Monday, July 14, 2025
The Atlantic dream cruise took an unexpected turn on Saturday, July 12, 2025, after the cruise ship, Norwegian Star belonging to the Norwegian Cruise Line, made an abrupt turn and sailed back to port hours after its departure from New York City.
The 14-night voyage departed from Manhattan Cruise Terminal at 4:00 p.m., with plans to journey to Halifax, Nova Scotia, followed by Reykjavik, Iceland. Passengers were eagerly anticipating stops in notable ports such as Sydney, Prince Edward Island, and various Greenlandic and Icelandic destinations before concluding their journey in Reykjavik on July 26.
But the Norwegian Star faced its most serious snag when the ship experienced propulsion system failure along the Hudson River. This rendered the ship powerless, airless, and without running water, seriously impacting the ship’s core systems. Passengers were stuck in the middle of the Hudson, experiencing growing discomfort as the temperatures in New York reached the upper 80s, and the absence of core amenities complicated the situation further.
Although the situation was unpleasant, there were no serious incidents on board, and the crew of the ship immediately dealt with the situation. There was neither any fire nor any medical emergency, which helped the crew of the ship remain calm during the episode.
Noticing the gravity of the technical issue, the captain instructed the ship to reverse course and turn back to New York with the assistance of two tugboats. The decision, while inconvenient, was unavoidable in the name of safety to all aboard. Back at Manhattan Cruise Terminal, technical experts began examining and mending the issue at once. The breakdown was soon fixed, and the ship was cleared to sail by the U.S. Coast Guard at 12:30 a.m. on July 13, 2025.
The cruise line confirmed the details in its statement, indicating that the ship was cleared to continue its cruise after the propulsion problem was repaired. The Norwegian Star redeparted at 12:30 a.m. and is due to now sail with a sea day before its scheduled July 14 arrival in Halifax, as originally scheduled.
It is not the first instance the Norwegian Star has faced mechanical setbacks. Since its introduction in 2001, the ship has had recurring propulsion systems failures, most notably with its Azipod technology. This technology has been the topic of previous litigation, most prominently the 2022 lawsuit in which the cruise line took home a $159 million settlement after having problems with the Azipod system. Though it is yet to be determined whether the Azipod system was the cause of the latest issue, the ship’s technical history has brought the issue of the ship’s propulsion’s reliability to the forefront.
Regardless of the delay, the original schedule of the ship is still on course. The Norwegian Star is still scheduled to arrive in Halifax on July 14, as originally scheduled. From Halifax, the ship will sail on its scheduled route, stopping in Sydney and Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Nuuk and Paamiut, Greenland, before sailing to Iceland as the penultimate port of call. The voyage is scheduled to end in Reykjavik on July 26, keeping with the original schedule.
Although the interruption that resulted from the propulsion breakdown was inconvenient for the travelers, the Norwegian Cruise Line sprang into action to remedy the situation. The cruise line has assured the travelers that all efforts are being taken to make the remainder of the cruise as seamless as possible. Even though the travelers missed several hours during the course of the trip, they are still scheduled to enjoy the entire gamut of locations and attractions that the initial schedule promised.
The episode illustrates the type of problem cruise lines face in moving large vessels long distances. The situation might have taken quite a different turn, but the quick response of crew and technical experts nipped any problem with safety from developing. The quick repair is an example of the importance of maintenance and quick repair in handling unexpected technological emergencies on long voyages of this type.
Back on track, the Norwegian Star continues its cruise, guaranteeing the travelers an amazing experience to come. Travelers get to anticipate the marvelous views of Canada, Greenland, and Iceland, and get the full experience of the cruise, regardless of the initial delay. Owing to the fast response to the problem, the Norwegian Star is bound to offer an unforgettable experience sailing across the Atlantic.
