Superstorm Sandy has been playing havoc with cruise ship schedules along the east coast of the US, forcing some sailings to be cancelled.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Gem was on a nine-day Caribbean cruise round-trip from New York, and was due to return yesterday (Monday October 29), but was forced to postpone because all the area’s ports are closed.
The cruise line said Norwegian Gem will make its way to the pier as soon as the coastguard re-opens the Port of New York, which the company said may be on Tuesday October 30 in the afternoon, before setting off on its next cruise on October 31.
Norwegian Jewel was set to arrive as scheduled in Port Canaveral in Florida today (October 30), according to the cruise line, while Norwegian Dawn overnighted in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is due to call at Boston on Wednesday (October 31).
Meanwhile, Princess Cruises changed the schedules for several of their ships. Caribbean Princess was due to sail to New York today, but the cruise line said the ship must travel at “significantly reduced speeds”, so the ship will arrive at least one day late into New York, and no earlier than November 1.
The line is rebooking air travel for those passengers who bought flights through Princess, and has also offered complimentary phone and internet services for passengers who need to make changes to their independent travel plans.
Princess said it is also offering compensation to all passengers onboard in the form of a future cruise credit, as a gesture of goodwill.
Princess advised passengers on Caribbean Princess’ 10-night voyage from New York, due to depart October 31, that the ship will welcome passengers onboard later than originally planned, with November 1 set down as a possible date.
The cruise line has cancelled three port calls on the Emerald Princess’ 12-night sailing from Quebec to Port Everglades, Florida. The port calls at Bar Harbor in Maine, Boston in Massachusetts , and Newport in Rhodes Island, have been scrapped, while port calls to Port Saguenay, Quebec, and Corner Brook have been added.
The cruise line has cancelled Ruby Princess’ call to Princess Cays, because “the predicted strong winds and high seas will make it impossible to carry out a safe tender operation”.
Royal Caribbean International’s Monarch of the Seas will call at CocoCay, Bahamas, on November 1, instead of October 30, as originally scheduled.
Brilliance of the Seas cancelled its call to Bar Harbor, Maine, on October 30, instead calling at St John, New Brunswick, yesterday (October 29), as scheduled, and will remain in port until today (Tuesday October 30).
Cunard Line issued a statement on its Facebook page on Monday afternoon, where the cruise line said it wanted to reassure everyone that “all is well with passengers and crew currently sailing onboard Queen Mary 2”.
“She has made good progress since leaving NYC yesterday afternoon [Sunday October 28] and is now away from Hurricane Sandy, with the weather and sea conditions well within the capabilities of the ship.
“Our captain is constantly updating passengers and there is no reason for friends or relatives of our passengers and crew to be concerned. We expect the ship to arrive in Southampton next Sunday as scheduled.”
Carnival Cruise Lines cancelled two ships, Carnival Pride from Baltimore and Carnival Glory from Norfolk, which were both set to depart on Sunday October 28.
“Guests will be provided with a full refund (within two weeks to the form of payment),” said Carnival, adding that it would pay $30 towards dinner per person for those due to sail on the Carnival Pride October 28 departure, as well as a 25% future cruise discount.