Tag Archives: Bermuda

Saint John Welcomes Unscheduled Visit from Norwegian Aqua

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Saint John Welcomes Unscheduled Visit from Norwegian Aqua

Saint John in Canada welcomed the new Norwegian Aqua for an unscheduled visit earlier this week.

Initially set to visit Bermuda, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship was diverted to the port due to the impact of Hurricane Erin.

“It was a beautiful sunny day, and guests were in good spirits despite not being at the port they signed up for,” Natalie Allaby, Port Saint John’s director of cruise, marketing and engagement, told Cruise Industry News.

“Days like yesterday remind us of how our cruise sector was born back in September of 1989: a hurricane diversion from an NYC cruise destined for Bermuda that came our way instead,” she continued.

The first cruise ship to visit Saint John was the Cunard Princess, which arrived at the port in Canada’s Bay of Fundy due to a diversion caused by Hurricane Gabrielle.

“We hope we can be of assistance should any additional diversions need to occur during the 2025 hurricane season,” Allaby added.

The call also marked the first visit of a Prima-class ship to Saint John, she added, noting that the port is happy to accommodate unscheduled calls.

After departing from New York City, the Norwegian Aqua made its inaugural visit to Saint John on Aug. 20, 2025.

The visit was part of a four-night cruise that also marked the ship’s debut in NYC and the Canada and New England region.

Initially set to include an overnight call at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda, the itinerary was adjusted due to Hurricane Erin.

In a statement sent to guests onboard, Norwegian said that the change was necessary to allow the ship to “steer clear” of the storm and forecasted rough weather.

While the Norwegian Aqua is not scheduled to make additional visits to Saint John, the port is set to welcome other vessels from the company, including the Norwegian Getaway and the Norwegian Gem.

Norwegian Escape to Extend Call in NYC to Avoid Hurricane Erin

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Norwegian Escape to Extend Call in NYC to Avoid Hurricane Erin

The Norwegian Escape is extending its visit to New York City due to the impact of Hurricane Erin on the East Coast.

After repositioning from Miami, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship was scheduled to sail from its new homeport on Wednesday.

Initially set to offer a ten-night cruise to the Caribbean and Bermuda, the Escape is now set to remain in New York City for three days before operating a revised itinerary to the Bahamas and Bermuda.

“Due to the impact of Hurricane Erin and the severe weather it’s bringing to the East Coast, we’ve made the difficult decision to change the itinerary for Norwegian Escape’s August 20, 2025, sailing,” the company said in a statement sent to guests.

According to Norwegian Cruise Line, the change prioritises the safety and comfort of everyone onboard the ship.

“As a result, the Norwegian Escape will remain docked in New York until 5:00 PM on August 21, then anchor in the port before officially sailing at 11:59 PM on August 22, 2025,” the company added.

While the cruise’s original itinerary included visits to Puerto Plata, San Juan, St. Maarten, Tortola and King’s Wharf, the Norwegian Escape is now set to head to Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay and King’s Wharf after departing from New York City.

“We understand how disappointing it can be when a long-anticipated vacation is disrupted,” Norwegian added.

“We thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we navigate this situation with your safety and experience in mind.”

According to the statement, shore excursions booked through Norwegian will be automatically cancelled, with full refunds credited to onboard accounts.

Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line also changed the itineraries of the Norwegian Jewel and the Norwegian Aqua due to the impacts of Hurricane Erin.

Norwegian Set to Boost Caribbean Cruise Capacity

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“We pair our ships with destinations, sending some of our smaller ships to exotic destinations and some of our larger amenity-filled ships to our fun and sun destinations,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, speaking on Monday at an investor event held in New York.

As a result, “Fun and Sun” (Caribbean, Bermuda and Hawaii) capacity will make up 54 per cent of the deployment for the Norwegian Cruise Line brand in 2026, up from 42 per cent this year.

“It gives our guests the opportunity, on the NCL brand, to return over and over and over again, maximizing their lifetime value and driving high fields.”

Sommer said he believed Norwegian’s ships with increased amenities were perfectly suited for millennial and Generation Z guests.

The company will send its biggest ships to its core destinations in the “Fun and Sun” regions.

As a result, by 2026, the company’s average cruise length will be down to eight days from nine in 2023 with more short and week-long Caribbean sailings as a growing part of the deployment mix.

Capacity days are expected to be in the 12 million range in these “Fun and Sun” destinations by 2026, up from 8 million in 2023, according to a company presentation.

In addition, the mix of the company’s top 10 embarkation points (homeports) will be greater, representing 80 per cent of 2026 capacity, compared to 65 per cent in 2023.

“Our increased Caribbean deployment has given us the ability to invest in our private island in Great Stirrup Cay,” Sommer said, noting the coming two-ship pier for the island set to open in 2025.

Other investments will follow in Great Stirrup Cay, including a VIP area, and the company expects to host approximately 700,000 guests on the island by 2026, up from 400,000 in 2023.