and refund policies.
Are Guests Entitled to Compensation?
When guests book a cruise, they agree to a cruise ship contract.
One of the standard terms in these contracts is that the cruise lines have a right to change the itinerary as circumstances require without providing compensation to passengers.
Cruise Passengers on Royal Caribbean Ship (Photo Credit: steve estvanik)
However, many cruise lines may occasionally offer some compensation, such as onboard credits or a future cruise credit, as a gesture of goodwill.
Final Thoughts: How to Respond to Itinerary Changes
While the cruise lines always do their best to honor and maintain the original itineraries, it’s important to keep in mind that no itinerary is guaranteed.
While an itinerary change can be disappointing, there is no reason that the cruise vacation can’t still be every bit as fun and memorable as guests hoped for and expected.
If you ever find yourself in this situation, do your best to roll with the punches and find the joy in the opportunities that are available to you during your cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that Carnival Sunshine will only be delayed by a single day due to the nor’easter impacting Norfolk.
The ship will now set sail on a 5-night cruise to Bermuda instead of the original 6-night itinerary, but the port visit is preserved as scheduled.
Guests are receiving a one-day prorated refund of their cruise fare and per-day packages, as well as a $100 per stateroom onboard credit.
Following a tense night of uncertainty about the itinerary for Carnival Sunshine, guests awaiting their now-delayed cruise have received the welcome news that they will still be visiting Bermuda as planned.
The former Carnival Destiny and one of the oldest ships in the Carnival fleet has been delayed returning to Norfolk, Virginia, due to the nor’easter impacting the US East Coast.
On Sunday afternoon, just as the ship would have been preparing for departure, Windy.com shows winds as high as 33-34 knots (38-40 miles per hour) at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, with even higher gusts.
Despite the rough weather on what was to have been embarkation day, however, Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the sailing will go ahead just one day late.
“We’re pleased to confirm that Carnival Sunshine will dock in Norfolk tomorrow morning, Monday, October 13,”the email notification reads.
Guests are advised to arrive at the cruise terminal at the same times they initially chose when checking in for the sailing, albeit on Monday instead of Sunday.
While of course, it is disappointing that the 6-night sailing will now be a 5-night voyage instead, the notification did have more good news.
“Aside from the adjusted departure date, the remainder of the itinerary, including the scheduled visit to Bermuda, remains unchanged,”the email said.
Carnival Sunshine is due to visit Bermuda for the last time this year with an overnight call from 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15 through 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 16.
To make up for the shortened sailing, all guests will be receiving a one day, prorated refund of their cruise fare as well as a one-day refund of any pre-purchased packages, such as the Cheers! drink package or Wi-Fi options.
Guests are also going to receive a $100 (USD) onboard credit per stateroom.
How Can the Ship Still Get to Bermuda?
Before it was confirmed that Carnival Sunshine would, in fact, be able to depart on the shortened sailing on Monday, there was uncertainty about whether or not the visit to Bermuda would still be possible.
Bermuda is roughly 735 miles from Norfolk. When compared to Carnival Sunshine‘s top speed of 21 knots (24 miles per hour), the ship would need a minimum of 31 hours to sail between the ports, along with extra time for docking maneuvers and slower speeds required in the harbors.
Fortunately, the ship has 41 hours from her estimated time of departure from Norfolk until she is scheduled to arrive in Bermuda. This gives the vessel plenty of time to make the journey with no adjustment to the time spent in port.
Cruise ships routinely reduce sailing speed on days at sea. This will reduce relative wind speeds on the outer decks and permit a more enjoyable experience for lounging by the pool, enjoying whirlpools, or joining in deck parties or games.
These lower planned speeds also provide a buffer for unexpected diversions, such as rough weather, medical evacuations, or refugee rescues. When such things happen, the ship has a plentiful margin to make up the loss of time without sacrificing time in port.
While Carnival Sunshine may now need to sail faster than anticipated on her way to Bermuda, at least she will still be able to make the trip safely and guests onboard will be able to enjoy their full visit to the British territory.
Carnival Sunshine will be delayed at least a full day in returning to Norfolk, Virginia, due to the nor’easter impacting the US East Coast.
This will subsequently shorten the next cruise and guests are being advised to wait for further details to be provided on Sunday, October 12.
The next sailing will now not be departing until at least October 13, depending on when the port is able to reopen and the ship can return.
Carnival Sunshine is not seeing a lot of sunshine as she sails back to Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of her 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that initially departed on Saturday, October 4.
Unfortunately, due to bad weather as she approaches her homeport, the ship is going to be delayed and the next voyage shortened accordingly.
