The winter storms blasting North America and the Bahamas in 2026 continue to bring disappointment to cruise passengers trying to escape the chill.

Passengers scheduled to visit Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas have been warned they will encounter changes to their day ashore after a bomb cyclone and rough weather damaged key infrastructure at its private destination.

In a notice dated February 2, 2026, the cruise line informed guests that both the pier and the main pool, which had recently opened at Great Stirrup Cay, are temporarily unavailable due to severe weather in the region.

As a result, Norwegian Cruise Line ships will not be able to dock at the pier, and guests will instead be tendered ashore. 

The company said teams are working to bring the pier and pool back online later in the week, though no specific reopening date was provided.

“We’re reaching out with an update ahead of your visit to Great Stirrup Cay, our private island in The Bahamas,” the notice began. “Following the winter storms that moved through the region this weekend, the island’s pier and pool will be temporarily unavailable as our teams work to bring them back online later this week.”

Guests were told that all other island amenities will continue to operate as scheduled, including beach access, food and beverage service, and shore activities.

Read Also: Great Stirrup Cay: A Full Overview of NCL’s Private Island

“We understand that changes like this can feel disappointing, and we want to assure you that even with these temporary adjustments, Great Stirrup Cay continues to offer a welcoming escape where you can unwind, explore at your own pace, and enjoy the easygoing island atmosphere from the moment you arrive,” Norwegian Cruise Line told guests.

Norwegian Prima, which called in the private destination on February 2 on its first call of a 7-night cruise from Port Canaveral, was the first to experience the tender operations.

One guest said, “We tendered yesterday, it took awhile but I think around 11 they were steady enough to get to go. We never even made it to the new pool area and still had a great time.”

Other passengers commenting on Cruise Hive’s Norwegian Cruise Line Facebook Group didn’t seem to mind the closures, saying “it happens.”

Norwegian Joy, sailing a 5-night cruise from Miami, arrived today, February 3, to the closures, and Norwegian Dawn is expected to call on February 4.

Norwegian Gem, which is scheduled to arrive February 6, and Norwegian Aqua, scheduled to arrive on February 7 may or may not be affected, depending on how quickly the cruise line can make repairs.

Winter Storm Disrupts the Region

Norwegian Cruise Line’s announcement is the latest example of how winter weather has disrupted cruise operations across the Bahamas and the US East Coast in recent weeks.

Similar storm damage affected Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamas destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, where high winds and heavy seas damaged pier infrastructure. The impact forced itinerary adjustments for Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection, preventing them from docking as planned and disrupting scheduled visits to the island.

In that case, Royal Caribbean was forced to modify calls while assessment and repairs were underway.

Beyond private islands, the same weather system caused disruptions at several ports. Heavy seas and gale-force winds prompted temporary closures or delays at key departure and arrival hubs, including PortMiami, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, and the Port of Charleston in South Carolina.

Itineraries out of Port Canaveral and Jacksonville Port saw delays and changed port calls because tug services and harbor operations were restricted by weather conditions.

Rough seas also lead to the cancellation of some tender operations at smaller ports in the Bahamas and the Caribbean, with lines like Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, and Celebrity Cruises all reporting itinerary changes tied to weather-related conditions.

Norwegian Cruise Line anticipates repairs to Great Stirrup Cay’s pier and main pool will be completed in early February.

Winter Storms Force Closures at Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay