Tag Archives: adventure

MSC Cancels Repositioning Voyage to South Africa

Posted on by
Reply

MSC Cancels Repositioning Voyage to South Africa

MSC Cruises cancelled a repositioning voyage to South Africa that was scheduled to take place onboard the MSC Armonia in late 2026.

According to a statement sent to booked guests, the sailing cannot take place due to the geopolitical situation in the Red Sea region.

“Due to the persistent geopolitical situation in the Suez region and the impact this is having on maritime transport, it is now clear that we will not be able to guarantee safe transit through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea,” the company said.

The cruise onboard the MSC Armonia was scheduled to depart from Marghera, Italy, on November 1, 2026.

Sailing to Durban, the 26-night voyage was set to visit destinations in Croatia and Greece before transiting the Suez Canal.

The 2001-built vessel was then scheduled to sail to ports in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, such as Aqaba, Mahé, Diego Suarez and Port Louis.

“Your safety and well-being are our highest priority, and we want to offer you the certainty and peace of mind you need before leaving for your cruise,” MSC continued, noting that the decision to cancel the cruise was taken “after careful consideration.”

“We know that you have dedicated time to planning your cruise, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.”

The company said affected passengers will have three options, including canceling the booking with no penalty for a full refund.

Guests will also be able to transfer their reservations to any other MSC Grand Voyage of similar duration, the company said, adding that sailings with up to three additional nights are eligible.

In this case, MSC will guarantee the more favorable cruise fare between the original departure and the new one.

The company said passengers can also move their reservations to any other cruise currently scheduled without penalty.

The price of the newly selected cruise will be applied, and any payment already made for the previous cruise will be transferred to the new one, the company explained.

Debuting in the region, the MSC Armonia is scheduled to offer cruises in South Africa during the 2026-27 winter season.

Norwegian’s Pride of America Delays Return to Honolulu Due to Hurricane

Posted on by
Reply

Norwegian’s Pride of America Delays Return to Honolulu Due to Hurricane

The Pride of America had to delay its return to Honolulu due to Hurricane Lala, which impacted Hawaii over the weekend.

With the port closed due to adverse weather, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship was only able to dock one day later than planned on Sunday, August 16, 2026.

According to a text message sent to boarding guests, check-in at Honolulu Harbor was then open until 9:00 PM local time.

Initially set to depart from its homeport on August 15, 2026, the Pride of America was scheduled to offer a seven-night interisland cruise in Hawaii.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this weekend’s weather-related delays,” Norwegian stated.

“We are pleased to share that we have received the all-clear to begin embarkation and check-in,” the company continued.

“We are currently finalizing itinerary details and will communicate as soon as it becomes available,” Norwegian added.

The ship’s original itinerary included visits to Hilo and Kailua Kona, as well as overnight calls to Kahului and Nawiliwili.

In addition to the Pride of America, the Norwegian Spirit was also impacted by Hurricane Lala and had to delay a planned arrival to Honolulu.

Offering a series of cruises that connect the South Pacific and Hawaii to Alaska, the 1999-built vessel was scheduled to arrive at the port on August 16, 2026.

The adverse weather in the region forced Norwegian Cruise Line to move the planned call to August 17, 2026.

As a result, passengers who were set to board the ship’s upcoming cruise were asked to arrive at the Honolulu port one day later.

The Norwegian Spirit is scheduled to offer a 16-night cruise that will sail to destinations in Hawaii and Alaska before ending in Vancouver, Canada.

The itinerary originally included visits to Kailua Kona, Nawiliwili, Kahului, Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Sitka and Ketchikan.

Santorini Old Port Pathway Reopens

Posted on by
Reply

Santorini Old Port Pathway Reopens

The stepped pathway that links the old port of Santorini with the town of Fira reopened in early August, according to Atlantea.

Serving as one of the main access pointsto the Greek island for cruise passengers, the Karavolades Stairs had been unavailable since late July.

As reported by Cruise Industry News at the time, local authorities closed the 558-step staircase due to the collapse of a wall of a private building.

Atlantea said that the incident caused a small landslide, which effectively blocked the passage of pedestrians and donkeys.

Santorini’s old port is the traditional gateway for cruise passengers visiting the island, serving as a starting point for most tours.

As the largest and most developed settlement on the island, Fira is located approximately 250 meters above the port and can be accessed via the Karavolades Stairs or a cable car system.

With the closure of the pathway, Santorini authorities suspended regulations that limit the number of cruise passengers arriving via Athinios Port.

Located on a different part of the island, the pier offers better infrastructure and can also be accessed via cars and buses.

Cruise lines were temporarily authorized to disembark more passengers in Athinios, facilitating organized shore excursions to other parts of Santorini.

With Karavolades reopening, the limitations were reinstated, capping the daily number of guests arriving at the new port at 30 percent.

The regulation entered into effect earlier this year due to what the Municipal Port Fund of Fira called civil protection measures.

Introduced after a seismic crisis that affected the island in early 2025, the measure is said to be aimed at keeping roads clear for potential emergencies.

Santorini is one of the main destinations for cruise ships in Greece, welcoming vessels from a wide range of cruise lines.