Updated September 9, 2025
On September 9, 2025, Celebrity Cruises created a wave of confusion among guests booked on Celebrity Beyond after sending out erroneous emails about supposed itinerary changes.
The notices referenced ports like Nassau and Antigua being dropped with the addition of extra sea days. However, many passengers quickly realized those ports were never part of their original sailings.
Celebrity Cruises later clarified that the message had been sent in error and that no ports were being canceled. Instead, the only adjustments involved slight changes to arrival and departure times due to the ship’s reduced sailing speed.
Still, the miscommunication left many guests frustrated, with some spending hours on hold to verify their itineraries and others expressing concern about the line’s transparency. While the ports remain unchanged, the incident highlighted how even a single mistaken email can rattle thousands of cruisers planning trips years in advance.
Original Article:
Celebrity Cruises is continuing to modify sailings and shorten time in port aboard its Edge class ship, Celebrity Beyond. The vessel is currently operating under speed restrictions after recent engine issues forced the ship to cancel an entire sailing for immediate maintenance.
Although the ship returned to service after emergency repairs in July 2025, Celebrity Cruises has now confirmed that adjusted itineraries for Celebrity Beyond will extend through at least July 2026.
The reduced sailing speed is impacting port times, arrival windows, and even port swaps on several Caribbean and Bahamas cruises. Unfortunately, the itinerary changes have contributed to growing frustration among guests who were unaware of just how limited their time ashore would be.
Celebrity Beyond’s ongoing speed restrictions lead to itinerary changes
In July 2025, Celebrity Beyond suffered a propulsion issue that forced the cancellation of its July 20 cruise and required unscheduled repairs in Freeport, Bahamas. Many guests had already arrived in Miami, Florida, for their scheduled sailing when the cruise was cancelled.
While Celebrity Beyond has returned to service after receiving repairs, the ship has been operating at a slower speed to ensure safety and system stability. Celebrity Cruises has now informed guests that the ship will continue sailing at reduced speeds for the time being.
Some guests are reporting that Celebrity Beyond’s captain has informed passengers that the engine cannot be fully repaired and operating at full speed until the next dry dock. Celebrity Beyond is currently scheduled for its next dry dock repairs in November 2026.
The Edge class ship is not even three years old, as Celebrity Beyond first debuted in November 2022. The vessel’s maintenance will take place four years after the ship’s inaugural sail date. Until then, most itineraries on Celebrity Beyond are being modified.
As a result, Celebrity has proactively adjusted dozens of itineraries through next summer, particularly for cruises departing from Miami. Changes range from altered port call times and shortened stays to replaced destinations entirely.
In an email to guests on the August 10, 2025, sailing aboard Celebrity Beyond, the cruise line states:
“Due to a reduced sailing speed, we’ve made a few adjustments to ensure our voyage remains smooth, comfortable, and above all, safe… We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and greatly appreciate your understanding and flexibility. We’re confident these updates will enhance your time on board and ashore, allowing you to enjoy each destination to its fullest.”
One frustrated cruiser posted on Reddit that their August 31, 2025, sailing had its itinerary modified twice, once by email on July 31 and again after checking the Celebrity app days later.
The post, titled “Celebrity Beyond keeps reducing at ports,” is gaining traction on r/CelebrityCruises thread. The frustrated cruiser states, “They cut an hour off the already shortened St. Thomas stop and now Nassau… I’m also furious that no one can explain why my snorkel trip was moved to 1 PM when the Beyond sails away at 1:30 PM.”
In the revised itinerary, the St. Thomas stop now departs at 2:00 PM, and the Nassau call begins at 12:30 PM, with sailaway at 6:00 PM, effectively limiting time for longer excursions or leisurely days ashore. Four days of the itinerary were changed or adjusted for the sailing, including swapped sea days, reduced time in Nassau, and shortened time in St. Thomas.
Modified itineraries through July 2026
According to Celebrity Cruises’ official travel alert page, most of Celebrity Beyond’s future voyages are affected. These include a variety of 7-night Caribbean itineraries from Miami, Florida. Celebrity Beyond sails to many Caribbean ports such as St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, Mexico, Jamaica, Nassau, San Juan, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Several upcoming sailings on Celebrity Beyond have been adjusted as the ship continues to operate at a reduced speed. The September 2025 cruises all show variations in port order, including reduced time ashore.
For instance, the September 21, 2025 itinerary swapped port days between Cozumel, Mexico, and Falmouth, Jamaica. In addition, the cruise line has adjusted the ship’s arrival in Grand Cayman. Similarly, the September 14, 2025, cruise on Celebrity Beyond features a late arrival in San Juan at 1:30 p.m.
Changes extend well into 2026. For some Celebrity itineraries next year, Nassau, Bahamas, is being replaced entirely with a shortened stop in Bimini. Similarly, others have an arrival in Tortola being pushed back to noon and a departure from St. Kitts rescheduled to 4:00 p.m.
The cruise line states that shore tour times will automatically be adjusted. However, the shortened port stops are making some experiences less feasible. As noted in guest complaints, several excursions, especially those with afternoon start times, conflict with revised all-aboard times.
Guests are not being offered any compensation for the itinerary adjustments at this time.
Frustrated guests react: “I already have regrets”
Many Celebrity Beyond cruisers impacted by the itinerary adjustments are expressing disappointment and frustration over the changes. One cruiser shared on Reddit, “First time on Celebrity and I already have regrets… Anyone else upset or experiencing this?”
“And the times they tell you are the entire port times. They’ll shave another hour or so waiting for clearance and calling you back for gangway up. It’s so maddening,” replied one commenter.
Another user commented, “By the time I’d wake up in St. Thomas, I’d basically have to be back on the ship. 7:00-2:00 is a really [terrible] arrangement.”
“Hmmm. I’m thinking there is more to this story. My hubby is a first time cruiser. This is not doing much for his anxiety,” stated one cruiser on Facebook.
Cruise lines are within their rights to adjust port times and itineraries, and they are not required to offer any refunds or compensation. Some guests wish they could change their cruise to another itinerary to avoid sailing on Celebrity Beyond entirely. However, it seems passengers are not being provided with the option to change their sailing at this time.
