norway restrictions on cruise ships

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Norway to ban high-pollution cruise ships by 2026 in a move to cut emissions

Norway, renowned for its stunning fjords, is gearing up to implement a bold move by banning certain types of cruise ships from its waters by 2026.

The government's initiative aims to address the pollution stemming from marine diesel fuel used by cruise ships, leading to restrictions on their access to Norwegian harbors.

Espen Barth Eide, Norway's foreign minister, highlights the industry's substantial environmental impact, citing the world's highest emissions per passenger and travel kilometer, particularly in the picturesque fjords.

The forthcoming zero-emission policy poses significant challenges for the cruise sector, prompting companies to explore alternatives such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) . MSC 's cruise ship, Euribia , already operates on LNG, and Royal Caribbean 's upcoming Icon of the Seas is set to follow suit upon her January launch.

While the cruise industry remains popular, it faces increasing scrutiny globally, with notable destinations like Amsterdam and Barcelona taking measures to restrict or relocate cruise activities. The move by Norway, expected to be enacted in 2026, raises concerns about the potential impact on tourism in fjord communities.

There Could Be A Stop To Popular Fjord Cruises in 2026

The Norwegian government made a decision to put a ban on any cruise ship that would pollute the fjord waters in all the fjords on the UNESCO World Heritage Site called The West Norwegian Fjords last year.

This decision was made in an attempt to keep the fjords pristine and reduce the natural destruction from these huge cruise ships that polluted the fjords. The huge cruise ships not only pollute the air from their emission, but there’s also a certain pollution to the fjord water .

As you can imagine, this isn’t really something that goes hand in hand with an UNESCO World Heritage Site, so the government took action by implementing a new bill.

So from 2026 and onwards, only zero emission cruise ships can enter the famous fjords like Gairanger fjord or the Flåm fjord!

Both the Flåm fjord and the Geiranger fjord has already opened applications for cruise ships to dock at the harbor in 2026 to 200, but not a single cruse ship has applied .

The reason is actually pretty simple: there are no zero emission cruise ship in this part of the world just yet . The technology to make these things a reality is there, but the cost of building a big, zero emission cruise ship is extremely high!

Table of Contents

How this will affect tourists who want to experience the fjords on the UNESCO World Heritage Site

If you dream of going on a cruise ship directly on the most famous Norwegian fjords, then you will probably want to do this before this new law comes into effect in 2026.

While it will still be open for zero emission cruise ships to operate in the fjords, it seems unlikely that many of these will be ready for 2026, and I’m going to guess that if any cruise ships do make this, they will charge a huge premium on it.

That said, there are still many different Norwegian fjords that are not on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. You can still go on a fjord cruise to other fjords in Norway, and all the major cruise lines will simply change their itineraries to stay away from the fjords where they cannot go.

So cruising in the Norwegian fjords will still be an option, but regular cruise ships will not be able to enter the most popular and amazing fjords.

How this will affect towns like Flåm

The harbor master at Flåm harbor tells NRK that cruise tourists spend around 200 – 250 million Norwegian kroner ($20 – $25 million USD) every single year in Flåm alone, and it’s impossible for local businesses to find a solution to get in this money from other sources.

Many people fear that this could devastate the local economy and bankrupt many of the local businesses that have tourists as a main source of income.

Flåm is still popular for tourists who arrive by the famous Flåmsbanen, but these only account for a small chunk of the total tourism in the town.

Nicklas is the owner and editor of The Norway Guide, and is responsible for most of the content on the website.

He lives in Skien, Norway with his wife and two children. Nicklas is specialized in Norwegian ecology (including Norway’s geology, wildlife and flora) from his degree in Ecology And Nature Management at University of South-Eastern Norway, but has a particular interest in tourism and content creation.

His biggest hobbies are fishkeeping, going on hikes with his dog, and rooting for the local football team.

2 thoughts on “There Could Be A Stop To Popular Fjord Cruises in 2026”

I kind of get it, I really do, but the local community will be devastated, we have been twice to the fjords, and it is beautiful, but there hypocritical when whaling destroys Marne life ten fold, but they don’t mind doing that every year , honestly it makes me laugh , on the one hand, it’s Ban ban ban, on the other they’ll be begging for them to rtn, as the local community will not survive a few coach trips dropping in and out,with 70- 100 people at a time, the ships bring thousands of people, cut it down maybe , but ban! Get real

Yes, this will be absolutely devastating for the local communities.

I don’t really understand your argument about whaling though. Do you mean that the Norwegian government should not care about pollution, because of the fact that they are allowing whaling? I don’t see why one crime against the ocean should make room for making another one.

Best regards Nicklas

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“Sometimes we have to close roads in the mountains (in rough winter weather),” reasoned Kjerstin Askholt, a career police officer and former governor of Svalbard who led the commission that’s been reviewing the risks of cruise operations along the Norwegian coast. “Perhaps we should also close parts of the coast when the weather is too bad.”

The commission was appointed by the justice ministry after the cruiseship Viking Sky sailed during a storm into the treacherous Hustadvika portion of the coast south of Kristiansund. The vessel lost power and risked grounding with more than 1,300 people on board, forcing dangerous rescue operations to hoist passengers up to helicopters overhead.

The commission now urges clear and stricter regulation of cruise traffic because Norway’s search and rescue operations are not dimensioned to handle mass evacuations of large vessels with thousands of people on board. “An increase in cruise traffic also increases the probability that accidents will happen,” Askholt said while presenting the commission’s report on Wednesday to Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl.

There’s also been a marked increase in cruising during the winter months, when storms can be frequent. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that the commission has made 66 recommendations to reduce accident risk, including restrictions on sailing during storms for vessels that are more than 150 meters long. The restrictions would be based on wind strength and the height of waves.

Winter cruising itself has raised concerns, especially those operating in Norway’s Arctic areas. The commission noted that the farther north they sail, the lower the preparedness for accidents can be. That’s what’s behind the commission’s calls for new restrictions on cruising to Svalbard. Distances are vast around the Arctic archipelago, with limited rescue- and health care services available, the commission noted. Weather and ice conditions can also change quickly.

That’s why a majority on the commission believes Norway should limit vessels to only having 500-750 people on board cruiseships sailing in territorial waters around Svalbard. That won’t be popular within the cruise industry nor among Svalbard residents, who have come to rely on tourism as a major source of earnings after coal mining has been shut down.

Residents have already been protesting proposed regulations tied to security and mobility on land and to climate and environmental concerns. Both the justice ministry itself and the state environmental directorate were targets last fall of a rare torchlit demonstration in Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s largest settlement, in which tourism industry officials made their objections clear.

“We’re tired of an endless stream of regulations that make it difficult to run a business here,” Ronny Brunvoll, tourism chief on Svalbard, told newspaper Aftenposten at the time. Terje Aunevik, leader of Svalbard’s business association, was also frustrated: “Many of the measures (already) proposed are so wide-reaching that they’ll lead to several business operators pulling out. That weaken the economy here.”

Among new regulations proposed then were measures to make sure all guides on Svalbard are certified, that all ships with more than 200 passengers be banned from all 29 conservation areas around Svalbard, that tourists only be allowed to go ashore in limited number of specific locations and that non-residents must apply for permission to venture more than 10 kilometers outside Longyearbyen at least four weeks in advance.

