Norwegian Advises Guests of Check-In Process at Hotel

Norwegian Advises Guests of Check-In Process at Hotel

Guests boarding the Norwegian Dawn for its Dec. 7, 2025, cruise will complete their check-in processes at a hotel in Tampa.

According to a statement issued by Norwegian Cruise Line, passengers must proceed to the Hilton Tampa Downtown instead of the port on that date.

“Please note that check-in and embarkation arrangements have changed due to updated port availability,” the company said in its letter to booked guests.

“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we make these arrangements to ensure a smooth start to your vacation,” Norwegian added.

The company said that guests who arrive early are welcome to check in with NCL staff, drop off luggage, and explore Tampa before boarding.

While check-in is expected to take place between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., complimentary transfers to the ship will begin at 6:00 p.m.

According to the statement, no check-in will take place at the cruise terminal, and all guests are required to proceed to the Hilton before boarding.

The company noted that several restaurants are located inside and near the Hilton, which will also provide a free downtown trolley with stops at both the hotel and the cruise port.

Pool and day room passes will be available for purchase at the hotel and other nearby sister properties, NCL added.

In addition to using the company’s complimentary transportation, guests are also welcome to proceed to the cruise terminal independently after checking in.

While the Norwegian Spirit is now scheduled to depart at 9:00 p.m., passengers must proceed to the port before 7:00 p.m.

“We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience, and although the situation is beyond our control, we recognise the inconvenience it may cause,” Norwegian added.

The Norwegian Dawn is set to offer a seven-night cruise to the Caribbean on Dec. 7, 2025. Sailing round-trip from Tampa, the ship will visit destinations in Mexico, Belize and Honduras.

In addition to one day at sea, the itinerary includes stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán and Harvest Caye.

Three additional ships are scheduled to sail from Tampa on Dec. 7, including the Carnival Miracle, the Celebrity Constellation and the Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

Norwegian Cancels Most of Jade’s 25-26 Season, Redeploys Ship

Norwegian Cancels Most of Jade’s 25-26 Season, Redeploys Ship

After cancelling 38 cruises onboard three ships, Norwegian Cruise Line also informed guests booked on the Norwegian Jade that many sailings onboard the vessel will no longer go ahead.

In a statement, the company said that all sailings scheduled to depart between Oct. 18, 2025, and Feb. 16, 2026, are now cancelled.

The 2,400-guest ship was set to offer six- to 14-night cruises to the Panama Canal and the Caribbean during the timeframe.

Norwegian said that the cancellations are a result of a fleet redeployment, which will see the Norwegian Jade offering cruises from Southern California.

“The Norwegian Jade will be redeployed and will soon be offering seven-day round trip sailings from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera where guests can explore a blend of stunning coastal landscapes, rich cultural experiences, and unforgettable culinary delights,” the company said.

According to the statement, the ship’s new schedule on the West Coast will be available for booking soon.

A full monetary refund of the fare paid for the canceled cruise will be automatically returned to the original form of payment provided at the time of reservation, Norwegian added.

Reservations paid via a previously issued Future Cruise Credit (FCC) will see the credit returned to the guest.

Affected passengers will also receive a 10 per cent discount in the form of an FCC. The credit can be used towards any of Norwegian’s published sailings through Dec. 31, 2026.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment this cancellation may cause,” Norwegian said.

Earlier this week, Norwegian Cruise Line also cancelled the winter schedule of the Norwegian Dawn, the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Jewel.

While the Norwegian Dawn was scheduled to offer itineraries in Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Norwegian Star was set for a season in South America and Antarctica and the Norwegian Jewel was poised to offer itineraries to the Caribbean departing from Tampa.

Norwegian Cancels Nearly 40 Cruises Onboard Three Ships

Norwegian Cancels Nearly 40 Cruises Onboard Three Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line is cancelling a total of 38 cruises onboard three of its ships, according to a statement sent to travel advisors.

Sailing onboard the Norwegian Jewel, the Norwegian Star and the Norwegian Dawn, the cruises were scheduled to take place between November 2025 and April 2026.

Cancelled cruises onboard the Norwegian Jewel include all the itineraries that were set to depart between Nov. 23, 2025, and April 5, 2026.

The ship was scheduled to offer a series of 16 five- to 14-night cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas departing from Tampa.

For the Norwegian Star, cancellations include the ship’s full season in South America and Antarctica, which featured 11 cruises between Nov. 20, 2025, and April 14, 2026.

