Norwegian says “there are still port limitations”, forcing changes in disembarkation

The effects of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton are still being felt, weeks after the storms hit Florida on September 26 and October 9, 2024, respectively.

After extensive damage to the Tampa Bay area, Port Tampa Bay, which was forced to close during the two stormsit is fully operational, but still feels the consequences. This forced Norwegian Cruise Line to adjust Norwegian jewelry arrival at its new home port on November 24, 2024.

Guests traveling on the 2,376-passenger ship’s 17-night repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal from Los Angeles to Tampa, scheduled to depart Nov. 7, 2024, have been notified of a disembarkation delay.

“While the Port of Tampa, Florida had exceptional post-storm coordination to return to normal operations, port limitations still exist due to recent hurricane damage,” Norwegian Cruise Line sent a letter to passengers.

“As a result, the arrival time for your next vacation has been changed from 7:00 am to 8:30 am local time,” continued. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Also Read: Tampa Cruise Port – Terminals, Transportation, What’s Nearby

The cruise line went on to say that “remains committed to the well-being of communities recently affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton and supporting their recovery.”

Despite the delay in Tampa, the remainder of the cruise schedule remains unchanged. Port visits or departure times on the trip that includes stops in San Diego, California; Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and numerous Central American ports, including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia, have not changed.

The hour and a half delay in arrival could affect passengers’ flight plans home from Tampa.

Flight changes and refund offered

Cruise passengers on any ship, even those scheduled to disembark at 6am, are typically advised not to book flights home before 12pm or 1pm on arrival days to allow for potential disembarkation delays.

This change is an excellent example of why trips home should be planned for the afternoon, as well as why purchasing travel insurance is encouraged.

Norwegian Jewelry Guests who purchased flights for November 24, 2024 directly through Norwegian Cruise Line will receive automatic ticket reissues, with updated flight information sent by the cruise line by October 31, 2024.

In the meantime, travelers who have booked flights independently are encouraged to reschedule and ensure their new departure times are no earlier than 12:30 p.m. local time.

To offset any change or cancellation fees incurred, Norwegian offers passengers refunds of up to $300 per person for costs not covered by travel insurance or airlines. However, documentation must be submitted to the cruise company via their website to receive this refund.

Norwegian jewelry The first winter cruise of its Tampa season, scheduled to depart at 4pm on November 24, 2024, may also be slightly delayed, although no announcement has been made at this time.

That initial 7-night trip to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Honduras; and Norwegian Cruise Line’s private destination, Harvest Caye in Belize, remains unchanged.

The 93,502 gross tons Norwegian Jewelry will remain in Tampa until March 30, 2025, offering a variety of cruises to destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.