Norwegian Cruise Line has adjusted the itinerary for Norwegian Breakaway, sending the ship back to New York City earlier than planned and adding two overnight stays in port.
The change impacts the ship’s 11-night round-trip Caribbean sailing that departed New York on January 23, 2026. As part of the revision, the scheduled call to St. Thomas has been canceled, and the ship will now spend extended time docked in New York ahead of final disembarkation.
According to announcements made onboard, the decision was driven by a large winter weather system affecting the eastern United States and the North Atlantic.
The ship’s captain told guests that conditions were making it difficult to maintain the speed required to complete the original itinerary and still return to New York on schedule.
Itinerary changes for Norwegian Breakaway
Norwegian Breakaway departed from New York on January 23, 2026 for the 11-night Caribbean sailing. Before the change, Norwegian Breakaway was scheduled to sail the following itinerary:
- January 23: Depart New York City
- January 26: Puerto Plata (Amber Cove), Dominican Republic
- January 27: San Juan, Puerto Rico
- January 28: Road Town, Tortola (British Virgin Islands)
- January 29: Philipsburg, St. Maarten
- January 30: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
- January 31: February 2: At sea
- February 3: Arrive New York City
Under the revised schedule, Norwegian Breakaway will now return north sooner than planned. The update replaces the St. Thomas port call and multiple sea days with two consecutive overnights in New York.
- January 30–31: At sea (northbound)
- February 1: Arrive New York City late evening (overnight)
- February 2: New York City (overnight)
- February 3: Disembarkation in New York City
Based on the latest AIS tracking data on CruiseMapper, Norwegian Breakaway is currently sailing in the Caribbean Sea at a speed of approximately 21.5 knots.
After departing the eastern Caribbean, Norwegian Breakaway has turned north to north-northwest. The ship is now heading up the Atlantic toward New York City rather than its original intended route to St. Thomas.
That northbound itinerary allows the ship to position itself ahead of worsening winter weather in the North Atlantic. This will ensure the Norwegian cruise ship can arrive in New York on schedule for the revised overnight stays and final disembarkation.
Severe winter weather affecting the Northeast
The itinerary change comes as the New York City region and much of the Northeast remain under a prolonged stretch of dangerous Arctic cold. Temperatures across the Tri-State area have stayed well below freezing, with overnight wind chills dropping to near 20 degrees below zero in some locations.
AccuWeather alerts remain in effect for dangerously cold wind chills through the weekend, with frostbite possible in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. Despite mostly sunny conditions, daytime highs have struggled to climb out of the teens.
While a potential weekend winter storm is expected to largely miss the immediate New York City area, forecasters have warned of strong winds, rough seas, and coastal impact, particularly along Long Island. This could challenging conditions offshore, especially in the North Atlantic, where high winds and heavy seas can significantly slow vessel transit.
Some travelers on social media expressed frustration about spending extended time docked in New York, as many are from the local area and wished for warmer weather. In addition, some are wondering about potential impacts for drink taxation and casino closures while in port.
Others said they would have preferred additional sea days farther south rather than returning early to colder conditions.
Of course, Norwegian Breakaway’s captain emphasized that the adjustment was necessary due to the difficulty of maintaining the ship’s original turnaround schedule amid worsening winter weather.
About Norwegian Breakaway
Norwegian Breakaway is a Breakaway-class cruise ship in Norwegian’s fleet, entering service in 2013. The vessel measures approximately 145,000 gross tons and accommodates more than 4,000 guests at double occupancy.
Designed around Norwegian Cruise Line’s Freestyle Cruising concept, the ship features a wide range of dining venues, large-scale entertainment, and outdoor spaces, including its signature waterfront promenade.
Norwegian Breakaway regularly sails from New York on longer Caribbean itineraries, particularly during the winter season, offering guests the ability to cruise to warm-weather destinations without flying to a southern embarkation port.
