There are many different reasons why a cruise ship’s itinerary may be altered and a port of call could be canceled. Poor weather at the port could prevent the ship from docking safely, or a natural disaster such as a hurricane, mudslide, or wildfire could have damaged the port area extensively and it is not yet safe for visitors. Bad weather along the ship’s route could also slow the ship sufficiently so it cannot arrive at the port on time.

Weather is not the only factor that may cancel a port of call, however. Construction accidents, fires, or other incidents at the pier could damage equipment so the ship cannot approach or dock safely. Local crime rates or civil unrest could be on the rise, making the destination less safe for visiting tourists.

Issues on board the ship could also impact whether a port may need to be canceled. If a ship is having engine difficulty, it may not be able to make it to the port of call on time, or might be so significantly delayed that a visit is no longer worthwhile.

Illness outbreaks on board could also cause a pot of call to be canceled if the local authorities decide to quarantine the ship and not permit passengers to debark.

Some port of call cancelations can also be financially motivated. If a port of call has recently increased taxes and fees on cruise ships, the cruise line may opt to forgo the port instead of passing those fees along to passengers, especially if the increase is too expensive and will impact overall cruise fares.

Making the Decision

Regardless of the underlying reasons, it is always a difficult decision to cancel a port of call. Cruise lines and ships try not to change itineraries and do not want to disappoint or inconvenience passengers. If a port of call cancelation is necessary, the itinerary change will be made as soon as possible so passengers can be notified and may have the option to change their plans if needed.

Many times, however, a port of call will not be canceled until the ship is en route to its destination, and passengers may not know about the change until just a few hours before they had expected to arrive.

It is important to remember that no itinerary is guaranteed and ports of call may be altered at any time and for any reason deemed necessary by the ship’s captain and officers, as well as at the discretion of the cruise line.

The safety of the ship’s passengers is always the foremost concern when deciding to cancel any port of call, and if the situation is unsafe, the cancelation will be made to keep passengers from excessive risk.

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