Two major cruise operators saw their stocks hit 52-week lows on Thursday, as Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings dipped as low as $14.48 and Carnival Corporation sank to $22.28.
Other cruise stocks were also down on Thursday, including Royal Caribbean, Lindblad and Viking, although those three were off their year-long lows.
Driving the dips were said to be concerns over fuel prices due to the ongoing Middle East situation, and a potential capacity and pricing situation in the Caribbean in the first quarter.
U.S. crude oil had topped $100 a barrel on Wednesday as strikes continue in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, multiple Wall Street analysts have pointed to the cruise industry’s 2027 first quarter Caribbean capacity and ticket pricing as a potential concern.
One note sent to investors this week had called out Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings specifically as a contributor to pricing pressure.
Norwegian Cruise Line cancelled the farewell cruise of the Norwegian Sky, which was scheduled to depart from Greece on September 9, 2026.
According to a statement sent to booked guests, the decision is related to security concerns in the Middle East region.
The 19-night voyage was scheduled to transit the Suez Canal and the Red Sea before arriving in Muscat, Oman.
“After careful review, and with the safety and security of our guests and crew as our guiding priority, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this sailing,” the company added.
“Given the ongoing uncertainty in the region, we no longer have the level of confidence needed to deliver the experience you expect and deserve.”
Norwegian stated that the decision to cancel the cruise, though difficult, was guided by the safety and well-being of its guests and crew.
After departing from the port of Piraeus in Athens, the Norwegian Sky was scheduled to sail to Greece, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia before arriving in Oman.
The itinerary included visits to Rhodes, Alexandria, Port Sokhna, Safaga, Sharm El Sheikh, Jeddah and Aqaba, as well as transits of the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
“We know this is not the news anyone was hoping to receive. Throughout this process, many of you have shown remarkable patience, flexibility, and understanding, and we are truly sorry that this voyage can no longer move forward as planned,” Norwegian added.
The company said that guests will receive a full monetary refund of the cruise fare paid to the original form of payment used at the time of booking.
Norwegian will also offer passengers a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) valued at 50 percent of the current voyage fare, which will be added to a 15 percent FCC issued earlier due to itinerary changes.
The company said that the new credit may be used toward any published Norwegian Cruise Line sailing through December 31, 2027.
Guests who purchased airfare through the company will have flights automatically cancelled and refunded.
For passengers with independent travel arrangements, Norwegian is offering up to $300 per person to cover airline change or cancellation fees that are not reimbursed by either the airlines or travel insurance providers.
Carnival Cancels Splendor Cruise Scheduled for 2027
Carnival Cruise Line cancelled a cruise scheduled to take place onboard the Carnival Splendor in 2027 due to a change in the ship’s drydock schedule.
According to a statement sent to affected passengers, the September 1, 2027, itinerary will no longer go ahead.
Sailing from Singapore to Sydney, the repositioning voyage included visits to destinations in Indonesia and Australia, such as Lombok and Darwin.
In addition to crossing the Equator, the Carnival Splendor was also scheduled to sail to Benoa, Cairns, Airlie Beach and Moreton Island before returning to its Australian homeport.
Carnival said the cancellation was necessary due to a change in the ship’s drydock, which is scheduled for August 2027.
“We apologize for this disappointing news, but we have a variety of alternatives and are confident you will find another Carnival cruise that is filled with an equal amount of fun,” the company said.
According to the statement, passengers’ cruise rates will be protected on a comparable sailing, in similar accommodations.
For those rescheduling their sailings, the company will also offer a $50 per person onboard credit to a maximum of $100 per stateroom.
The company said the amount will be posted to passengers’ onboard accounts during their new cruise.
Guests are requested to contact the company by July 3, 2026, to discuss alternative departures, Carnival added in its statement.
Those who do not wish to reschedule their cruise will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items.
The amounts will be returned to guests’ original forms of payment after July 3, 2026, the company explained.
Sailing from Sydney on a year-round basis, the Carnival Splendor offers a series of two- to 12-night cruises to destinations in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
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