Key Aspects:
- Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Joy, and Queen Elizabeth were all delayed several hours into PortMiami on Tuesday due to rough weather.
- The subsequent embarkation plans for all three vessels were delayed accordingly and guests were notified of the changes.
- A fourth ship, Mein Schiff 1, skipped a port visit to Miami altogether and instead spent the day at sea en route to her next destination, San Juan.
Rough weather impacted PortMiami late Monday, October 26, 2026, and kept three cruise ships from returning to the Florida homeport as planned on Tuesday, October 27.
Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Joy, and Queen Elizabeth spent Tuesday morning circling offshore waiting for conditions to improve until they could safely dock.
Both Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Joy were concluding 4-night Bahamas sailings, while Queen Elizabeth was finishing a 12-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary.
Guests onboard the ships were notified as soon as the delay was confirmed and tentative docking plans were available.
The dock schedule for PortMiami confirmed that all three vessels were arriving late. Norwegian Joy arrived at 12:50 p.m., followed by Queen Elizabeth at 1:15 p.m. and Norwegian Getaway at 1:35 p.m.
These arrival times are roughly 6-7 hours later than the original schedules, which meant not only were plans delayed for guests debarking the three ships, but also incoming guests for Queen Elizabeth and Norwegian Joy had their Tuesday embarkations pushed back.
Guests planning to embark Queen Elizabeth, for example, were notified of the delay and how to adjust their arrival to PortMiami.
“Please arrive at the cruise terminal seven hours later than the arrival or check-in time shown on your boarding pass,” the notification requested. “Please do not arrive before your revised arrival time, as check-in will not be available.”
Onboard Queen Elizabeth, guests were likewise advised of the delayed debarkation and revised times for departing the ship, which began at 3 p.m. The final debarkation group began to leave the ship at roughly 5:30 p.m.
Guests onboard Norwegian Getaway were also advised of the late arrival and urged to contact their airline to make any necessary changes to post-cruise flights, if applicable. If guests had made those arrangements through Norwegian Cruise Line, adjustments were made for them to coordinate with the revised arrival time.
Norwegian Getaway actually had no embarkation guests, as the ship’s return to Miami was the final sailing from that homeport, and the vessel is next moving to Port Canaveral for sailings through early April 2027.
Norwegian Cruise Line is also offering up to $300 (USD) per person to reimburse changes or cancellation fees that are not covered by travel insurance or the airline. Guests must submit receipts for reimbursement consideration.
Another Ship Skips Miami Altogether
A fourth vessel, TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 1, skipped a stop in PortMiami altogether due to the weather-related delay. The ship was due to visit Miami from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. as a port call on her current sailing, a 14-night one-way voyage between New York and La Romana.
Miami was to have been the ship’s second port visit after departing New York on Friday, October 23. Mein Schiff 1 spent Monday in Port Canaveral.
Instead of visiting Miami, the ship spent the day at sea and the itinerary has been adjusted for an early arrival to San Juan, Puerto Rico. AIS tracking now shows that Mein Schiff 1 is due in San Juan on Thursday, October 29 instead of Friday, October 30 as originally planned.
Miami Weather Update
According to the National Weather Service, Miami remains under a gale warning at sea until 8 a.m. Wednesday, October 28, with wind gusts as high as 35 knots and peak seas of 9-14 feet. Coastal flood warnings are also in effect along the eastern Florida coast.
No cruise ships are scheduled for PortMiami on Wednesday, but several vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and Holland America Line are scheduled over the next few days.