“Carnival Sunshine is experiencing strong winds and high seas as it sails back to Norfolk. Further, weather forecasts indicate that unfavorable conditions will continue into the evening both at sea and over the Chesapeake Bay area – the waterway leading into the port,”the notice sent to embarking guests read.
The nor’easter brewing along the Atlantic seaboard has already impacted Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, which moved up her Sunday embarkation in New Jersey in the hopes of leaving ahead of the storm.
Norfolk, however, is 300 miles south-southeast of Cape Liberty, making that Virginia homeport much closer to the poor weather.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and working with our partners and local authorities, including the U.S. Coast Guard. Given the current conditions, the channel into Norfolk is expected to be closed overnight,”the email continued.
“This, coupled with the unfavorable weather that is impacting the ship’s journey, makes it clear that the ship will not be able to dock until sometime Monday morning.”
Guests onboard Carnival Sunshine have been assured that all possible steps will be taken to keep them safe, as the ship is currently adjusting her heading to steer clear of the roughest weather. Outer decks have been closed as a precaution.
High winds and significant swells are to be expected, and guests onboard should be cautious when moving around the ship.
Once further details are confirmed, Carnival Cruise Line will assist guests with adjusting their post-cruise plans and making other necessary arrangements for their delayed arrival.
In the meantime, all onboard operations are proceeding as normal and there is no impact to the ship’s entertainment, dining, or other functions. Additional activities will certainly be added to the daily schedule so guests can continue to have fun during the unexpected extra day.
Next Cruise to Be Shortened
The exact time that Carnival Sunshine will be able to dock on Monday, October 13 is not yet confirmed. Scheduling will depend on when the rough weather passes sufficiently for the port to reopen, as well as any necessary safety inspections before port operations can resume.
Once cleared, the cruise ship will be able to proceed to the cruise terminal. There must still be sufficient time for customs and immigration clearance, however, as well as for previous guests to debark before incoming guests can board the ship.
Carnival Sunshine Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Daniel Wright98)
“Please do not proceed to the cruise terminal until you have received confirmation from us on when your cruise will operate,”Carnival is alerting guests.
A further update on the revised cruise and embarkation plans will be provided by 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, just when embarkation was to have finished and Carnival Sunshine would set sail on her next voyage.
The ship’s October 12 (now October 13) departure is for a 6-night cruise to Bermuda. The sailing is actually Carnival Sunshine‘s last trip to Bermuda for 2025.
While the cruise line will take every possible step to preserve that visit, if Carnival Sunshine is delayed too drastically, it is possible she may be unable to head for Bermuda and an alternative itinerary may be arranged.
Further details are sure to be provided once the weather lightens and the ship’s docking plans are confirmed.
Carnival Legend spent Saturday, October 11 in Acapulco as an unplanned visit after losing a visit to Cabo San Lucas to Hurricane Priscilla.
This visit is the first time a Carnival ship has visited Acapulco in more than 15 years, but the team pulled together to offer great options to guests.
Carnival Legend is already planning a return to Acapulco on a 2027 Carnival Journeys sailing as she moves from Tampa to Seattle ahead of the Alaska season.
Any longer, more immersive Carnival Journeys cruise can be a legendary vacation. Guests onboard Carnival Legend, however, are making Carnival Cruise Line history on their 16-night sailing between San Francisco and Galveston with an unplanned, surprise visit to Acapulco, Mexico.
The cruise line hasn’t visited the iconic Mexican destination since 2010, and in fact, Carnival Legend wasn’t scheduled to visit Acapulco on this sailing.
Hurricane Priscilla had other ideas, however. Carnival Legend departed San Francisco on Monday, October 6, 2025, just as the storm was at its most intense off the coast of the Mexican Riviera.
Guests were notified on Wednesday, October 8, that their planned visit to Cabo San Lucas would not be possible.
“The port is now closed and is expected to remain closed tomorrow,”the letter delivered to guests’ staterooms explained.“Further, rough seas in the Cabo area would hinder our ability to operate water shuttles to take you between the ship and shore.”
At that time, the revised itinerary simply had an extra day at sea on the way to Puntarenas, Costa Rica, for the planned visit on Tuesday, October 14.
This would have given Carnival Legend a total of seven full days in a row at sea before making any port visit.
With multiple rough weather systems in the region Carnival Legend has needed to sail on this voyage, however, it was possible additional changes might be necessary.
“Safety for everyone on board is a priority and, as we head south, we will be taking a course that will help us avoid the most unfavorable conditions,”the letter confirmed.“None-the-less, as we sail, we may periodically experience some strong winds and choppy seas.”
That revision was about to be revised, however. On Thursday, October 9, just when guests should have been enjoying Cabo San Lucas, they received notification of yet another change from the ship’s master, Captain Mark Harlow.
