Norwegian Prima’s inaugural voyage cancelled due to “supply chain challenges”

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has cancelled Norwegian Prima’s inaugural voyage due to supply chain issues, according to multiple trade reports and a letter that was sent to customers.

The new class vessel was scheduled to depart Amsterdam on Aug. 17, 2022, as part of an eight-night Nothern Europe cruise, which included calls to Brussels, Bergen, Geiranger, Akureyri, and Isafjordur, ending in Reykjavik in Iceland on Aug. 25.

Prima was touted as the first major cruise ship to be christened in the Icelandic capital and pop star and "American Idol" judge Katy Perry was previously announced as the ship’s godmother.

In a letter sent to guests on April 27, NCL wrote:

“We value your loyalty and always aspire to provide you and your loved ones with the experience of a lifetime. This is why we are so sorry to inform you that as a result of supply chain challenges, we are forced to cancel Norwegian Prima’s August 17, 2022 sailing from Amsterdam, Netherlands,” as reported by Cruise Hive.

Full refunds offered 

Guests impacted by this “unexpected turn of events” will receive a full refund that will automatically be returned to the original form of payment, the letter states. 

If the reservation was paid via Future Cruise Credit, 100 per cent of the FCC used will be reapplied to the passenger’s Latitudes account. 

In addition to the refund and return of credits, NCL is also offering a 25 per cent discount on each guest’s next cruise, which is combinable with all promotions at the time of booking. 

The discount will be added to the passenger’s Latitudes account and will be available as of May 3, 2022, NCL says. 

READ MORE: Norwegian Prima, NCL's "most in-demand ship ever," reports record-breaking sales

The discount can be used to make a booking from May 2, 2022, through to May 2, 2023, and can be applied towards any sailings through Dec. 31, 2023. 

If air accommodations were purchased independently, Norwegian will be covering up to $300 USD, per person, for any air change fees. Receipts can be sent through ncl.com/case-submission. 

Now sailing Sept. 3

Norwegian Prima’s first voyage with guests, now, will depart on Sept. 3 from Amsterdam as part of a 10-night voyage that will end in Copenhagen on Sept. 13.

READ MORE: Pop star Katy Perry named godmother of Norwegian Prima

At 965 feet long with double-occupancy capacity for 3,215 passengers, Prima belongs to a fleet of slightly smaller vessels compared to NCL’s Breakaway Plus ships, like Norwegian Escape.

It also won’t be Europe for too long as Prima departs from Southampton, UK, on Sept. 23 and visits New York City from Oct. 6 and Galveston, Texas from Oct. 27.

Prima will eventually settle into its winter homeport of Port Canaveral from Dec. 11, 2022, to March 19, 2023, offerings sailings to Cozumel, Mexico, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, as well as NCL's own private island Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

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