Cruise ship at the scenic Port of New Orleans, ready for new itineraries.
Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled all sailings of the Norwegian Prima from New Orleans from November 2026 to March 2027, affecting all bookings. Instead, the Norwegian Breakaway will now operate from New Orleans, while Norwegian Prima will be homeported in San Juan. Guests will have options to rebook or receive refunds, along with a 10% future booking discount. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line has announced itinerary changes for several ships, including adjusting departure times due to scheduling needs and ongoing weather concerns.
New Orleans – Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has made significant changes to its upcoming winter schedule by cancelling all sailings aboard the Norwegian Prima from New Orleans from November 2026 to March 2027. This cancellation affects all bookings that were set to embark from this port, as the Norwegian Prima was expected to be homeported in New Orleans during this period. Furthermore, sailings scheduled for the Norwegian Breakaway out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, from November 8, 2026, to March 28, 2027, have also been cancelled.
In a restructuring move, NCL has decided to switch the homeports of the Norwegian Prima and the Norwegian Breakaway. This means that the Norwegian Breakaway will now operate out of New Orleans, while the Norwegian Prima will be homeported in San Juan during the same timeline. Affected guests will have the opportunity to rebook their cruises for the same dates on the newly designated ships, as well as receive full monetary refunds for their original bookings.
In addition to the rebooking option, passengers who choose to rebook will be given a 10% discount on any future bookings as compensation for the inconvenience they have experienced due to the cancellations. Those impacted by this alteration are encouraged to reach out to their travel agents or the NCL representatives for assistance with the rebooking process.
Given the changes, guests facing cancellations may also consider negotiating additional perks, which could include upgrades or complimentary drink packages, to enhance their cruising experience. This approach is suggested to help mitigate the impact of their disrupted plans.
In related news, Carnival Cruise Line has announced several itinerary changes affecting eight of its ships, particularly due to adjustments necessitated by port scheduling needs. Notably, the Carnival Liberty will alter its sailings from New Orleans on November 30, 2025, and November 29, 2026, with new departure times set at 4:30 p.m. instead of the previously scheduled 5 p.m..
In addition, sailings on other vessels including the Carnival Venezia and Carnival Miracle are also experiencing adjusted departure times. Meanwhile, Carnival Valor, which operates out of New Orleans, is currently monitoring Hurricane Francine, which may delay its return to port for safety reasons.
The Port of New Orleans was temporarily closed for damage assessment due to Hurricane Francine but is expected to reopen soon. Passengers planning to cruise during this time are advised to remain flexible and stay alert for any updates from Carnival regarding changes to their itineraries stemming from the storm.
Itineraries can be altered for various reasons including unforeseen weather conditions, which may lead to possible reroutes or cancellations. Although cruise lines often provide shipboard credits or the ability to rebook for slight itinerary changes, they are not legally obligated to provide compensation under standard passenger contracts. Travelers affected by these changes are urged to consider comprehensive travel insurance to safeguard against any unexpected alterations to their arrangements.
As the winter season approaches, passengers should closely monitor communications from their cruise lines to stay informed about any additional developments and to take necessary action regarding their travel plans.
New Orleans Breaks Cruise Passenger Record in March
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