Sailings onboard the Norwegian Dawn include all cruises previously scheduled to depart between Nov. 2, 2025, and April 12, 2026.

Sailing around Africa and then Asia, the ship was poised to offer 11 cruises during the timeframe, visiting ports in the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and more.

Replacement sailings have yet to be revealed.

According to Norwegian, guests are set to soon receive notification letters outlining the details of the deployment changes.

Affected passengers will receive a full monetary refund to the original form of payment provided at the time of reservation, the company added.

While commissions will be protected for all bookings paid in full, Norwegian will also offer guests a ten percent discount in the form of a Future Cruise Credit (FCC).

Norwegian also cancelled sailings onboard the Norwegian Sun and the Norwegian Getaway.

Citing fleet redeployment, the company cancelled a 14-night cruise to the South Pacific onboard the Sun, which was scheduled to depart on Aug. 7, 2025.

Norwegian also cancelled the Aug. 17 and Aug. 21, 2026, cruises onboard the Norwegian Getaway due to a ship charter.

Norwegian Dawn: Mauritius blocks cruise ship over cholera fears

Mauritius has denied a Norwegian cruise ship permission to dock at the capital Port Louis over fears of a potential cholera outbreak on board.

At least 15 people on the Norwegian Dawn have been in isolation over suspected illness.

Mauritian authorities said the decision to block the ship was "taken in order to avoid any health risks".

Samples were taken for testing on Sunday, with results expected to be known on Tuesday.

The passengers developed mild symptoms of a stomach illness during a trip to South Africa, a representative of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said.

Mary Francovilla Dees, 69, a passenger on the Norwegian Dawn told the BBC that despite the delay the atmosphere on the ship has been "fairly calm".

"The passengers on this ship have appeared to take this in their stride," she said.

Ms Francovilla says passengers have entertained themselves by sitting by the pool, attending shows and going to the bar.

A Dutch passenger on board told BN DeStem they were told there could be a cholera outbreak on board by the captain.

There have been cholera outbreaks in southern Africa over the last few months, with Zambia being hardest hit.

Since January 2023, at least 188,000 people have been infected with cholera across seven countries in southern Africa, according to the UN. More than 3,000 people have died.

"The health and safety of passengers as well as that of the country as a whole are of the utmost to the authorities," the Mauritius Ports Authority said.

The ship arrived in Mauritius on Saturday evening after arriving a day early because it did not stop in Réunion Island.

There are 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew members on the ship. About 2,000 planned to disembark in Port Louis, with another 2,000 expected to board at the same time.

Those who were disembarking or joining the cruise will now do so on 27 February, the Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said.

Belfast Closes a Record 2023 Cruise Season

Belfast Closes a Record 2023 Cruise Season

Belfast just closed its record 2023 cruise season with the arrival of Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s  Borealis on Friday, October 20.

During the 2023 cruise season, Belfast welcomed a total of 158 calls, according to Cruise Belfast. This marks an 8 percent increase compared to the pre-pandemic record set in 2019.

The cruise season saw 57 ships from 32 different cruise lines dock in the port, carrying 320,000 passengers and crew. Among them were 14 ships that made their maiden calls to Belfast.

In addition, this year also marked the arrival of the 2 millionth cruise visitor to Belfast Harbour since 1996 when the first cruise ship arrived in Belfast. The milestone passenger arrived onboard the Norwegian Dawn in May this year.

Due to increased passenger numbers, Cruise Belfast estimates that over £20m was injected into the local economy through passenger spending.

Michael Robinson, port director of Belfast Harbour said: “After a couple of disrupted years due to the pandemic it’s clear that cruise tourism in Belfast is now in very good health. We continue to receive a lot of positive feedback from passengers, crew and cruise line management on the quality of Northern Ireland’s tourism offering and the service the industry provides.

 “Bookings for the 2024 cruise season are currently strong, with similar levels to this year’s record season, which is great news for the city and the industry. We look forward to another busy year welcoming visitors from around the world.”

Gerry Lennon, chief executive at Visit Belfast added: “Belfast as a gateway city to Northern Ireland, now takes its place among Europe’s most vibrant and captivating destinations, for leisure, business and cruise visitors.

“With the continued investment in the city’s infrastructure and iconic world-class attractions such as Titanic Belfast. Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Titanic Distillery and Belfast’s cultural programming for 2024, we will ensure we have a range of new and exciting giant experiences to attract the growing cruise market. Cruise Tourism is a vital element of our tourism portfolio, and its impact is significant contributing to the visitor economy and bringing great vibrancy to the city region.”