The goals are to protect the environment and human safety, given the presence of polar bears on Svalbard. “It’s important that we establish a framework for the kind of tourism we want on Svalbard,” said former justice minister Monica Mæland in calling for regulatory proposals. Ellen Hambro, head of the state environmental directorate, also said it was important to protect “the steadily more vulnerable Arctic environment” from the effects of climate change and tourism when it begins to expand again after the pandemic.

Others claim the proposals went too far, with the local hunting and fishing association complaining that even former residents and visiting family and friends wanting to set off on a short ski trip would require arrangers to apply for permission, obtain rescue insurance, purchase expensive equipment and report in regularly to authorities.

Some stricter rules already in place around Svalbard Cruiseships fueled by heavy bunker oil have already been banned from Svalbard since New Year, for fear of oil spills, reported newspaper Klassekampen . That pretty much rules out all large cruiseships, passengers from which could often overwhelm the small city of Longyearbyen when they disembarked. As many as 60,000 cruise passengers could arrive during the summer months before the Corona crisis began.

By the end of last summer, a total of 24 vessels had reported their pending arrivals in the summer of 2022. Some of them are large, but claimed they’d empty their tanks of heavy oil and fill up with diesel before sailing north. Now they may be affected, or turned away, if they’re bigger than the government commission’s new proposed rules and those rules are ultimately approved.

Norway’s current justice minister, who took office last fall, called the commission’s report “important.” Mehl said she was keen to study measures that would prevent serious accidents involving cruiseships along the coast, in cooperation with the industry.

Askholt stressed that it was most important to realize that it’s not possible to have a search and rescue operation standing by that’s large enough to deal with a “worst-case scenario” involving large vessels. That’s why it’s important to control cruise traffic and reduce risk of accidents.

“It’s incredibly important to take preventative measures, and the business itself must take a large share of the responsibility,” Askholt said. The commission also recommends strengthening Norway’s search and rescue headquarters (Hovedredningssentralen) . In the meantime, more training is recommended for towing large cruise ships, and making sure tow lines are installed aboard all cruiseships.

newsinenglish.no/ Nina Berglund

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Catching Cruise Off-Guard: Norway’s zero-emissions fjord cruises

William Stoichevski May 23, 2019

Sail, solar … and battery power: a frontrunning design for n fjord-going, zero-emissions cruise ship. CREDIT: NCE Maritime CleanTech

Norway on Jan. 1, 2026, will begin a ban on cruise ships powering through the Unesco-listed heritage fjords on anything but zero-emissions propulsion. For now, that means battery power, but few of the 190 cruise ship calls to these fjords are made with that kind of electro-chemical fuel on board. From now until 2026, you can still cruise the fjords on a closed-loop, or in-line, scrubber system, but few cruise ships have these installed. The new rules mean cruising elsewhere, finding suppliers of energy storage systems or accepting novel zero-emissions solutions.

Western Norway’s UNESCO-designated Geiranger and Naeroy fjords start at the sea and terminate in picturesque villages, where a cloud of exhaust from visiting cruise ships tends to hang.   The plumes of visible emissions of particulate matter, carbon-dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and water vapor have been studied at length, and now the Norwegian government has had enough: The polluting ends Jan. 1st, 2026, and by 2030, the remaining Norwegian fjords will be made emissions-free zones.  

The studies by DNV GL, Marinetek and Sintef reveal that just 25 percent of cruise ships entering the fjords are running low-SOx and low-NOx systems aboard, including scrubbers. Most are on cleaner, low-sulfur distillate fuels for main and auxiliary engines, and about 10 percent run on bunker; 70 percent of cruise ships entering the protected fjords were built, on average, 20 years ago and lack the newer, greener tech.  

It was a 2018 Norwegian government debate on the embarrassing fjord clouds that led to the new zero-emissions ban on fossil fuels in passenger ships over 1,000 GT. The Norwegian Maritime Authority in coastal town Haugesund that will enforce the requirement that cruise calls in the fjords are electric-only. The NMA will also enforce the use of closed-loop exhaust scrubbers until 2016. Until then, too, European Emissions Control Areas rules for NOx and SOx will apply above Norway’s 62nd parallel of latitude (including the half of Geiranger fjord nearest the sea).

“It’ll definitely impact the (cruise industry),” says the NMA’s head of delegation to the IMO, Lars Christian Espenes. “It could be difficult for cruise ships, as only a handful are compliant.” He confirms that it’ll be battery power only or hybrid from 2026 on, admitting that “few are prepared” for the changes. That’s great news for Norway-based power-system integrators like Siemens, ABB, Kongsberg Maritime (formerly Rolls-Royce Marine) and a range of others with containerized or compartmentalized energy storage systems, or ESS, a battery or hybrid ships power and propulsion solution. Integrating battery power is also great for Canada-rooted battery outfit, Corvus Energy, a newly integral part of western Norway’s maritime clusters.

Visuals presented at the Miami trade show in April suggest the battery-laden “fjord pilot” could be the interim solution for fjord-going cruise vessels: batteries aboard the AHTS ship by 2026 ahead of new battery and other designs for cruise by 2030. The aim is to have the cruise ship in hotel mode, with hotel power streamed over from the AHTS. Technology now used to charge batteries at harbour would effect the power transfer under new harbour systems, now on the drawing board, are developed.

The sail-equipped cruise ship would be ready by 2030. It’s designer, understood to be industrial designers, Eker Design, have developed the concept in cooperation with cruise heavyweights, Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Other Maritime Cleantech suppliers have also gotten onboard. The key to these “sale-and-solar” designs is ESS, with batteries this time charged by photovoltaic cells imbedded in 5,000 square meters of sails. All passengers are envisioned having their own balconies surfaced with solar-filmed glass. Clean sailing While we’ve seen and walked around the containerized ESS from three different suppliers and power-system integrators, the sail, solar and battery cruise concept envisages a novel exchange of power and service containers for each onboard process: “packs” for energy (batteries); kitchen waste; potable water; passenger waste; recycling and luggage. All would be emptied or exchanged shoreside and replaced with fresh packs — energy or service. The energy packs are key, as battery, hydrogen and ammonia fuel cells are envisaged. It is hoped the energy “cycle” of containerized ESS, solar and sail power provide 14 days of “clean sailing” through the fjords.

In the six-and-a-half years before the zero-emissions deadline, cruise vessels will only be allowed into the inner fjords if they’re running closed scrubber technology, or tech that doesn’t dip or release into sea water or surrounding air to do the job. Norway-based exhaust scrubber makers offer open and closed scrubber systems in the run-up to the Heritage Fjords deadline. Last year saw a ramp-up of systems production that failed to meet demand, as it surges ahead of the IMO’s Jan. 1st, 2020 deadlines for getting the SOx in emissions down to 0.5 parts per million.

“As far as we know, the regulation concerns the so-called Heritage Fjords, where a zero-emission policy will be implemented from 2026,” says a maker of scrubbers for ocean-going tankers, cargo vessels and cruise ships. “This means no fossil fuels can be used by any vessel inside these fjords … (cruise vessels) all use fossil fuels (so) they simply cannot enter these fjords from 2026”. Another scrubber maker says their systems are too large for cruise, “because you’d have to remove a casino or a pool”.

