Norwegian Cruise Line Changes Itinerary, Cancels Port Two Days Before Departure
Key Aspects:
Norwegian Epic has cancelled a visit to St. Lucia on the ship’s March 8, 2026 departure.
Instead, the ship will extend its visit to Barbados the day before into an overnight call.
No other ports on the 7-night sailing from San Juan are impacted at this time.
Many cruise guests select their vacation very carefully in the hopes of visiting specific port destinations that might not be otherwise convenient for a getaway. Cruise lines can and do change itineraries, and ports may be cancelled.
For guests boarding Norwegian Epic on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, one specific port on the 7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary has now been cancelled. The ship will not be visiting Castries, St. Lucia, as planned.
Norwegian Cruise Line reached out to booked guests to alert them to the change and the substitution that has been arranged.
Norwegian Epic was to have been in St. Lucia from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, following port visits to Tortola, Antigua, and Barbados earlier in the sailing.
Instead, the 155,873-gross-ton ship will be overnighting in Bridgetown, Barbados. This offers guests the rare opportunity to enjoy the vibrant nightlife of the island nation.
Read Also: Barbados Cruise Port – Getting Around, What’s Nearby, and Guide
Norwegian Epic will arrive in Barbados at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and will remain docked until 1 p.m. on Thursday. Originally, the ship was visiting Barbados on Wednesday only, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
At this time, no other ports on the itinerary are impacted. After Barbados, Norwegian Epic will proceed to St. Maarten on Friday and St. Thomas on Saturday before returning to San Juan on Sunday, March 15.
Why Is the St. Lucia Visit Cancelled?
Norwegian Cruise Line noted port congestion as the reason for cancelling the visit to St. Lucia. On Thursday, when Norwegian Epic was to have visited, two other ships are also listed for the port: TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 2 and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Ascent.
Together, the three ships could have brought more than 10,000 guests to Castries in a single day. In comparison, the complete population of the capital of St. Lucia is just 20,000 people.
Such a tremendous influx of cruise visitors could overwhelm port facilities and mean that no one would have a very enjoyable visit. This would be particularly true when considering the availability of port tours, size of shopping centers, beach crowds, and more.
Because Norwegian Epic is the largest of the three originally planned vessels that day, with 4,100 guests, it makes the most sense for that ship to cancel its visit. This will ensure that guests on the other two ships have a more enjoyable experience.
Ultimately, the decision of which ship to cancel may not have been up to Norwegian Cruise Line, but could be determined by the port authorities. All parties involved do want guests to have an amazing time and be able to enjoy all the port has to offer.
Guests React to Last-Minute Itinerary Change
So, what do guests really think of cancelling St. Lucia and extending the time in Barbados to an overnight visit? Different guests familiar have shared their experiences on Facebook.
One person posted, “It’s a very small port and narrow channel into Castries. They also have an airport that cuts across the channel so Port Authority and Air Traffic Control have to work in tandem for all marine and air traffic. This probably makes things more challenging for cruise ships.“
Another said, “We’re on the ship now – in st Lucia! And while we had a decent tour today it has been my least favorite / dirtiest island. Loved all the others esp Barbados and wanted to do more things there.“
Naturally, some guests are disappointed at the change, especially losing the opportunity to visit the Pitons, a pair of volcanic spires that are roughly a 2-hour drive from Castries. The Pitons are a World Heritage site and popular hiking site, often included on scenic shore tours.
Nevertheless, there will be amazing things to do in Barbados, particularly with an extended overnight visit. Not only can guests enjoy shore tours as planned, but they could try more local food with dinner ashore or even schedule a second tour so they don’t miss any sights at this amazing destination.
Norwegian Cruise Line Changes Itinerary, Cancels Port Two Days Before Departure