Key Aspects:
- Princess Cruises is delaying Grand Princess’ departure from San Juan to allow additional time for passengers affected by flight cancellations.
- The delay has the ship spending the night in Puerto Rico, then proceeding directly to St. Kitts.
- Affected guests will miss a call in St. Thomas and receive a prorated refund.
What was supposed to be a Sunday night departure from San Juan, Puerto Rico, has turned into an unexpected overnight stay, as Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess delays sailing amid regional flight cancellations.
Princess Cruises said the decision was made to allow additional time for passengers whose flights to Puerto Rico were cancelled on January 3, 2025, after the Federal Aviation Administration shut down US airline operations.
The disruptions took place across the Caribbean following US military attacks in Venezuela, leaving thousands of travelers unable to arrive or depart.
In a notice to guests, the cruise line said the 107,517-gross-ton ship would remain docked in San Juan, intentionally giving affected passengers a chance to reach the ship once flights resume.
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“Due to airspace closures over Puerto Rico, Grand Princess will extend her departure from San Juan until Monday, January 5th, at 6 p.m.,” the cruise line said.
The 7-night Southern Caribbean sailing was originally scheduled to depart San Juan on the evening of January 4. Guests who are already in San Juan or who can arrive on January 4 are still welcome to embark as planned, with the ship remaining in port overnight.
The change will affect the ship’s itinerary, no longer calling on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands on January 5. Instead, the vessel will proceed directly to Basseterre, St. Kitts, for its scheduled visit on January 6.
As compensation, Princess Cruises will provide up to 2,610 guests a prorated refund equivalent to one day of their cruise fare, including taxes, fees, and any Princess Plus or Premier packages purchased for that day.
Passengers still unable to reach San Juan in time to embark on January 5 because of travel delays are instructed to contact Princess Cruises’ En Route Assistance Team for further guidance.
Flight Shutdowns Force Adjustments
Port officials stress that cruise operations in San Juan are continuing, despite the aviation disruptions. San Juan Cruise Port said all cruises scheduled to call at its piers on January 3 and 4 are still operating as planned.
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas and Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady returned from holiday cruises on January 3, 2026, but disembarking passengers were unable to catch flights home, while some arriving passengers were unable to make embarkation for subsequent cruises.
Both cruise lines proceeded with the subsequent voyages, as scheduled, with Valiant Lady altering its itinerary to skip calls in Aruba and Curaçao due to the close proximity to Venezuela’s coastline. Instead, the vessel will visit Barbados and St. Lucia.
San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport says the earliest reopening will take place at 1 a.m. on January 4, but could change as military operations continue.
Grand Princess, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma were all scheduled to depart on January 4, with Princess Cruises postponing departure.