So, the Fjords clean-up may be strictly about marine batteries. Retrofits of these, at least for AHTSs, can seem as simple or as configurable as a Kongsberg Maritime battery “container” connected to a hub. The no-emissions rule (which includes “grey water” and waste), will turn an ugly problem into a unique opportunity for the local shipping cluster and allied international partners to take a market lead. The NMA affirms this: “We take a very strong role in creating international regulations,” says NMA spokesperson, Caroline Stensland. The 350-strong agency headquartered in Haugesund works with industry on new tech much like DNV GL does, and their own engineers and scientists work alongside maritime cluster participants. “That sets us apart from other national maritime authorities,” she says. “We see ourselves as partners for technology development.”

Key to that development are the system integrators, “clustered” and incubated by Maritime CleanTech and government. As we went to press, the NCE was showing the Cluster’s zero-emissions concepts to conferencegoers at SeaTrade Cruise Global in Miami. “The world’s first zero-emissions zone (Norway’s heritage fjords)” and the heavyweights of cruise will have their first zero-emissions, solar-sail-ESS between by 2030. Until then, it’s cruise ships in-tow. Corvus’s Cruise Offering Corvus Energy’s batteries are understood to be at the heart of the solar-sail cruise concept and a temporary plan to use retired anchor handlers packed with batteries to tow passenger vessels through Norway’s fjords.

Halvard Hauso, executive VP at Corvus Energy, confirms the ESS outfit is ramping up for the cruise segment. “We’re launching a battery system for each vessel type,” he says, confirming that batteries let owners shrink engine sizes. Hauso’s comment is timely — a cruise vessel recently thundered through the nearby fjords on main engines packing 120 megawatts of power.

Already, Corvus Energy’s ESS is slated to be aboard vessels of the cruise ship operator, Havila Kystruten. The liners will operate from Bergen in Western Norway to Kirkenes in the near arctic. That success, the largest marine battery order ever, is being followed up with a new series of battery packs expected to launch at Norway’s Nor-Shipping expo in June 2019.

With 200 MWh of installed power, Corvus may already have half the market for marine battery power. Now, moving operations from Canada to Scandinavia and securing a network of Norwegian owners has proved prescient. Competitors have fallen away. It was the logistical costs and bans on air-lifting tenable chemicals that had padded the logic of setting up in Norway.  

New Corvus product launches for specific shipping segments are being rolled out named for ocean mammals that denote scale: cruise is understood to be called the Blue Whale package. Orca is understood to be for adventure cruise or yachts. “We decided on the (blue) whale format of ESS because it was too big for yachts and too small for rigs,” Hauso says, admitting that quietly, Corvus has had 190 energy storage projects on the go, including 13 in the cruise and yacht segment.

The newest Corvus ESS are solid-state rather than gelatinous, and that has reduced the size of the company’s new Orca system for ferries by half. The Blue Whale system, which will have power and coms controls moved to the cabinet, are being offered to the cruise market with unique chemistry made by different suppliers.

Blue Whale marine ESS will roll out to the cruise market in earnest by 2021, or just in time for Norway’s 2026 Fjords rules and a year after MARPOL emissions rules kick in. As Hauso says, power configurations for cruise will mean ESS becomes “as a fuel, with more batteries.”

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• Royal Caribbean International

Norway Fjords 2025 itineraries

By SunsetsNSmiles , November 8, 2023 in Royal Caribbean International

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SunsetsNSmiles

Good morning!   

I was hoping to sail the fjords before 2026 bans go into place. I have also read that some of the best fjords will be closing prior to 2026. From what I’ve heard, Geiranger sounds amazing. It is not on the 2025 itineraries at all.  I am looking at the June 29 and the Jul 20 sailings and the only difference is one goes to Alesund and the other Skjolden.  Is one more impressive than the other?  Also, if there is anyone out there that has good knowledge about this whole 2026 shut down of ports, I would appreciate your advice. This would be a “one and done” trip for us… I don’t mind doing it 5+ years from now, if it looks like ships will be catching up to what the government requires of them environmentally - and more Fjords such as Geiranger would be back on itineraries. Does anyone have any foresight into this?  thank you all so much for your knowledge, experience and advice! 

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18 minutes ago, SunsetsNSmiles said: Does anyone have any foresight into this? 

Make friends with a Norwegian politician.

56 minutes ago, SunsetsNSmiles said: Good morning!    I was hoping to sail the fjords before 2026 bans go into place. I have also read that some of the best fjords will be closing prior to 2026. From what I’ve heard, Geiranger sounds amazing. It is not on the 2025 itineraries at all.  I am looking at the June 29 and the Jul 20 sailings and the only difference is one goes to Alesund and the other Skjolden.  Is one more impressive than the other?  Also, if there is anyone out there that has good knowledge about this whole 2026 shut down of ports, I would appreciate your advice. This would be a “one and done” trip for us… I don’t mind doing it 5+ years from now, if it looks like ships will be catching up to what the government requires of them environmentally - and more Fjords such as Geiranger would be back on itineraries. Does anyone have any foresight into this?  thank you all so much for your knowledge, experience and advice! 

Skjolden is in Sognefjord, a great Fjord that also leads to Flam. Alesund is no Fjord at all but a nice little town. Geiranger and Flam will be closed for ships without clean fuel or shore power connection from 2026 latest. Other Fjords and ports in Norway are not clear yet but will also impose similar restrictions. However, you can make a shore exursion from Skjolden to Flam and from Olden to Geiranger. If you want to stop in those ports from 2025 book ships like MSC Euribia, P&O Iona or NCL Norwegian Prima or a German ship from TUI (Mein Schiff).

This is amazingly helpful. Thank you so much!!!

2 minutes ago, Saab4444 said: Skjolden is in Sognefjord, a great Fjord thats also leads to Flam. Alesund is no Fjord at all but a nice little town. Geiranger and Flam will be closed for ships without clean fuel or shore power connection from 2026 latest. Other Fjords and ports in Noray are not clear yet but will also empose similar restrictions. However, you can make a shore exursion from Skjolden to Flam and from Olden to Geiranger. If you want ro stop in those ports from 2025 book ships like MSC Euribia, P&O Iona or NCL Norwegian Prima or a German ship from TUI (Mein Schiff).

this is amazingly helpful!! Thank you so much 

What would be the best schedule for Norway, I know thats subjective, but what are your must see?

13 minutes ago, hollon said:   What would be the best schedule for Norway, I know thats subjective, but what are your must see?  

Good question - I guess to sum it up I would say that I would put seeing the landscape, the waterfalls, all that the nature has to offer over seeing any specific towns. 

1 hour ago, hollon said: What would be the best schedule for Norway, I know thats subjective, but what are your must see?

Best deep fjords are Geiranger, Flåm and Olden - Coastal cities are Bergen, Stavanger and Ålesund.   

It is important to do thorough research on the ports you visit - there are several ports in smaller or very small towns that are not that interesting to visit.

3 hours ago, SunsetsNSmiles said: Also, if there is anyone out there that has good knowledge about this whole 2026 shut down of ports, I would appreciate your advice.

The Norwegian Parliament has adopted a resolution to stop emissions from cruise ships in the Norwegian World Heritage fjords by 2026. The majoritet of Cruise ships will not be able to navigate the UNESCO Heritage fjords to the ports of Flåm and Geiranger from 2026.

However, there is a proposal to allow the use of biogas under certain circumstances for a transitional period of 5 years, so that new cruise ships powered by biogas can still sail the fjords until 2030.

