Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels 35 Cruises Across Four Ships
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced the cancellation of 35 sailings scheduled for 2025 and 2026, impacting four of its popular ships: Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore, and Norwegian Joy. This sudden decision has left many travelers, who may have booked their trips well in advance, disappointed and scrambling for alternative plans.
Which Cruises Are Affected?
The cancellations span from late November 2025 through mid-April 2026 and include a variety of itineraries. NCL cited “fleet redeployments” as the reason, though details about the redeployments remain unspecified.
Norwegian Bliss
- Cancelled Sailings: Nine cruises, including departures on November 30, December 5, December 20, and December 27, 2025, as well as multiple dates in January, February, and March 2026.
- Impacted Itineraries: These include the ship’s last Los Angeles roundtrip, its repositioning cruise to Miami, and its planned Miami sailings.
- Expected Deployment: The ship will likely remain in Los Angeles before heading to Seattle for the Alaska season starting April 2026.
Norwegian Breakaway
- Cancelled Sailings: Ten cruises from January 6 to February 6, 2026.
- Impacted Itineraries: These include 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises originally scheduled from Port Canaveral.
- Expected Deployment: The ship will likely continue operating Caribbean and Bahamas cruises from New York during this period instead of moving to Florida.
Norwegian Encore
- Cancelled Sailings: Seven cruises between November 29, 2025, and January 16, 2026.
- Impacted Itineraries: Planned repositioning voyages between Miami and Los Angeles, along with Mexican Riviera sailings from California, are canceled.
- Expected Deployment: The ship will remain in Miami.
Norwegian Joy
- Cancelled Sailings: Nine cruises, including various 7-night Caribbean itineraries, 5-night Bahamas cruises, a unique 4-night itinerary, and a 23-night repositioning voyage from Port Canaveral to Seattle.
- Expected Deployment: A new repositioning cruise may be announced soon as the ship is still set to begin its Alaska season in May 2026.
Compensation for Affected Guests
Passengers booked on the canceled sailings will receive the following:
- Full Refund: Refunds of cruise fares, taxes, fees, and pre-paid expenses will be automatically processed.
- Future Cruise Credit (FCC): Guests will receive a 10% discount as FCC, with details to be sent by December 9, 2024.
- Rebooking Options: Travelers are encouraged to explore alternative NCL sailings with their FCC.
Refund processing times may vary depending on the payment method, and the terms of the FCC will depend on the original booking details.
A Growing Trend of Cruise Cancellations
This is not the first time NCL has canceled multiple sailings. Just last month, the cruise line canceled 38 voyages on three other ships—Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Star, and Norwegian Dawn—offering similar compensation packages.
What’s Next for Norwegian Cruise Line?
While these cancellations are frustrating for affected travelers, they signal potential strategic adjustments for NCL. The redeployments could focus on high-demand destinations or new itineraries. As always, travelers are advised to stay informed about updates and consider booking flexible travel options.
For those impacted, the future cruise credit offers a chance to explore other exciting Norwegian Cruise Line destinations, ensuring their next vacation will still be memorable.
