Celebrity Cruises has recently notified passengers booked on the Celebrity Apex of several itinerary changes affecting upcoming cruises. These modifications, impacting a range of sailings, include adjustments to port times, alterations to sailing routes, and changes in ports of call, primarily affecting northern Europe cruises, with some Caribbean itineraries also seeing changes.
The adjustments involve varied alterations such as changed departure times from ports and revised sailing routes. For instance, the July 8, 2024, departure, a 12-night Norwegian Fjord Arctic Circle sailing, will now see the ship leaving Southampton, UK, at 5 p.m., an hour later than initially scheduled. Additionally, port times in three Norwegian destinations have been revised, resulting in a total reduction of seven hours in port visits. Despite these changes, the cruise's highlight, sailing above the Arctic Circle, remains unaffected.
Celebrity Cruises is automatically adjusting pre-booked shore excursions to align with the new port times. Guests who have arranged tours independently are advised to contact their tour operators for any necessary adjustments.
The reason behind these widespread itinerary changes has been attributed to "sailing speed restrictions," as mentioned in the notification email sent to passengers. While specific details were not disclosed, it is speculated that new regulations in Norway aimed at protecting delicate marine environments from the impacts of increased cruise traffic could be a factor.
The Celebrity Apex, a 130,818-gross-ton Edge-class vessel, is currently based in Fort Lauderdale, offering a variety of 7-night Caribbean itineraries. The ship is scheduled to transition to Southampton in early May for a season of Scandinavia, Norway, and northern Europe cruises before returning to Fort Lauderdale in November.
These itinerary adjustments come ahead of the Celebrity Apex's scheduled dry dock in March 2025, where any necessary technical updates are likely to be made. While the changes may disappoint some travelers, they reflect Celebrity Cruises' commitment to compliance with environmental regulations and the safety and efficiency of its operations.
Passengers booked on affected sailings are encouraged to review their travel plans and stay in contact with Celebrity Cruises for the latest updates and information on their upcoming voyages.