LNG powered ships like MSC Euribia, AIDAnova, Costa Smeralda, P&O Iona and possible more, who can use bio LNG will be able to visit Flåm and Geiranger after 2026.

I took a 7 day cruise to Norway and Geiranger, Flam and Olden were my 3 favorite ports.  We didn't visit Alesund, but it is greatly loved on the Baltic forum.

Geiranger has amazing viewpoints (please note that the highest only opens after a big annual avalanche, sometime between mid May and early June), Flam has an amazing railroad and Olden has the Loen skylift and Briskdal Glacier (a glacier which has been hit hard by global warming but as long as you know to expect a reduced glacier you will enjoy the scenic ride there and lovely hike to the glacier.  There are troll cars you can rent at the Broskdal Glacier if you are traveling with small children or have a disability that would make hiking difficult).

One slight thing to note:  Norway doesn't allow cabs to transport small children without car seats.  If you book cabs ahead of time they are required to provide them, but its important to factor that into your planning if you have small children because most of the ports are too small to have public transportation. 

We really like RC, but had a lovely time on Cunard to Norway and I would generally recommend choosing a Baltic sailing based upon  itinerary and not cruise line.   The one exception is NCL, which has been experiencing difficulties keeping itineraries.  On my last NCL cruise, they cancelled one port and the morning of another after final payment to help the environment.  They continued to advertise the original itinerary for the following month, and didn't let anyone cancel, including people who booked directly with them after the change and were not notified by the NCL phone operators of the changes at the time of booking.  

3 hours ago, Saab4444 said: Skjolden is in Sognefjord, a great Fjord that also leads to Flam. Alesund is no Fjord at all but a nice little town. Geiranger and Flam will be closed for ships without clean fuel or shore power connection from 2026 latest. Other Fjords and ports in Norway are not clear yet but will also impose similar restrictions. However, you can make a shore exursion from Skjolden to Flam and from Olden to Geiranger. If you want to stop in those ports from 2025 book ships like MSC Euribia, P&O Iona or NCL Norwegian Prima or a German ship from TUI (Mein Schiff).

Isn't Olden to Geiranger like a 3 hour ride one way ?, if so you better have a long port time in Olden if you want to see or do anything in Geiranger.

I'm beginning to think since Royal really doesn't have anything that great for 2025, maybe do something like this. I think any cruise that doesn't have Flam or Geiranger really isn't going to be that great, like we would be missing the boat. Why not do Norway by Rail/Land?

https://www.vacationsbyrail.com/tours/arctic-circle-express-scandinavia/

17 minutes ago, Jimbo said: Isn't Olden to Geiranger like a 3 hour ride one way ?, if so you better have a long port time in Olden if you want to see or do anything in Geiranger.

It is 1.5 hours and the Briksdals Glacier Center and road to Dalsnibba are in between. Beautiful drive and scenary. I trust many ship tours will be offered once Olden and Nordfjordeid remain the only open ports. But indeed a land trip with nice hotels makes sense, have done it many times as a local. Look at Havila Hotel Geiranger, Hotel Union Geiranger or Olden Fjord Hotel, Fjord view like being on a ship always included. 

I wonder if this is it for Royal for 2025 or if they will release a couple more sailings?  The ports I was hoping to do aren’t on the cruises listed.  There is one in May 24 I like but I’m not sure if it’s in the cards for us.  This is a new interest of mine, so I’ve been doing a little looking.  I’m realizing based on upcoming laws that we may need to do this sooner than later.  Norway just looks magical and I’d really like to visit.  I know other lines cruise there as well, but I think Royal is best fit for our family given we have a 10 year old son.  

28 minutes ago, hallasm said: LNG powered ships like MSC Euribia, AIDAnova, Costa Smeralda, P&O Iona and possible more, who can use bio LNG will be able to visit Flåm and Geiranger after 2026.

Thank you!! Maybe I should wait it out 

38 minutes ago, Jimbo said: I'm beginning to think since Royal really doesn't have anything that great for 2025, maybe do something like this. I think any cruise that doesn't have Flam or Geiranger really isn't going to be that great, like we would be missing the boat. Why not do Norway by Rail/Land?   https://www.vacationsbyrail.com/tours/arctic-circle-express-scandinavia/

I have to visit family in Europe so I was thinking after visiting them hopping on a cruise somewhere would be a nice way to end the trip… and since the Fjords look questionable in the future I was thinking it would be good timing.   

18 minutes ago, klb1978 said: This is a new interest of mine, so I’ve been doing a little looking.  I’m realizing based on upcoming laws that we may need to do this sooner than late

i also have teens so Royal fits the bill to keep everyone happy 

1 hour ago, kitkat343 said: We really like RC, but had a lovely time on Cunard to Norway and I would generally recommend choosing a Baltic sailing based upon  itinerary and not cruise line

I will def keep this information close to mind! Thanks 

26 minutes ago, SunsetsNSmiles said: Thank you!! Maybe I should wait it out 

Don't wait 🙂

Also, UNESCO sucks and should be ignored/abolished

19 minutes ago, NightOne said: Also, UNESCO sucks and should be ignored/abolished

I don't quite understand what your opinion of UNESCO has to do with this question. UNESCO has nothing to do with future restrictions in the fjords.

Missusdubbya

25 minutes ago, NightOne said: Also, UNESCO sucks and should be ignored/abolished

gosh where did you get your credentials in environmental science?

Oh, if people have children please note that we took a 2 and 6 year old on our cruise, and the review in my signature line has some info on kids and the ports.  My kids also liked a tour in Flam where you went to a goat farm and then had a local lunch (which included goat that we didn't tell them they were eating since they'd just played with them).  

1 hour ago, hallasm said: I don't quite understand what your opinion of UNESCO has to do with this question. UNESCO has nothing to do with future restrictions in the fjords.

They are the ones behind this and the ones that drove it.

They are an EVIL organization.

aroundtheworld96

I have been eagerly anticipating the 2025 Norwegian Fjords itinerary and would’ve been ready to book today but was extremely disappointed by the offerings… on both the June and July cruises the first stop only has a port time of 4pm-10pm.. allowing time for embarkation and disembarkation that doesn’t allow for much of an excursion. To fly to Southampton from North America and spend what ends up being only 3 and a half days in Norway is not worth it to us. I think we will instead do a Norway road trip so we can spend our whole week there and instead look for a warm weather winter cruise. Very disappointing in comparison to the 2023/2024 itineraries… 

21 minutes ago, NightOne said: They are the ones behind this and the ones that drove it.

Correct. It can be a long discussion. Inclusion of a cultural or natural value on the world heritage list requires the consent of the state concerned. The obligation to ensure the protection, preservation and continuation for future generations of cultural and natural heritage rests with the relevant state. Norway has nominated and accepted the fjords on the UNESCO world heritage list and it is in the interest of humanity that these values are preserved - mass tourism in these fjords will eventually destroy the area. The problem is to find a balance that accommodates the conservation of the fjords and at the same time enables tourism as a source of income.

