Weather-Related Itinerary Changes: AIDAmar and Norwegian Aqua Forced to Alter Cruise Routes

Weather Forces Itinerary Changes for AIDAmar and Norwegian Aqua

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, two renowned cruise ships—AIDAmar from AIDA Cruises and the new Norwegian Aqua from Norwegian Cruise Line—were scheduled to dock in Lisbon. However, adverse weather conditions disrupted these plans: While AIDAmar skipped the port entirely, Norwegian Aqua faced significant delays before finally arriving. As a result, both ships were forced to adjust their planned itineraries.

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AIDAmar Diverts to Le Havre
On Thursday morning, AIDAmar decided against calling at Lisbon and instead set course for Le Havre, France. Originally, the ship was scheduled to arrive in Le Havre on Sunday morning, but due to the route change, it is now expected to reach the port by Saturday evening. Le Havre marks the final destination of a three-week cruise from Hamburg, exploring the Canary Islands and Western Europe. Passengers were informed of the changes by the captain on Thursday morning. Instead of the planned two sea days between Lanzarote and Le Havre, the ship will now spend three consecutive days at sea.

Adjusted Itinerary for AIDAmar
The original itinerary of AIDAmar included a stop in Lisbon after Lanzarote. However, due to the weather, the route was modified: The ship will now sail directly from Lanzarote to Le Havre, increasing the number of sea days.

Norwegian Aqua Faces Delays in Lisbon
Norwegian Aqua, a new vessel from Norwegian Cruise Line, also encountered challenges due to the weather. The ship was scheduled to dock in Lisbon to welcome business partners and media representatives for an inaugural voyage to Southampton. However, entering the Tagus River was significantly delayed, and the ship did not arrive in Lisbon until around 3:00 PM.

Originally, Norwegian Aqua was set to depart Lisbon for Rotterdam at 5:00 PM on Thursday. Instead, the ship remained in Lisbon overnight. Passengers received a cabin letter informing them that the planned stop in Rotterdam had been canceled. Norwegian Aqua will now stay in Lisbon until Saturday, March 22, and then sail directly to Southampton, where it is scheduled to arrive on March 25 as planned.

Adjusted Itinerary for Norwegian Aqua
The original itinerary of Norwegian Aqua included two sea days after Lisbon before heading to Rotterdam. Due to the weather and the delay in Lisbon, the route was revised: The ship will now remain in Lisbon longer and proceed directly to Southampton, bypassing Rotterdam entirely.

Conclusion
The weather conditions in March 2025 forced both AIDAmar and Norwegian Aqua to alter their planned routes. While AIDAmar skipped Lisbon and headed straight to Le Havre, Norwegian Aqua extended its stay in Lisbon and removed Rotterdam from its schedule. Both cruise lines promptly informed their passengers of the changes to ensure a smooth continuation of their journeys.