“We are making good time with sailing, and I’m pleased to inform you that we have been able to secure a visit to Acapulco, Mexico for Saturday, October 11,”the next letter read.
The 85,900-gross-ton, Spirit class ship was able to schedule a visit from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the same length of time that the ship would have spent in Cabo San Lucas.
Before arriving in Acapulco, the Carnival Adventures team put together a number of options for eager guests.
Even with the last-minute change of plans, the team secured city tours, cliff diving shows, beach resort visits, a botanical garden visit with a lagoon cruise, a chance to release a baby sea turtle into the ocean, snorkeling, and more.
Guests were also welcome to explore the area on their own, and were advised to follow common sense safety precautions as is prudent in any port of call.
The rest of Carnival Legend‘s sailing is not yet impacted by any further changes.
The ship should still visit Costa Rica, transit the Panama Canal, and visit both Colombia and Grand Cayman before arriving in Texas on Wednesday, October 22.
A Historic Visit – With More to Come
While this surprise visit to Acapulco is the first time Carnival Cruise Line has called on the city in 15 years, there are already plans to return.
In 2027, a 16-night repositioning cruise from Tampa to Seattle will also visit Acapulco, also operated by Carnival Legend. On that itinerary departing Florida on April 4, 2027, however, the visit is planned.
That epic sailing was just announced in July 2025 as part of Carnival Cruise Line’s “dancing of the ships” itinerary reveals for 2027. Carnival Legend will be spending the 2027 summer in Alaska, and that Carnival Journeys cruise will take her to the Last Frontier.
While Carnival Cruise Line does not visit Acapulco regularly, the destination is offered through other cruise lines. Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises all have select sailings that include Acapulco in the next few months.
The Algerian Naval Forces responded to a call for a medical evacuation onboard Sky Princess on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
The guest in need of the urgent rescue was a 77-year-old British national who was suffering from a serious medical condition.
The airlift went smoothly and there was no impact to the two itineraries that the Princess ship is operating simultaneously.
For one Princess Cruises’ guest, their voyage onboard Sky Princess has come to an abrupt conclusion.
The guest, who has only been identified as a 77-year-old British national, suddenly required urgent hospitalization while sailing in the Atlantic Ocean near Algeria.
The cruiser’s condition has not been disclosed, but the Princess medical team would have evaluated the guest and deemed their situation too serious to be managed onboard before calling for a medical evacuation.
When the distress call was received at approximately 10:40 a.m. local time on October 8, 2025, the Royal-class cruise ship was positioned approximately 35 nautical miles north of Algeria’s Cap de Fer.
For context, this would place the vessel in the Skikda Province maritime zone, which stretches approximately 80 miles from El Marsa in the east to Oued Z’hour in the west along the Mediterranean coastline.
The National Coast Guard Service immediately sprang into action to rescue the ailing patient.
The Algerian Naval Forces quickly sent an AS-14 search and rescue helicopter from the 560th Search and Rescue Helicopter Squadron to rendezvous with the 3,660-guest ship.
The rescue was aided by coordination efforts made by the regional surveillance and rescue center in Jijel, Algeria.
Thankfully, the airlift went smoothly and the passenger was successfully transferred to the El Hadjar Hospital in Annaba, where they were admitted. Their prognosis has been kept private.
Cruise Hive is sending our thoughts and prayers to the disembarked passenger and their loved ones for the best possible outcome and a speedy recovery.
No Impact to the Itinerary
Sky Princess is nearing the end of a 31-night round-trip Mediterranean itinerary that embarked in Southampton, UK, on September 13, 2025.
An additional round of cruisers also embarked in Istanbul, Turkey, on September 27, for a 17-night sailing to Southampton.
Luckily, the evacuated passenger would have been able to enjoy the majority of the scheduled port calls, which included top-tier destinations throughout Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Malta.
Adding to the good fortune, we can confirm that there was no impact to the remaining two ports on the itinerary for the remaining guests because of the medical evacuation.
This is lucky, as rescues can sometimes lead to delayed or cancelled port calls. Just last month, for example,Carnival Sunshine arrived late in Bermuda after an early morning rescue.
According to cruise tracking data, the 141,000-gross ton vessel was not delayed long by waiting for the helicopter and did not go off course in order to meet the first responders.
She also had a full sea day in between the rescue and her next port call to help make up any lost time.
The first of the final calls was to Cadiz, Spain, where Sky Princess arrived on time on October 10, 2025. The final stop will be in Lisbon, Portugal, on October 11.
The 2019-launched vessel will then spend two more days at sea before returning to Southampton on the morning of October 14.
Disembarkation for the current voyage, and embarkation for the following cruise – which is a 5-night sailing to Hamburg, Germany – will proceed as normal.