18 minutes ago, aroundtheworld96 said: I have been eagerly anticipating the 2025 Norwegian Fjords itinerary and would’ve been ready to book today but was extremely disappointed by the offerings… on both the June and July cruises the first stop only has a port time of 4pm-10pm.. allowing time for embarkation and disembarkation that doesn’t allow for much of an excursion. To fly to Southampton from North America and spend what ends up being only 3 and a half days in Norway is not worth it to us. I think we will instead do a Norway road trip so we can spend our whole week there and instead look for a warm weather winter cruise. Very disappointing in comparison to the 2023/2024 itineraries… 

I too was disappointed in the offerings.  I wonder if they will add more or if what they have on the site is it?  Where do you see the port times?  I usually look on my phone at the website and I don’t see that.  I like the May 2024 route but I don’t think that one is in the cards for us.  

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Cruises Face New Rules in Polar Regions

Svalbard , an archipelago deep in the Arctic Circle known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra, is often referred to as the land of the polar bear. But spotting one of the majestic white giants is expected to get harder next year under new regulations aimed at protecting the region from the growth in popularity of expedition cruising.

Beginning January 1, 2025, only ships carrying 200 or fewer passengers will be permitted to land-and only in select spots-within national parks and other protected areas of the Norwegian territory that are home to walruses, seals, reindeer, and more.

The new rule , among several changes enacted by the government of Norway in February, is even more strict than those for cruises in Antarctica, where ships carrying up to 500 people can make landings, albeit with no more than 100 people disembarking at a time.

It's one of a growing list of recently adopted or proposed restrictions for the Arctic and the Antarctic that aim to regulate where visitors can go and what they can do when they get there.

Like debates about overtourism worldwide, the attempt to balance environmental concerns with booming travel demand is a tug-of-war that has been going on for years-and one that will no doubt continue to escalate in response to the steady increase in expedition cruise ships being built and deployed.

Here's a look at the new and proposed rules for polar tourism, and the impact they might have.

New rules for cruises in Svalbard

Last year, 32 boats carrying nearly 24,000 passengers visited Svalbard, compared to 25 ships carrying just over 20,000 passengers in 2019, according to numbers provided by the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO).

While larger ships will still be able to visit Svalbard's only cruise port in Longyearbyen, the northernmost settlement in the world, it's just the jumping-off point for sailing deeper into the wild to explore by foot and on Zodiacs and kayaks.

Expedition ships traditionally carry up to 200 passengers, and those small ships make up 70 to 80 percent of the Svalbard sailings, according to industry estimates. But as expedition cruising has grown, so has the size of some of the ships, including some of the luxury entrants into the expedition market. Seabourn and Silversea's new expedition ships, for instance, carry between 200 and 300 passengers. Scenic's new ships carry just over 200, but the company keeps polar sailings to 200 passengers.

Besides restricting passenger counts of ships in the protected areas, the new Norwegian regulations will limit to 43 the number of protected areas where the ships can drop anchor and take their passengers to explore. They will also prohibit people and boats from getting closer than 500 feet to areas where walruses congregate, and prohibit cruise ships from breaking fast ice, or ice that is connected to the shore or seabed-a controversial practice that some employ to give passengers a closer view of polar bears or to allow passengers to walk on ice.

Exactly what impact these rules will have on cruising in the region remains to be seen. But AECO said it "will not only limit operations, but also will put a severe strain on the remaining areas open for shore-landings."

Howard Whelan, a veteran guide with the Australian company Aurora Expeditions , which only sails ships with fewer than 150 passengers, said he, too, is concerned about the impact of funneling all the ships into limited sites rather than having them spread out and explore more widely across the archipelago. But he applauded the fast-ice rule "because that's clearly affecting polar bear and seal habitat."

AECO said it was disappointed the rules were enacted "despite a thorough consultation process, where a united industry has worked on providing solutions in line with the common goal of protecting the vulnerable wildlife and wilderness of Svalbard."

Now the group said it is working with operators to help them better understand the new rules as they tweak their itineraries.

Hurtigruten, the Norwegian-based company that was a pioneer in expedition cruising, says that while its two ships that circumnavigate Svalbard have a maximum capacity of 200 passengers, it has larger ships that also sail the region.

"Our team of expedition experts await further updates from AECO, and we will work together to adapt our itineraries where necessary," said Karin Strand, vice president of expedition development at HX, Hurtigruten's expedition arm.

HX said it will announce new Svalbard itineraries in the weeks ahead that meet the new requirements, and that it is deepening its partnership with sister brand Hurtigruten Svalbard , the oldest and leading ground operator in the destination.

Proposed regulations for Greenland and Iceland

While the new regulations may push more Arctic cruises south to Iceland and to Greenland's remote eastern coast, authorities in those countries are also working on proposals that could restrict cruising.

Among those being considered is a tourism law that would create zoning in Greenland to define areas where tourism is restricted or banned, according to AECO.

Greenland is also looking at creating cruise-specific zones that define where cruise activities are either fully unrestricted, allowed under certain conditions, or prohibited entirely.

In Iceland, the government is considering regulations for Zodiac landings near the Dynjandi waterfall, the largest waterfall in the country's Westfjords region and a popular attraction for tourists on land and ship. And it recently passed an accommodation tax for overnight stays, including on cruise ships.

Antarctica looks into further limits, too

One of the hottest tickets for expedition cruising is Antarctica, which reported more than 100,000 visitors last year, mostly on cruise ships. Managing that growth is expected to be a key focus of next month's annual meeting of consultative members of the Antarctic Treaty, which last year agreed to begin work on a comprehensive tourism management plan.

Among the contentious topics discussed last year were whether to prohibit any expansion of landing sites for cruise-ship passengers and the possible banning of overnight camping and the use of helicopters and submersibles by cruise ships.

Debates for limiting tourism in Antarctica have been going on for years, but changes are much harder to adopt as there is no central government, and 56 countries are party to the treaty that governs the vast white continent.

Norway Extends Cruise Restrictions to May 1 For Reassessment

• February 6, 2021

The Norwegian government has extended its restrictions for coastal cruises and Svalbard and said it will reassess the situation by May 1, 2021.

Basically, the restrictions include a ban on cruises in Svalbard, except day trips with up 30 people, including passengers and crew.

Coastal cruises that start in Norway and only call at Norwegian ports with Norwegian or foreign ships are limited to 50 percent of their passenger capacity and to no more than 200 people onboard, including passengers and crew.

Coastal cruises starting in a foreign port are also limited to a maximum of 200 people onboard, but passengers and crews are not allowed to go ashore. However, crew may go ashore in conjunction with crew changes in order to travel home.

Companies wanting to operate cruises must submit plans to Norwegian authorities demonstrating their health and safety protocols and compliance with current legislation and regulations.

The current travel restrictions do not allow tourists to enter Norway.

Mostly, Norwegians and foreigners with residency in Norway can travel to Norway but must have a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arriving, then undergo another test upon arrival, followed by a 10-day quarantine period.

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Everything You Need to Know About a Norway Cruise

When it comes to cruising Northern Europe, a Norway cruise should not be overlooked. From major cities like Oslo and Bergen to small cities and villages with unique museums and great local food, Norway has plenty of beautiful scenery and cultural appeal to make it a great cruise destination.

The star of any Norway cruise are the Norwegian fjords, along the nation's west coast. Expect dramatic waterfalls tumbling down verdant cliffs and mountain sides as well as amazing hiking and kayaking trips when closer to shore. If you're after something more adrenaline pumping, you can spot polar bears and the midnight sun on cruises into Norway's arctic reaches. And if you want to see the Northern Lights in Norway, that's on the cruise menu too.

