Itinerary Changes Due to Propulsion Issues: Norwegian Sun Slowed Down in Baltic Sea

The reduced cruising speed makes adhering to the original, tightly timed itinerary mathematically impossible. Consequently, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) had to implement major route adjustments: scheduled port calls to Nynäshamn (Sweden) and Klaipėda (Lithuania) have been canceled and replaced with sea days. Gdynia (Poland) has also been dropped from the schedule, with Rønne on the island of Bornholm serving as an alternative call. In the remaining ports, including Riga and Warnemünde, docking times were adjusted to compensate for the slower transit. A shipyard inspection is scheduled upon arrival in Copenhagen.

These malfunctions follow a history of mechanical and electrical issues for the vessel, which was built in 2001. The incident has caused significant frustration among the approximately 1,900 passengers, particularly as the propulsion issues had already occurred on previous sailings, yet guests were not informed prior to boarding. To compensate, the cruise line is offering $100 onboard credit per stateroom and a 25% Future Cruise Credit (FCC). Passengers booked on the subsequent cruise are also increasingly concerned, as that port-intensive itinerary appears physically impossible to maintain under current speed restrictions.

From a legal perspective, the cancellation of multiple ports constitutes a significant breach of contract, which falls under the operator's operational risk and cannot be classified as force majeure. Under European travel law, affected passengers are entitled to a retroactive cash refund of the cruise fare, an entitlement that is not automatically waived by accepting future cruise vouchers. For the cruise line, continuing the voyage at a reduced speed represents a calculated economic decision, as compensation costs and potential legal claims remain less financially damaging than a total cancellation of the sailing.