Pride of America in Honolulu · Christopher Doyle · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped
Norwegian Cruise Line told guests in a September 24, 2026 letter that Pride of America’s Saturday, September 26 Honolulu embarkation cannot go ahead because Tropical Storm Nolo, later upgraded to a hurricane, is expected to disrupt port operations. The 2,180-passenger ship, which is coming back early from its September 19 voyage, is now scheduled to board the next seven-night Hawaii cruise on Monday, September 28, with a shorter island circuit and a firm cancel deadline of September 26 for guests who do not want to sail.
If you hold a September 26 Honolulu booking, decide by Saturday whether to keep the delayed Monday sailing or take the full refund. Use the ship’s Pride of America Hawaii cruise guide to rework flights, hotels, and shore days against the new port times rather than assuming the usual Saturday-to-Saturday week still applies.
- New embarkation: Monday, September 28 in Honolulu, two days after the original Saturday, September 26 start.
- Ship and voyage: Pride of America, originally a seven-night Hawaii cruise, now ends in Honolulu on October 3.
- Keep sailing: 50 percent refund of fare, service charges, and applicable Free at Sea drink charges, plus a 50 percent future cruise credit through December 31, 2027.
- Cancel by September 26: full refund plus a 10 percent future cruise credit through December 31, 2027.
- Storm status: Hurricane Nolo, 75 mph winds at 5:00 p.m. HST on September 24, about 450 miles south-southeast of Honolulu.
NCL’s September 24 Letter Sets Monday Embarkation
Cruise Hive published the guest letter on September 25. Norwegian wrote that Nolo was forecast to affect the Hawaiian Islands and that “port operations in Honolulu are preparing for significant weather-related disruptions.” Even with an earlier return from the current voyage, the line said Honolulu Harbor “will be unable to safely support embarkation operations on Saturday, September 26, 2026.”
Treat that as an operator boarding call, not a Coast Guard bulletin. Saturday is closed for this embarkation until Norwegian texts a different all-clear. The Monday plan can still change, and further updates will arrive by text and email.
Shortened Hawaii Itinerary After the Two-Day Delay
Norwegian’s revised call sheet is specific. Tuesday, September 29 is Hilo from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 30 is Kona from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, October 1 is Nawiliwili from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday, October 2 is Kahului from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The ship returns to Honolulu on October 3.
The Big Island, Kauai, and Maui still appear, as daytime calls, not overnights. Shore excursions booked through Norwegian are being retimed. Independent tours sold against the old Saturday start should be moved before vendors keep deposits. Last month’s Pride of America Tropical Storm Lala itinerary change is chronology only; Nolo is a new storm with a new refund clock.
Refund, Credit, and Cancel Choices by September 26
Norwegian set two paths. Guests who embark Monday receive a 50 percent refund of the original fare, service charges, and applicable Free at Sea drink package charges, plus a future cruise credit equal to 50 percent of the fare through December 31, 2027.
Guests who skip the sailing and tell the line by September 26 receive a full refund plus a 10 percent future cruise credit toward any Norwegian cruise through December 31, 2027. Airfare, Honolulu hotels, and third-party tours sit outside those options unless those vendors post their own waivers.
Park a 2027 credit on the Norwegian Cruise Line ship list only after you read the voucher’s booking window and blackout rules. Norwegian’s letter is the refund clock; the voucher is the future-cruise contract.
Hurricane Nolo’s Saturday Track Near the Big Island
The Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s Advisory 18, issued at 5:00 p.m. HST on Thursday, September 24, upgraded Nolo to a hurricane with 75 mph sustained winds. The center was about 270 miles south of South Point and 450 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, moving north-northeast near 5 mph.
Forecasters then expect a sharp westward turn on Saturday just south of the Big Island, with Nolo likely a major hurricane by the weekend. Tropical storm conditions are expected on the Big Island Friday night, with hurricane conditions possible Saturday in steep terrain. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Maui County. Those land hazards are why Norwegian will not board in Honolulu on Saturday.
Flights, Hotels, and the Voyage Already Underway
Guests flying in for Saturday boarding should recheck airline waivers on Friday and change tickets only after Norwegian confirms Monday is still the plan. A Honolulu hotel for Saturday and Sunday is the hedge if you keep the cruise, because the ship will not take you Saturday night.
Guests already on the September 19 sailing were told the current voyage was adjusted for an earlier Honolulu return. The letter does not publish a new gangway hour. Keep Sunday flights flexible until the ship posts arrival, and do not send meet-and-greet parties to the pier on Saturday with luggage for the next cruise.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Still want this Hawaii week and can move flights to Monday | Keep the September 28 embarkation, claim the 50 percent refund plus 50 percent future cruise credit, and retune tours to the new port hours. |
| Cannot change Saturday air or do not want a five-night island hop | Cancel with Norwegian by September 26 for the full refund and 10 percent future cruise credit. |
| Are on the September 19 cruise now at sea | Follow the ship’s earlier-return plan and wait for a posted Honolulu arrival before locking a Sunday flight. |
| Hold only Honolulu hotel or tour vouchers, not the cruise | Work those vendors directly; Norwegian’s two options cover the cruise fare path, not every island booking. |
September 26 is the full-refund cancel gate. Guests who do not tell Norwegian they are skipping the sailing by that date are choosing the delayed Monday cruise and the 50 percent refund path.
September 28 is the new Honolulu boarding day. Rebuild air, hotels, and pier arrival around Monday unless a later Norwegian text restores Saturday.
October 3 is the new Honolulu return. Move outbound flights off the original next-Saturday pattern and recheck Kahului, Nawiliwili, Hilo, and Kona tour tickets against the posted hours.
When does Pride of America leave Honolulu now?
Norwegian’s September 24 letter moved embarkation from Saturday, September 26 to Monday, September 28, with return to Honolulu on October 3. The line said that plan can still change as Nolo’s forecast updates.
What refund does Norwegian offer if I still sail on September 28?
Guests who embark Monday receive a 50 percent refund of the original fare, service charges, and applicable Free at Sea drink package charges, plus a future cruise credit equal to 50 percent of the fare through December 31, 2027.
What is the cancel deadline for a full Pride of America refund?
Guests who choose not to sail must do so no later than September 26 to receive a full refund and a 10 percent future cruise credit toward any Norwegian sailing through December 31, 2027.
Which Hawaii ports remain on the delayed sailing?
The revised week calls at Hilo on September 29, Kona on September 30, Nawiliwili on October 1, and Kahului on October 2, then returns to Honolulu on October 3.
How strong is Hurricane Nolo as of September 24?
Advisory 18 from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, at 5:00 p.m. HST on September 24, listed Nolo as a hurricane with 75 mph sustained winds about 450 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, forecast to become a major hurricane by the weekend.
Does the current September 19 Pride of America cruise return early?
Norwegian said it adjusted the current voyage for an earlier Honolulu return so the next turnaround could be attempted, but the letter did not publish a new gangway time. Guests on board should wait for the ship’s posted arrival.