With a wide variety of itinerary lengths and ship types, from mainstream to luxury and expedition, cruise travelers have a lot of choices to tailor Norway cruises to their interests. Read on for our expert tips and get inspired for your ultimate Norway cruise adventure.

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Best time for a norway cruise, norway cruise lines, the most popular norway cruise itineraries, from bergen to the fjords and svalbard: norway cruise port highlights, norway cruise tips.

June through August is the best time for a Norway cruise, but voyages begin in May and run into September. In general, Norway weather is the best in the summer months, with temperatures that are warm (and occasionally hot). Average daytime temperatures in Norway reach into the 60s and 70s and rain is less frequent than in the wet winter months. (Don't think that means you won't get wet -- Norway is still a rather damp place, even in the summertime). At Norway's northern extremes, you can view the midnight sun if you cross into the Arctic Circle during the summer. Norway's weather in May and September can be a bit chillier and rainier.

A few lines offer earlier spring or later fall cruises, and Hurtigruten sails year-round. Those off-season cruises will be the best time to take a Northern Lights cruise in Norway. The phenomenon is most visible between September and April.

Hurtigruten is the king of Norway cruises, with at least one ship departing daily on its coastal route (the line is based in Norway). Most major cruise lines and many expedition lines also visit Norway; the notable exceptions are Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line . You might find a Disney cruise to Norway (sometimes including Iceland), though they are few and far between. Some major cruise lines only offer a few departures, while others -- such as Celebrity Cruises , Fred. Olsen , Holland America , MSC Cruises and P&O Cruises -- provide multiple sail dates and itinerary options.

Norway cruise itineraries depart from a variety of cities, though most begin in Bergen or Oslo. Other popular departure cities are found across northern Europe, including Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Hamburg and a variety of U.K. ports (Southampton, Harwich, Dover and others). Norway's Arctic cruises also embark in Svalbard (Spitsbergen). Below are some of the most popular Norway cruise itineraries.

Norway Fjords Cruise

Norwegian Fjords cruises generally range in length from seven to 14 nights. Bergen is the main city on most fjord itineraries, though some may include Oslo as well. What can you expect on a Norway fjords cruise itinerary? Scenery and towns that are postcard-perfect. Ships on these routes will head inland from Bergen, sailing between towering cliffs and mountains that plummet steeply into the sea. Cruises to Norwegian fjords generally include smaller, scenic ports like Stavanger, Geirangerfjord, Eidfjord and Flam.

Related: Nine Reasons to Cruise the Norway Fjords

Cruising Norway's Coastline

Hurtigruten ships are popular for cruising Norway’s coastline year-round, roundtrip from Bergen, going as far north as Kirkenes and the Arctic Circle, and stopping at a myriad of ports, both large and small. You can expect stops in destinations like Alesund and Oslo on these itineraries, though you'll generally avoid playing the narrow waters of the inland fjords. While foreign visitors may treat these journeys like regular cruises, staying onboard for five, six or the full 11 nights, daytrippers use the same vessels as ferry service between ports, and crewmembers unload freight and mail at most stops.

Arctic Norway

For the more adventurous, a Norway cruise to the Arctic just might be the best option. However, you don't need an expedition ship to visit Norway's Arctic destinations, which include Tromso, Honningsvag and the North Cape, Svalbard (Spitsbergen) and the Lofoten Islands. Many mainstream and luxury lines offer itineraries to these ports, though the cruises typically last two to three weeks and may include some southern Norway destinations, too.

Cruises to Norway and Iceland

While Norway's coastline and fjords are idyllic emerald green and rock landscapes, pairing a cruise to Iceland with your Norway itinerary is a study in contrasts. The nearly vegetation-free, volcanic island nation is included on itineraries as short as 11 days, though some last two weeks or more.

Get Inspired: Polar Bear Cruises in the Arctic

Bergen, Norway: Both a homeport and a port of call, Bergen is rich in history and art, and it's easily navigated on foot or via public transportation. Top attractions include the old wharf area with museums, shops and restaurants; the Bergen Fish Market; an array of art museums; and a funicular, which climbs up Mt. Floyen to offer scenic views and hiking trails.

Oslo, Norway : Culture fiends will find that one day in port isn't enough time to see all of Oslo's attractions. You must choose from among the Nobel Peace Center, which lauds the achievements of the various laureates; the Vigeland sculpture park; and various museums focused on historical ships and nautical themes, Norway's architectural and cultural history, and the Expressionist art of Edvard Munch.

Flam, Norway : Flam is a tiny town, nestled between the Aurlandsfjord and snow-capped mountains. There, you'll want to take a cruise along the Aurlandsfjord and Naeroyfjord or a ride on the steep Flam Railway. On sunny days, it's a great place to hike, bike or kayak.

Geiranger and Geirangerfjord, Norway : You can traverse the teeny village of Geiranger in about five minutes, but the end-of-the-fjord port is a wonderful starting point for explorations elsewhere. Take to the water by boat or kayak to view the UNESCO World Heritage Geirangerfjord and its majestic waterfalls, or bus up to some dramatic scenic viewpoints. Hikers have plenty of options, as well.

Stavanger, Norway : Stavanger is the jumping-off point for boat trips into the Lysefjord, with its dramatic cliffs (including the towering Pulpit Rock) and gushing waterfalls. It's also home to some unique museums, including the Norwegian Canning Museum and the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. Don't miss a walk through the wooden houses of Old Stavanger or the harbor area with its seaside restaurants and local shops.

Svalbard, Norway : Rugged mountains and glaciers are just two of the many incredible sights in Svalbard, one of Norway's Arctic islands. Arctic foxes, polar bears and numerous other birds and mammals call the island home, making this a nature-lover's must-see destination.

Eidfjord, Norway : Situated deep inside Hardangerfjord, the tiny village of Eidfjord is a fantastic spot to explore the inland rivers and waterfalls that have cut through Norway's landscape for milennia. Sights include Voringfossen, which is one of the nation's most iconic waterfalls, Hardangervidda National Park and numerous places to hike and kayak.

How much is a cruise to Norway? Expect to pay around $1,000 per person for a seven-day Norway cruise, though prices will likely be higher than that if you're hoping to score a balcony room. On dry land, be prepared for sticker shock: Norway is incredibly expensive. Food prices especially are much higher than most travelers might expect. This means you might want to take most of your big meals on the ship, and save your spending money for more affordable snacks or special treats. You'll also want to budget accordingly for transportation and attraction costs.

Try local foods in Norway's ports. You don't have to have big meals out to sample Norway's unique foods. Fish markets in many ports sell more than just fish, and you can get samples of elk, reindeer and whale from the vendors. Or find a cafe serving Norwegian waffles with jam made from local berries or the region's caramel-flavored brown goat's cheese.

Check It Out: The Best Cruises for Viewing the Northern Lights

Be flexible with your Norway shore excursions. Norway is a terrific place for outdoor activities like kayaking, biking and hiking. However, rain is an often-unavoidable fact even during the country's drier summer months. Always have a backup plan for onshore activities and shore excursions in Norway in case of inclement weather. Take advantage when the sun is out, and, if it's raining, don't be afraid to push back an activity to later in the day -- often a rainy morning will turn sunny later on (or vice versa). Also be sure to pack a rain jacket and umbrella, and dress in layers.

