Norwegian Cruise Line Updates Itinerary For Upcoming Repositioning Sailing

Norwegian Cruise Line has issued an important update for Norwegian Encore’s October 12, 2026, departure, and not everyone is happy about it.

The cruise line notified booked guests that the 6-night repositioning cruise has set its embarkation time and will be skipping its visit to Astoria, Oregon.

Read Also: What You Should Know About Cruise Port Cancellations

“Even the most thoughtfully planned sailings can occasionally shift course,” Norwegian Cruise Line said in a letter, which was obtained by Cruise Hive.

“As fellow travelers at heart, we understand that itinerary adjustments can bring a moment of disappointment, and we truly appreciate your flexibility,” NCL continued.

The sailing marks the end of the Breakaway-Plus class ship’s Alaska season. The 3,958-guest ship was meant to cruise down the West Coast, stopping in Astoria and San Francisco, before arriving in Los Angeles on October 18, 2026.

Once in Los Angeles, the vessel will begin operating 7-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera from the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, which will continue until she returns to Alaska for the 2027 season.

Embarkation Timing Announced

Per cruise tracking data, the final Alaska cruise will disembark in Seattle, Washington, on the morning of October 11.

But instead of staying in Seattle, the ship will sail the approximate 110 nautical miles to Vancouver, Canada, to begin its repositioning cruise the following day.

Guests have now been informed that the embarkation process will officially begin at 8 p.m. on the evening of October 12. Specific pier arrival times will be selected during the online check-in process.

“As part of the latest updates, your embarkation in Vancouver will now begin at 8:00 pm,” the cruise line’s letter confirmed.

The ship will depart at around 12:15 a.m. on October 13, which will offer stunning views of shimmering city lights as guests sail away.

Norwegian Encore Skipping Astoria

While the timing of embarkation has received a neutral response, impacted guests are more upset about skipping Astoria, Oregon, on October 14, 2026.

Instead of visiting Astoria, Cruise Hive has learned that the call to San Francisco, California, has been extended.

The 169,116-gross ton ship will arrive one day early in San Francisco on October 15, effectively turning the visit into an overnight call that lasts until 6 p.m. on October 16. Originally, the ship would have arrived on the morning of October 16.

“We will also no longer call on Astoria, OR. Instead, your voyage now includes an overnight in San Francisco, CA, a city that truly comes alive after dark,” NCL confirmed.

The reason behind the change hasn’t been specifically confirmed, though Norwegian Cruise Line strongly hinted that port availability was to blame.

“We work closely with port authorities around the world to to secure each call far in advance, but from time-to-time circumstances can change and we’re informed that space is no longer available,” the cruise line explained.

Regardless of the reason, impacted guests are frustrated and disappointed by the news. Some had booked the sailing specifically to visit Astoria. Others felt that waiting from October 12 until October 15 to reach San Francisco was a waste of time and too long to spend at sea.

Is Compensation Offered?

When guests book their sailings, they agree to a cruise contract that allows the cruise line to make itinerary changes for a multitude of reasons with no penalty.

No compensation is being provided for the inconvenience at this time, aside from automatically refunding NCL shore excursions in Astoria, as is standard.

If guests are too upset by the change, they are still well within the window to cancel their booking. Typically, sailings that are cancelled more than 90 days before departure are fully refundable.

But hopefully, most guests will choose to go with the flow and embrace all of the fun amenities and entertainment that Norwegian Encore has to offer.