With Cyclone Harry wreaking havoc in the Mediterranean Sea, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Muse made the wise decision to hunker down in Valletta, Malta, to wait out the worst of the weather.

The smaller, 632-guest ship was already meant to stay overnight in Malta from January 18 to 19, 2026, but this was extended until the morning of January 20, 2026.

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“Our chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, and I have been closely tracking the strong low-pressure system affecting the region that is expected to bring strong winds and high seas along our planned route to Tunisia,” Ship Captain Kosta Doroshenko wrote to guests.

“With the forecast showing no improvement, we will be extending our stay in Valletta until tomorrow morning, departing at roughly 7 a.m.,” he continued.

The delay appears to have also been extended further, as cruise tracking data shows that Silver Muse was still docked in Valletta as of 4 a.m. on the morning of January 21, surrounded by swells reaching 4.7 meters (around 15 feet).

Impact to the Itinerary

Unsurprisingly, the call to La Goulette-Tunis, Tunisia, on January 20, was cancelled.

The next call to Cagliari (Sardinia), Italy, on January 21 is also not possible, given that Cyclone Harry is currently battering Italy and the 40,791-gross ton ship did not leave Valletta timely.

But on a hopeful note, the 2017-launched ship is planning to sail a modified route with the intention of arriving in Valencia, Spain, on time at 8 a.m. on January 23.

“We still expect to arrive in Valencia as scheduled on Friday morning,” the Royal Caribbean-owned brand confirmed.

Valencia is the final port call on the 20-night sailing, which embarked in Lisbon, Portugal, on January 4, 2026. Disembarkation is scheduled in Barcelona, Spain, on January 24.

Guests Generously Compensated

When passengers book their sailings, they agree to a cruise contract that states that the cruise line does not need to compensate guests for itinerary changes related to weather.

But in this case, Silversea Cruises went above and beyond by offering guests a future cruise credit valued at the prorated 2-day cruise fare paid for the two missed port calls.

“We fully recognize the impact these weather-related changes have on your journey,” the cruise line stated.

“To thank you for your understanding, you will receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) valued at the prorated 2-days cruise fare paid,” the letter added.

The credit will be available within 20 business days after disembarkation and must be used towards a new booking made within the next two years.

Worst of the Weather Has Passed

Valletta, Malta, was hit with the worst that Cyclone Harry had to offer shortly after the storm really ramped up on January 19, 2026.

On the night of January 19, Malta was under the most intense red weather advisory from the Met Office as the island was battered by intense rain, coastal flooding, and winds of up to 55 knots (around 63 miles per hour).

According to Civil Protection Malta, emergency services responded to 85 tree obstructions, 54 debris clearance operations, 20 electrical hazards, and six HAZMAT spills in the first 30 hours after Cyclone Harry arrived.

Meanwhile, Tunisia experienced its heaviest rainfall in more than 70 years, leading to severe flooding that has killed at least four people. However, this is from a different storm system and is not related to Cyclone Harry.

As of the time of publication, conditions in Valletta have improved significantly. The weather is cloudy with scattered rain showers. La Goulette, Tunisia, is only experiencing light rain, which is expected to continue through January 24.

Cruise Ship Forced to Stay Overnight in Port as Mediterranean Storm Hits