Take the kids. Norway is family friendly, with lots of outdoor play structures and kiddie areas in museums and shopping venues. Aquariums, train rides and interesting parks all add to the appeal for children.

Bring an alarm clock. Many cruise ships enter the beautiful Geirangerfjord early in the morning. It's worth setting an alarm and getting up early to watch the ship sail in. While you'll retrace your steps at the end of the day, often with a slowdown by the famous falls, the light will be more photo-friendly in the morning, and fewer people will block your view. Plus, given Norway's notoriously finicky weather, there's no guarantee that rain won't set in before the ship departs.

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Norwegian Cruise Line to Eliminate Covid-19 Testing, Masking and Vaccination Requirements Beginning Oct. 4, 2022

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, today announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 testing, masking and vaccination requirements effective Oct. 4, 2022.

Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, the Cruise Line updated its health and safety guidelines, which are now more aligned with other global travel organizations. 

"Health and safety are always our first priority; in fact, we were the health and safety leaders from the very start of the pandemic," said Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive officer. "Many travelers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return."

Health and safety are always our first priority; in fact, we were the health and safety leaders from the very start of the pandemic. Many travelers have been patiently waiting to take their long-awaited vacation at sea and we cannot wait to celebrate their return.

With the easing of the Cruise Line's health and safety protocols, NCL will continue to follow the travel guidelines as required by the destinations it visits. For all country specific travel requirements, travelers should visit www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country . Guests can also visit www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents for more information about the required travel documentation they will need for their NCL voyage.

For more information about the Company's award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please call +1-888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), contact a travel professional or visit www.ncl.com .  

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Norway places restrictions on cruises after dozens become infected with Covid-19

NORWAY YESTERDAY announced restrictions on cruises along its coast after dozens were infected with coronavirus on board a ship, as operator Hurtigruten apologised for “mistakes” in infection control.

Ships bearing more than 100 people – including crew – will be barred from stopping off or disembarking passengers in Norwegian ports for at least two weeks, Health Minister Bent Hoie said in a press conference.

The decision, which excludes ferries, will affect half a dozen companies with disembarkation permits.

Hurtigruten itself had said all its so-called “expedition” trips will be suspended after a cluster of cases focused on one vessel.

At least 41 people, 36 among the largely Filipino crew and five passengers, tested positive after two July cruises between mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic circle.

Both trips were aboard the ship MS Roald Amundsen.

The outbreak in Norway, which in recent months had the spread of the Covid-19 under control, led to criticism of Hurtigruten for restarting cruises prematurely.

The company was attacked for being slow to inform the 386 passengers who had travelled on the Amundsen after the first case was confirmed.

“This is a serious situation for everyone involved. We have not been good enough and we have made mistakes,” CEO of Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam said in a statement.

The company said a preliminary investigation had shown failures in several “internal procedures,” especially health precautions when embarking foreign crew members and slowness to inform passengers.

Norwegian police have also opened an investigation.

The Roald Amundsen is already anchored in Tromso in the far north of the country, and two other expedition ships that were in service, the Fridtjof Nansen and the Spitsbergen, will remain in port “until further notice” after finishing cruises in the next few days.

Hurtigruten’s coastal ferries will continue operations.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has requested that all passengers on the two concerned cruises should be monitored and tested, as well as quarantining for ten days after their return to shore.

The vast majority are Norwegians, but the manifest also includes some passengers from Germany, Denmark, the UK, the US, France, Estonia and Latvia.

Hurtigruten was one of the first players to resume its activities in a cruise sector heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

© – AFP 2020

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Nude cruise to set sail from Florida next year: Here are the starting costs, itinerary

The "Big Nude Boat" cruise, which allows passengers to bare all − yes, even at the buffet − is set to sail from Florida next year.

The "11-day adventure" to the Caribbean is set for the first two weeks of February on the Norwegian Pearl, according to the Bare Necessities Tour & Travel website.

"Bare Necessities’ newest nude cruise is a private island double-dip with a brand new travel partner!" the company wrote on its website.

The trip which embarks from Miami, includes "an exclusive visit to an idyllic private island" in The Bahamas as well a another exclusive stop on the way back to the Port of Miami.

"Two opportunities to enjoy a new slice of Bare-adise, coupled with a beautiful selection of Eastern Caribbean island stops, will make this a can’t miss Big Nude Boat experience," the travel company posted.

Why cruises are popular with swingers: 'What happens on the ship ... stays on the ship'

A cruise to nowhere: Royal Caribbean sailing canceled after guests boarded

Big Nude Boat cruise sailing dates and destinations:

The ship departs from the Port of Miami on Feb. 3 and returns to the same port on Feb. 14.

The itinerary includes stops at the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Dominica, Martinique and St. Lucia.

How much does the Big Nude Boat cruise cost?

Rates for an inside cabin start at $2,000 per person.

They stretch as high as $33,155 for the top room on the ship: a Haven three-bedroom garden villa.

Laws of the land (and sea)

Guests are encouraged to park their bare behinds on towels provided on board in areas including the pool deck and the buffet area, according to the website.

"Passengers can easily follow our rule on nudist etiquette by always placing a towel down before sitting," it reads. "Remember to pack a swimsuit; not all excursions are clothing optional."

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

8 passengers got stuck in port after a late return. What to do if you miss your cruise.

A group of Norwegian Cruise Line passengers was left behind after returning late to their ship in Africa.

Eight guests missed the last tender back to Norwegian Dawn while the ship was visiting the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for the line. They were on a tour not organized through Norwegian.

Two guests, Jay and Jill Campbell, told South Carolina’s ABC 15 News their tour went longer than expected. When they returned, the ship was still in port, and the captain declined to let them board despite numerous attempts to reach Norwegian. At one point, they said, the island nation’s coast guard took them to the ship on a boat but told them to return to shore.

“The captain could have made an easy decision to turn one of the tender boats back, pick us up, safely load us, and then go on the way," Jay Campbell told the outlet.

'I just felt so helpless': Carnival Sunrise cruise ship faces flooding

“When the guests did not return to the vessel at the all-aboard time, their passports were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port, as per the regular protocol,” the Norwegian spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed for the guests to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call.”

Since then, the passengers have been scrambling to catch up to the cruise. Here’s what to do if you get stranded during a stop and how to minimize the chance of being left behind:

What happens if I don’t get back to my cruise in time?

Cruise lines warn guests they may get stuck if they don’t return to the ship by the stated all-aboard time.

“While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom, in the daily print communication and posted just before exiting the vessel,” the Norwegian spokesperson said.

Cruise ships are on tight schedules while in port, said Joanna Kuther, a New York City-based travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants. “So if they have to leave at a certain time, they have to leave at that time,” she said. “It could be that there's another (ship) coming in. It could be (that) people aren't going to be there to be working on the pier.”

The Campbells told ABC 15 News that they traveled through six countries for 15 hours to reach Gambia, where the ship was due to stop on Monday. However, the vessel was unable to dock due to low tides. Norwegian said it made the change “due to adverse weather conditions, as well as tidal restrictions that require specific timing for safe passage.”

“While we share in our guests’ disappointment, this modification was made with great consideration for their safety and that of our crew, which is our top priority,” the spokesperson added.

The cruise line authorized them to rejoin the ship in Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday.

