Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels 41 Cruises Across Two Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line has quietly cancelled more than 40 scheduled voyages, leaving many cruisers scrambling to rework their holiday travel plans for late 2026 and early 2027.

The cancellations affect two of the line’s most popular ships, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Prima, and span a five-month period from November 2026 through March 2027.

This image showcases the Norwegian Prima cruise ship cutting through the deep blue ocean under a pristine, clear sky. The ship’s hull features sleek, wave-inspired designs in shades of blue and white, emphasizing its modern and elegant aesthetic. Its expansive decks and luxurious build highlight the grandeur and innovation of this state-of-the-art vessel.

Entire Winter Seasons Wiped From the Schedule

For the Norwegian Breakaway, this means the complete removal of its winter Caribbean season from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the ship was due to operate round-trip sailings to Southern Caribbean favourites like Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, and St. Lucia.

Norwegian Prima will also no longer be sailing from New Orleans, where it had been set to begin Western Caribbean itineraries from 15th November 2026, visiting ports such as Cozumel, Roatán, and NCL’s private island Harvest Caye.

In total, 41 cruises have been cancelled, a blow for guests who booked early for peak season departures over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.

What Passengers Can Expect Now

NCL has started notifying travel agents and affected passengers, confirming that:

Full refunds will be issued automatically to the original form of payment.
Guests will also receive a 10% Future Cruise Credit (FCC) as a goodwill gesture.

The line hasn’t provided a reason for the sweeping changes, nor has it revealed where the ships will be redeployed. No updates have been given on replacement itineraries either.

This image captures the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship docked near the vibrant skyline of a city, with colorful, cloud-filled skies during sunset or sunrise. The ship's hull is adorned with lively, artistic designs, reflecting a fun and energetic vibe. The backdrop of tall buildings and a riverboat complements the modern ship, creating a striking blend of urban and maritime elements. — Norwegian Breakaway

NCL’s Growing Reputation for Sudden Cancellations

While cruise lines occasionally make schedule changes, Norwegian Cruise Line has earned a reputation for mass cancellations.

In late 2024, the cruise line cancelled nearly 40 sailings across several ships for 2025–2026. Just days later, it followed up with more cancellations. Earlier that same year, it axed voyages across seven different ships.

These frequent large-scale changes are frustrating for loyal cruisers, especially when they affect holiday sailings and long-anticipated plans.

Timing Raises Eyebrows

The timing of these latest cancellations is also raising questions. San Juan recently expanded its cruise pier to welcome larger ships, and New Orleans recorded its busiest year ever in early 2025.

So why pull two major ships from these booming homeports during the busiest season?

What Now for Guests?

Travellers with affected bookings can use their FCC towards another NCL cruise, and there may still be similar itineraries available elsewhere in the fleet, though popular dates are likely to fill fast.

Until Norwegian Cruise Line provides more clarity on its fleet redeployment, many guests are left wondering what’s next and hoping the cancellations won’t become a recurring trend.