Norwegian Aqua, the newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line, will arrive in the United States three days later than originally planned due to unfavorable weather conditions. To ensure the safety of guests and crew members, the ship’s disembarkation port has also been changed to avoid the severe weather along its original course.
Originally scheduled to arrive on April 4, 2025, in the United States following her transatlantic voyage, Norwegian Aqua will be delayed until April 7, 2025. Due to anticipated weather conditions, the ship will no longer conclude her journey in Boston, Massachusetts. Instead, Norwegian Aqua will now sail on an adjusted route, arriving in New York City.
In communication shared with guests onboard the transatlantic voyage, the cruise line stated, “While we always strive to maintain our original schedule, the safety of our guests and crew remains our top priority. Due to severe weather conditions, we will be altering our scheduled course, delaying our arrival to the U.S. As a result, Norwegian Aqua will now arrive in New York City on April 7, 2025, at 3:00 AM local time, instead of in Boston as originally planned.”
Read more: First photos: Inside Norwegian Aqua, the impressive new cruise ship from Norwegian
Explaining further, Norwegian Cruise Line states the forecast is showing “uncontrollable weather conditions expected along the route to Boston, which carry a high degree of uncertainty with no improvement expected, we must adjust our course to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for everyone on board.”
Originally, the transatlantic voyage was scheduled to have six days at sea while Norwegian Aqua crossed the Atlantic Ocean. After the ocean crossing, Norwegian Aqua was scheduled to arrive at 8:00AM in Boston, Massachusetts, for disembarkation. Now, the transatlantic voyage will have three additional sea days with a total of nine days crossing the Atlantic.
Because of the adverse weather, Norwegian Aqua will now be sailing on a more southerly route, which will ensure a safe crossing for the passengers and crew members.
Norwegian Cruise Line said, “While this adjustment will delay our arrival, it will also provide a smoother sailing experience and offer additional time to enjoy all that our brand-new ship has to offer. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this unavoidable change may cause and appreciate your understanding and flexibility.”
The inaugural debut of Norwegian’s newest ship, Norwegian Aqua, continues to be disrupted by adverse weather conditions. Just last week, Norwegian Aqua remained in Lisbon, Portugal, unexpectedly overnight due to strong storms hitting the region.
The impacted media sailing was initially scheduled to visit Rotterdam in the The Netherlands; however, the unfavorable conditions required the vessel to remain safely docked in Lisbon to avoid the storms. Instead, Norwegian Aqua sailed directly from Lisbon, Portugal, to Southampton, England, in preparation for her inaugural transatlantic voyage.
Luckily, guests will have plenty to do during their time aboard Norwegian Aqua
The brand-new Norwegian Aqua is considered the first ship in the cruise line’s Prima Plus Class, featuring never-before-seen amenities, expanded spaces, reimagined experiences, and new restaurants.
In the revised itinerary announcement, Norwegian stated, “Although we recognize that this change may not have been part of your original travel plans, we invite you to embrace the extraordinary amenities and unforgettable experiences that await you aboard Norwegian Aqua!”
“Relax and take in the stunning ocean views at Infinity Beach, savor an extraordinary culinary journey with world-class dining at a variety of specialty restaurants, and unwind in our stylish lounges and bars, where expertly crafted cocktails and vibrant atmospheres provide the perfect place to toast to MORE adventure at sea,” continued the letter.
The cruise line also encouraged guests to enjoy the ship’s new entertainment, which is “nothing short of spectacular with world-class performances, live music, and exhilarating shows.”
In addition, the Madara Spa will be open for guests to enjoy, including a state-of-the-art thermal suite with breathtaking ocean views. Those wanting some adventure can also try the Aqua Slidecoaster, which is the first-ever hybrid rollercoaster and waterslide at sea.
Finally, the cruise line encouraged guests on the impacted sailing to embrace the additional time at sea by taking in the sunrises, exploring the ship, and unwinding. “Although our course has changed, rest assured that our dedication to delivering an exceptional experience remains the same," said the cruise line.
Impacted guests will be compensated for disrupted travel plans
Due to the significant change in her transatlantic itinerary, Norwegian has provided guests with further details about travel arrangements upon arrival in the United States. Guests on Norwegian Aqua will have open phone lines onboard and internet access available to make necessary travel arrangements.
For those who booked airfare directly through Norwegian Cruise Line, flights have been automatically rescheduled to depart from New York on April 7, 2025. Confirmation and adjusted flight schedules will be sent as soon as the new tickets have been issued and transfers to the airport will be adjusted by the cruise line.
Those with independently booked flights are encouraged to contact their airline provider and reschedule flights to depart on April 7, 2025. Norwegian Cruise Line states that flights should not depart earlier than 4.5 hours after the immigration check, which will begin at 7:00AM after the ship arrives in New York.
If guests are charged cancellation or change fees that are not covered by travel insurance, Norwegian will reimburse up to $300 per person with sufficient documentation. Additionally, guests on the impacted voyage have the option to cancel their cruise entirely if they are unable to sail on the new itinerary.
In an urgent message to passengers, Norwegian said, “This is extremely unfortunate, but our guests’ safety is our top priority. Given this unexpected circumstance, we will be giving you the option to cancel your voyage for a full refund to the original form of payment. Please contact us if you prefer to cancel your voyage and sail with us at another time.”
Following her transatlantic crossing, Norwegian Aqua will begin sailing 7-night, round-trip Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, Florida.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
