Norwegian cancels at least 14 cruises in 2025 to the Middle East
Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled at least 14 cruises on seven ships in 2025 as a booming industry confronts global conflict and other issues.
The cancellations include trips in
May and September on Norwegian
Viva, the company’s newest ship, and ones in April through June on Norwegian Sky, which frequently sails from PortMiami.
Norwegian said customers who are affected will get a full refund and a 10% discount on future sailings through Dec. 31, 2025.
In a statement, the company said that the cancellations “are a result of varied events, including the ongoing situation in the Red Sea and Israel, modified dry dock schedules for ship enhancements, a full ship charter, and lastly, to accommodate the demand for shorter closeto-home voyages to the Bahamas.”
Suspended trips include the Norwegian Jade from Feb. 20 through March 24, 2025. That ship often departs from Port Canaveral.
Norwegian remains optimistic about cruising. This week, the company ordered eight new ships, its largest ever single purchase, a milestone celebrated at Seatrade Cruise Global, a four-day
annual industry conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center. They will be delivered between 2026 and 2036.
Since the terror group Hamas attacked Israel and the Gaza war started in October, cruise companies have been canceling trips to the Middle East.
Next year’s cruise cancellations affect passengers of the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Viva.
A March 28 letter to passengers said: “We have been monitoring the situation in Israel, and despite our best hopes that it would de-escalate, we have made the decision to alter published itineraries that transit through and around the region.”
For Epic, the decision was made “in order to reroute her and accommodate the early start to her Caribbean cruise season.”
The Sky will be rerouted around Africa and deployed to Eastern, Western, and Southern Africa, a letter to those passengers said.
Viva is being sent to the Mediterranean, passengers were told in a letter.
Despite any security risks, major airlines including United and Delta have said they will resume flights to Israel. Next week, El Al resumes non-stop service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Tel Aviv twice a week. The Israeli airline continues to offer five flights a week from Miami International Airport.
Norwegian in its statement said the cruise company remains committed to taking its guests to “some of the most sought-out destinations around the