Key Aspects:
- Norwegian Getaway‘s October 29, 2025 cruise now has two Bahamas ports cancelled and the ship will visit Cozumel instead.
- Berth availability is cited as the reason for the dramatic itinerary change, but no further details are provided.
- Cruise lines reserve the right to alter itineraries at any time, and port of call changes are not uncommon.
Any experienced cruise traveler knows that itinerary changes can and do happen. How disappointing is it, however, if two-thirds of your ports are cancelled and a replacement port is more than 600 miles in the wrong direction?
This is the situation for guests booked on the October 29, 2025 departure of Norwegian Getaway. The cruise line has informed them of a significant itinerary change, and now the Bahamas-themed sailing isn’t actually going to the Bahamas.
Norwegian Cruise Line reached out to notify guests of the change, explaining why the dramatic alteration was necessary and where the ship would be sailing instead.
“Every now and then, unexpected changes like port availability can shake up even the best-laid plans. While we work closely with port authorities to lock in every detail well in advance, circumstances may still shift, and sometimes we are informed that space is no longer available,” the email said.
“With that in mind, we want to let you know that due to updated port availability, our scheduled visit to Bimini and Nassau, Bahamas, has been canceled.”
Bimini and Nassau were two of the three ports scheduled for the 5-night itinerary, the ship’s first departure after moving to Miami following her season sailing from New York.
Now, the ship’s voyage will be as follows:
- Wednesday, October 29 – Depart Miami
- Thursday, October 30 – Day at Sea (formerly Nassau)
- Friday, October 31 – Cozumel, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (formerly Bimini)
- Saturday, November 1 – Day at Sea
- Sunday, November 2 – Great Stirrup Cay, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday, November 3 – Arrive in Miami
The ship’s times to depart and return to PortMiami are unchanged, as is the day at Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay.
Nevertheless, swapping Nassau and Bimini for a visit to Cozumel is quite the change for travelers, particularly if they were looking forward to experiencing different destinations in the Bahamas.
Personally, I do prefer Cozumel (I always enjoy restocking my vanilla supply!), but each port is distinctive and offers unique experiences for visitors.
Is This Bad Timing for an Itinerary Change?
Some travelers booked on the cruise are upset because this notification comes just over three months before the departure date. This means guests can no longer cancel or change their vacation plans without significant penalties.
According to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Cancellation Fee Schedule, if guests on this cruise were to cancel right away, they would face penalties of 25-50% of their cruise fare, depending on their stateroom selection.
In just a few days, those penalties will increase to 50-75%, which does not give guests much time to consider their options.
Of course, the cruise line does reserve the right to change itineraries for any reason. This is outlined in the Guest Ticket Contract, which all travelers agree to when they book a cruise.
The contract notes that Norwegian Cruise Line may “cancel any scheduled call at any port for any reason and at any time before, during or after sailing of the vessel.”
Ports are often changed due to poor weather or unexpected situations, such as pier damage that may remove needed berths from service.
Read Also: Norwegian Cruise Ships by Age – Newest to Oldest
For this specific sailing, the cruise line has not provided any information other than “updated port availability” as the reason for the change.
In Nassau on October 30, just three other ships are currently scheduled to visit: Liberty of the Seas, Carnival Elation, and Margaritaville Paradise. In Bimini the next day, Brilliant Lady is the only other ship confirmed for the port.
In contrast, in Cozumel on October 31, MSC Seashore, Carnival Liberty, and Regal Princess are already planned.
Regardless of the reason for the change and which other ships may be docked alongside Norwegian Getaway, hopefully everyone will enjoy their cruise vacation and everything the 145,655-gross ton ship has to offer.
