Passengers aboard Norwegian Luna say the captain announced that the brand-new ship is experiencing propulsion problems, forcing it to cancel its scheduled stop at Great Stirrup Cay.
Passengers posting on Facebook and Reddit on October 22 said the captain announced that reduced propulsion would prevent the ship from reaching Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas as planned.
Norwegian Luna debuted in March 2026 as the newest ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet. As a sister ship to Norwegian Aqua, the Prima-Plus vessel is only months into her first year of service.
On Reddit, a passenger also shared a photo of Norwegian Luna’s wake, claiming the ship’s starboard propulsion had failed. The image shows an uneven wake behind the vessel, which is often consistent with one propulsion unit producing less thrust than the other.
According to CruiseMapper, Norwegian Luna is on a 7-night Caribbean cruise that departed Miami on October 17 and is scheduled to return on October 24.
The itinerary included stops in Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), St. Thomas (the U.S. Virgin Islands), and Tortola (British Virgin Islands). The sailing was meant to visit Great Stirrup Cay on October 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, which has reportedly been cancelled.
Passengers report captain’s announcement
In the NCL LUNA CRUISE INFO 2026 Facebook group, a passenger reported that the captain announced only one propulsion unit was working. According to the post, the reduced propulsion meant Norwegian Luna would be unable to reach Great Stirrup Cay as planned.
“They decided to go straight to Miami,” the passenger wrote. At the time of publication, CruiseMapper’s tracking map showed Norwegian Luna heading northwest through the Atlantic near the Turks and Caicos Islands at approximately 18 knots.
A separate account in Reddit’s r/NCL community described a similar announcement: “Captain just announced ‘propulsion problems’. Great stirrup cay has been cancelled.”
Some Reddit commenters suggested the propulsion problem could involve an Azipod, which is a steerable pod beneath the hull that contains an electric motor and drives a propeller. However, this has not been confirmed by the cruise line.
Put simply, an Azipod is a movable unit beneath the ship that both pushes it through the water and helps steer it. This is different from the engines inside the vessel that generate electricity. Although passengers sometimes describe a propulsion problem as an “engine failure,” those terms are not interchangeable.
If one propulsion unit becomes unavailable, a ship may still be able to continue sailing using its remaining propulsion, but with less power and a lower operating speed. This can affect whether it has enough time to reach a port, complete the visit and return to its homeport on schedule.
Missed island visit prompts frustration
The reported cancellation drew frustration from passengers looking forward to a day at Great Stirrup Cay, along with surprise that such a new ship was experiencing propulsion problems.
“Wow, didn’t expect that issue on a new ship!” one commenter wrote in the Facebook discussion.
For some, the disappointment was compounded by previous missed visits. One commenter said this would be their third canceled stop at Great Stirrup Cay, following two earlier cancellations due to weather.
Travelers preparing to board Norwegian Luna also expressed concern. Several said they were sailing later in October or early November and hoped repairs would be completed before their vacations.
“Hope it’s fixed for the Halloween sailing,” another Facebook commenter wrote.
Others took the change in stride, encouraging fellow passengers to enjoy the ship’s amenities despite the missed island visit. At this time, passengers have not confirmed whether Norwegian Cruise Line would be providing compensation for the itinerary change.
Will upcoming Norwegian Luna sailings be affected?
The impact on future departures remains uncertain at this time. A missed port on the current voyage does not necessarily mean Norwegian Luna’s next cruise will be canceled or delayed. Any further disruption would depend on the mechanical fault, the ship’s operating capabilities, and the time needed for repairs.
Celebrity Beyond offers an example of how propulsion problems can affect sailings beyond the initial incident. As Candid Cruise previously reported, the ship’s propulsion trouble led to the cancellation of its July 20, 2025, cruise and unscheduled repairs in Freeport, Bahamas. The vessel subsequently returned to service, but reduced operating speeds prompted itinerary adjustments extending into 2026.
This illustrates why returning to service does not always mean a ship can immediately resume its original schedule. Reduced speed can require changes to port times or destinations even when cruises continue operating.
However, there is no confirmed indication that Norwegian Luna faces the same repair needs or prolonged restrictions. Candid Cruise & Travel will update this article as more information becomes available.
About Norwegian Luna
Norwegian Luna is the second ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima Plus Class and a sister ship to Norwegian Aqua. Norwegian took delivery of the vessel in March 2026, and it was christened in Miami on March 27, 2026.
Currently, Norwegian Luna is the newest ship in the cruise line’s fleet. The 156,000-gross-ton ship accommodates 3,565 passengers and features 1,809 staterooms. Its onboard attractions include the Aqua Slidecoaster, the Moon Climber and Luna Midway, along with dining, entertainment and The Haven suite accommodations.
Norwegian Luna’s inaugural Caribbean program includes sailings from Miami, with itineraries featuring destinations such as Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas and Harvest Caye in Belize.