Kuther recommended guests who miss their all-aboard time contact the cruise line to let them know and reach out to their travel agent – if they have one – who can help handle the logistics. She said the nearest U.S. embassy may also be able to assist them.

Are travelers responsible for added expenses?

Travelers who do not board their ship in time are generally responsible for getting themselves to the next port of call, according to Kuther.

Travel insurance won't be much good in that scenario, either.

"Typically travel delay coverage/missed connection coverage is due to a delay of a common carrier such as an airline delay or cancellation for a covered reason which causes you to miss your cruise/tour departure," Meghan Walch, director of product at InsureMyTrip, said in an email. "An excursion supplier not getting you back to your cruise in time is typically not covered."

The Norwegian spokesperson said the cruise line is reimbursing the eight guests for their travel expenses from Banjul, Gambia, to Dakar, but Kuther stressed that kind of compensation is “definitely the exception to the rule.”

How to avoid getting stranded

When choosing a shore excursion, Kuther said it’s safest to book through the cruise line or with another vendor that guarantees to get passengers back to the ship on time or to the next port. Travel agents can help guests find those options, or they can ask operators about their policies directly when booking.

Just in case something does go wrong, travelers should bring a credit card or debit card so they have a way to cover any costs they might incur. Kuther typically recommends bringing an ID “because you don’t want to be carrying around your passport,” but if travelers are going on a private excursion without that kind of guarantee, it’s a different story.

“You probably should have your passport with you because you're going to need it to get on a flight to get to the next port, especially if it's in a different country,” she said.

At the very least, it’s a good idea for travelers to have a photo of their passport on hand, and share a copy with someone back home who is easily reachable.

Story continues below.

Cruise insurance: Should you buy it through a cruise line? Maybe not, experts say

She also recommended they make sure their phone or watch is set to ship time rather than the time of the destination, which may be different (the all-aboard time will be on ship time). “So many people get confused with that,” Kuther said.

To be safe, she suggested guests get back to the ship an hour early if they’re exploring on their own or on a self-booked excursion in case they hit traffic or face other issues.

“It's one of those things like, it's not a problem until it's a problem,” Kuther said. She urged travelers not to expect the ship to wait. “If they can, I'm sure they will, but I would never tell someone, ‘Don’t worry about it.’”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected]

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What You Need to Know When You Leave a Cruise Ship

Cruising should be an adventure, but keep this in mind so you’re not left behind when you disembark at ports of call.

Erin Gifford,

The allure of the open seas is hard to ignore. More than 31 million people set off on cruise adventures in 2023, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. The association notes 48 percent of cruise travelers over the past two years are boomers or Generation X. Cruises are popular for the onboard amenities , such as spas, shows and specialty restaurants, and the stops at ports of call. Unpack once and see multiple destinations in one vacation, but be prepared when you disembark, if only to make sure you return before the ship sails away from the cruise port.

In March, eight passengers were stranded on the African island of São Tomé when they were late to return to the Norwegian Dawn after an excursion that wasn’t organized by the ship. They traveled through many countries to make it to the next port. For new-to-cruise travelers, and as a refresher for those who’ve cruised before, here’s what to know when you’re going ashore.

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When you’re ready to leave the ship

When your ship docks, venture out on your own or as part of an organized shore excursion. You can book the outing through the cruise line’s website, mobile app or excursions desk on the ship. You can book activities separate from the cruise line through a third-party operator.

Some ports of call may not be accessible for passengers with mobility challenges , so do your research before you book a cruise. Most cruise lines require guests who have special needs to provide details at booking, so the access teams are in the know about anything passengers may need, including wheelchairs, scooter rentals and recommendations for excursions. Crystal Cruises has an Onboard Guest Services department to talk about options at the time of booking. 

The cruise line will tell you the “all aboard” time, which is when you need to be back on the ship at the end of the day. Ships take this time very seriously. Expect to see the all aboard time posted on the ship’s mobile app, near the disembarkation gangway and on monitors across the vessel, says Doug Parker, host of Cruise Radio , a podcast for cruisers.

When you disembark, bring the essentials: cruise card (what you use to swipe off and swipe back on the ship), any prescription medications and a fully charged cellphone . Parker says it’s a good idea to have cash in the local currency.

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You likely won’t need your passport , so leave it in a safe in your cabin, says Susan Harsell, a travel adviser who has been on more than 20 cruises . However, “you always want to have a [photo] of your passport on your phone, just in case,” she says.

Be vigilant about safety, especially in bustling port areas where it can be easy to become distracted or separated from a group. Do some research online to familiarize yourself with local scams , such as “free” bracelets, which are not free and can lead to aggressive demands for payment.

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Stay aware of your surroundings in any cruise port. Harsell tucks her belongings into a cross-body bag, which she hides with a scarf to help deter pickpockets. This way, Harsell notes, “you have all of your belongings very close to your body.”

If you book a shore excursion

Cruise lines offer a variety of shore excursions, from snorkeling trips to guided bus tours . In some cases, booking activities through the cruise line may come at a higher cost, but the upside is that “110 percent, [the ship is] going to wait for you,” Parker says. “You can’t really put a value on the ship waiting for you.”

​Most lines spell out in their FAQs that if you book an excursion through them, and it’s delayed, the ship will wait. Some third-party operators offer a guaranteed return-to-ship policy. If you miss your ship, they will arrange and pay for your return to the vessel, even if it’s at the next port of call.

If you’re on a private tour booked outside the cruise line and think you may not return in time, Parker says to speak up for yourself — even if that means abruptly ending the tour and having to take a taxi to make it back to the ship on time. He underscores the importance of carrying local currency, because not everyone takes credit cards.

A misconception is that excursion companies are responsible for getting travelers back on time, but they are not, says Dan Skilken, president of the online resource TripInsurance.com. Skilken advises cruise passengers to set an alarm on their watch or phone as a reminder they will miss the ship unless they return by a certain time.

If you get left behind

If the all aboard time has come and gone, and you’re not back, you may be in for an unexpected adventure. As in, you will be left behind. It’s not personal , but the ship has a strict timetable to reach the next port.

Harsell says if your ship sails away without you, go directly to the port agent. The ship’s crew will enter your stateroom and remove essential items, including passports, and will leave your belongings with port staff when possible. Royal Caribbean suggests keeping such items in an easy-to-find place, such as the safe, which can make them easier for crew members to locate. Officials can help you reconnect with your ship and arrange a hotel for the night. You will be responsible for the cost of your food, accommodations and travel to meet the ship. 

Many travelers wonder whether cruise insurance will cover costs incurred from missing the ship because of a late return from a shore excursion. The short answer is no, though you’ll want to discuss this with your insurance provider, Skilken says. Cruise insurance typically covers travel delays and trip interruption coverage due to bad weather, airline delays , theft of travel documents and ship breakdowns, he says.

Insurance can be purchased through the cruise line or a third-party vendor. It’s a prudent purchase if only for the medical care benefits, since Medicare will not cover travelers outside the United States, whether they’re in a port or on a ship. A Medicare Advantage  plan may pay for some medical care overseas, but cruise insurance will fully cover emergency care.

“Typically, [Medicare] Advantage plans will cover you for emergency medical services, [but not] for a hospital stay. They will not cover you for a medical evac[uation],” Skilken says.

Erin Gifford is a travel and outdoor writer based in northern Virginia. She has written for The Washington Post , Parents , Thrillist and The Wall Street Journal.

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