Passengers sailing on Norwegian Spirit say they were informed after arriving for embarkation that the ship would no longer visit any of the scheduled Australian ports, triggering backlash across social media and cruise forums.
The 14-night sailing, originally marketed as an Australia and New Zealand itinerary, departed Sydney on December 21, 2025, with scheduled stops in Eden, Burnie (Tasmania), and Melbourne before continuing on to New Zealand.
According to multiple passenger reports, all Australian ports were canceled, and guests were told they would not be permitted to disembark in Australia at all, even independently.
Several travelers say they only learned of the changes once they had already arrived at the terminal, after flying long distances to Australia specifically for the itinerary.
“We flew here to sit on a ship”
One passenger, Misty Freeman, shared her experience in a Facebook post that has since drawn dozens of comments and reactions.
“We boarded and were told we cannot disembark. The staff is telling us that ALL ports (yes, every single port) in Australia are canceled… We can’t get off the ship and see Australia on our own even if we wanted to. Do NOT choose this line if you have a place you really want to see.”
She added that flying to Australia “to sit on a boat for nearly a week” was not what passengers signed up for and said she would not sail with Norwegian Cruise Line again.
Commenters on the post show a heated response from other cruisers, with some commenters defending the cruise line by pointing to standard contract language stating that ports are not guaranteed.
The situation quickly spilled over onto Reddit, where one passenger said they decided to bail on the cruise after seeing the itinerary change. The cruiser shared:
“So I’ve been planning this trip for a year. I show up yesterday at the terminal in Sydney only to be told there has been an extremely last minute change to the schedule, all Aussie ports are scrubbed and they’re gonna do FIVE SEA DAYS with a pause in Wellington during Christmas (dead.) I took my bag and told them to piss off with their boat. Anybody else bail?”
In the comment section, the poster shared, “They claimed weather and yet… where? Boats still going into and out of Eden, Melbourne, and Taz. NCL just wants to save millions on logistics. Cheap.”
Others echoed the familiar refrain that cruise contracts allow for changes at any time, though even some of those commenters acknowledged that the lack of advance notice was frustrating.
What Norwegian Cruise Line told passengers onboard
Photos shared by passengers show a printed letter dated December 21, 2025, distributed onboard shortly after embarkation.
In the letter, Norwegian Cruise Line cited weather concerns, writing that a “severe weather system is expected to impact Southeast Australia and the Tasman Sea during your sailing, bringing strong winds and rough seas.”
The company said that after “thoughtful consideration,” it made the “difficult but necessary decision to adjust your itinerary,” adding that the change would allow the ship to “navigate the safest route and still deliver amazing experiences.”
The letter also emphasized that guest safety was the priority, stating: “Your safety and comfort are always at the heart of every decision we make.”
However, the letter did not address why passengers were not notified prior to embarkation, nor did it explain why guests would not be allowed to disembark independently in Australia if conditions permitted.
According to the original itinerary published by CruiseMapper, Norwegian Spirit was scheduled to call at the following Australian ports before heading to New Zealand:
- Eden, NSW
- Burnie, Tasmania
- Melbourne, Victoria
Those stops have now been removed, with the ship proceeding directly to New Zealand ports beginning later in the sailing.
As of publication, Norwegian Cruise Line has not publicly detailed the specific reason for canceling all Australian calls, though passengers onboard say the changes were attributed to operational and regulatory considerations.
We are on HAL, Noordam and could not go to Phillip island on the 24th. No other issues!