Guests aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic report the ship has rerouted its current Southern Caribbean sailing after being directed to leave waters near Curaçao due to ongoing naval exercises.
Passengers aboard the 7-night cruise said the captain announced on December 17, 2025, that the ship would no longer visit Curaçao. Instead, the ship would depart the area and visit Barbados.
The update quickly surfaced across social media, with multiple firsthand accounts shared on Reddit and Facebook by guests currently sailing onboard.
According to passengers posting in the r/NCL subreddit, the captain informed guests that Norwegian Epic had been instructed to leave the area due to “naval exercises” and that Curaçao would be skipped entirely.
One guest wrote that the ship departed Aruba late the previous evening and altered course northeast, bypassing Curaçao overnight. Another passenger later confirmed that Norwegian Cruise Line’s executive leadership had decided all NCL ships would skip Curaçao for the time being, though no timeline was provided.
A Facebook post from a passenger onboard echoed the same message, stating the ship was “hauling away from Venezuela and U.S. warships” and would dock in Barbados instead.
Barbados added in place of Curaçao for NCL Epic
By mid-morning on December 17, passengers received a follow-up announcement confirming that Norwegian Cruise Line had successfully secured a berth in Bridgetown, Barbados. Now, the revised itinerary has NCL Epic scheduled to dock on December 18, 2025 in Bridgetown.
Before the reroute, Norwegian Epic was sailing a 7-night round-trip Southern Caribbean cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with the following itinerary:
- December 14: Depart San Juan, Puerto Rico
- December 16: Oranjestad, Aruba
- December 17: Willemstad, Curaçao
- December 19: Castries, St. Lucia
- December 20: Basseterre, St. Kitts (Port Zante)
- December 21: Return to San Juan, Puerto Rico
Curaçao was scheduled as a full-day port of call from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. before being removed from the itinerary.
Other cruise ships visiting Curaçao
Interestingly, passengers noted that other cruise lines appeared to be operating normally in the region at the time of Norwegian Epic’s diversion.
Reports on Reddit indicated that Celebrity Silhouette was docked in Curaçao the same morning. CruiseMapper data also confirmed that Celebrity Silhouette docked today in Willemstad, alongside Holland America Line’s ms Volendam.
Looking ahead, Curaçao’s port schedule indicates that multiple cruise ships are meant to visit Curaçao in the coming days. This includes cruise ships from Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea, and Windstar.
Changes to these itineraries have not been announced at this time; however, rising tensions in the area could continue to reroute passenger vessels for safety concerns.
Escalating U.S. military presence near Venezuela
The rerouting of Norwegian Epic comes amid a significant escalation of U.S. military activity in waters near Venezuela, following new enforcement actions targeting the country’s oil exports.
On December 17, Reuters reported that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered what he described as a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, as part of a broader effort to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
According to the report, the U.S. has moved thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships, including an aircraft carrier, into the region in recent days.
While Reuters noted that the precise enforcement mechanism of the blockade remains unclear, the buildup has already affected maritime traffic. The news agency reported that Venezuelan crude exports have fallen sharply following recent vessel seizures and increased enforcement activity, with some tankers remaining in Venezuelan waters rather than risk interception.
Curaçao sits roughly 40 miles off Venezuela’s northern coast, almost directly north of the country’s Falcón state. In fact, Venezuela is visible from parts of the island on clear days. Aruba is even closer, located approximately 15 to 20 miles (25 to 30 kilometers) from the Venezuelan coast, just northwest of the Paraguaná Peninsula.
Curaçao’s proximity to Venezuela places it directly along key maritime routes affected by this activity. The island lies near shipping lanes frequently used by commercial vessels transiting the Southern Caribbean.
Although there has been no official indication that cruise ships are being targeted, heightened naval operations can result in temporary exclusion zones, traffic restrictions, or navigational advisories that prompt cruise lines to adjust itineraries on short notice.
What happens next for Southern Caribbean itineraries
As of now, Norwegian Cruise Line has not issued a fleet-wide public statement regarding Curaçao visits, and it remains unclear whether future sailings will be impacted. According to guests aboard NCL Epic, there could be more ships in NCL’s fleet that will skip Curaçao.
Along with NCL Epic, Norwegian Cruise Line has NCL Star, NCL Sky, and NCL Dawn visiting Curaçao in the coming weeks.
As of today, no major cruise line has publicly issued an official announcement specifically canceling or adjusting scheduled calls to the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) due to the recent military and security tensions near Venezuela.
Passengers booked on upcoming Southern Caribbean itineraries that include Curaçao should monitor emails from the cruise line closely and be prepared for potential adjustments.
About Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Epic is one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest and most recognizable ships, sailing primarily in the Caribbean and Europe.
Launched in 2010, NCL Epic has a gross tonnage of approximately 155,800 and carries more than 4,100 guests at double occupancy. Known for its distinctive exterior design and wide range of dining and entertainment options, Norwegian Epic features multiple specialty restaurants, Broadway-style shows, and a large spa complex.
The ship frequently operates Southern Caribbean itineraries from San Juan, Puerto Rico, with calls to ports such as Aruba, Curaçao, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts. In addition, NCL Epic spends her summers in Europe sailing Mediterranean cruises.