 

Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels Russia Calls for 2022

Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels Russia Calls for 2022

Norwegian Jade photo credit Spacejunkie2

Norwegian Cruise Line has cancelled all of its calls into Saint Petersburg, Russia, this summer season.

It impacts called aboard the Dawn, Getaway and new Prima on their Baltic itineraries, according to a statement sent to travel partners and booked guests. Replacement ports are set to be announced soon. 

Norwegian Dawn:

• June 20, 2022
• July 20, 2022
• August 16, 2022
• July 2, 2022
• July 28, 2022
• July 11, 2022
• August 7, 2022

Norwegian Getaway:

• May 18, 2022
• June 14, 2022
• July 11, 2022
• August 7, 2022
• September 3, 2022
• September 30, 2022​​​​​
• May 27, 2022
• June 23, 2022
• July 20, 2022
• August 16, 2022
• September 12, 2022
• October 9, 2022
• June 5, 2022
• July 2, 2022
• July 29, 2022
• August 25, 2022
• September 21, 2022

Norwegian Prima:

• September 3, 2022

Norwegian Dawn Met by Protesters in Key West

The Norwegian Dawn was met by a group of protesters when it called in Key West, Florida on Dec. 9.

The protesters are part of the Safer, Cleaner Ships (SCS) movement, which aims to uphold the wishes of the Key West locals who voted in favour of limiting persons disembarking from cruise ships to 1,500 persons per day.

63.34 per cent of voters indicated that desire during the 2020 election in the city, which also held a referendum on three cruise industry-related issues that day.

That was later essentially overturned by a Florida Senate transportation bill that declared “any local ballot initiative or referendum may not restrict maritime commerce.”

"Large cruise ships like Norwegian Dawn are just too big for our shallow channel and harbour. Every time one of these ships comes in, they drag the seafloor and leave a silt plume that runs from the reef to the harbour,” said Arlo Haskell, SCS treasurer.

“We have a lot of active boaters in Key West and everyone here knows this is way outside the bounds of responsible navigation. It is illegal propeller dredging and it violates water quality standards established under the US Clean Water Act and Florida law. Someone needs to step in and do something to stop these illegal acts. Until then, the protests will continue."

The 2,200-passenger Norwegian Dawn is operating a 12-night round Caribbean itinerary from/to Tampa.

Norwegian Dawn Kicks Off Tampa Program as the 10th NCL Ship Back in Service

The Norwegian Dawn is welcoming guests back today as the tenth vessel to resume commercial service for the Norwegian Cruise Line.

The 2002-built ship is also marking the company’s return to homeport operations in Tampa after a 21-month hiatus.

Through April, the Dawn is set to offer 15 cruises from the Florida port, sailing to the Bahamas, the Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

The five- to 11-night itineraries feature visits to popular destinations such as Cozumel, St. Thomas, Curaçao and Harvest Caye, Norwegian’s private resort in Belize.

Originally ordered for Star Cruises, the Norwegian Dawn entered service in 2002. The 92,250-ton vessel is a sister to the Norwegian Star and can carry up to 2,200 guests in double occupancy.

The Germany-built ship also introduced the concept of hull art, a feature that was later added to the entire fleet.

In 2016, the Dawn underwent an extensive revitalization as part of The Norwegian Edge program, which aimed to elevate the standard of the NCL fleet. During the refit, the vessel received several new features, including Los Lobos Cantina, a Mexican speciality restaurant, and the Sugarcane Mojito Bar.

The design and décor in all of the ship’s public rooms and staterooms were also updated, including a complete makeover of the Garden Villas, the largest suites in the Norwegian fleet.

In addition to the Norwegian Dawn, the Norwegian Pearl is also resuming guest services this month. The 2,400-guest ship is set to welcome passengers back on Dec. 23 in Miami, kicking off a program of Caribbean and Panama Canal itineraries.

After a 500-day operational pause, Norwegian Cruise Line first resumed revenue services in July, with the Norwegian Jade. During the summer, the vessel offered a series of destination-intensive cruises to the Greek Islands.

The brand later expanded its restart to additional destinations, including Alaska, the Caribbean, the Western Mediterranean, the West Coast, Bermuda and more.  

Currently, Norwegian is offering cruises in the Caribbean, the Middle East, the Mexican Riviera and Europe from nine different homeports. 

When Cruise Ships Turn Into Canvas: Norwegian’s Hull Artwork Guide

As another Norwegian Cruise Line new build nears completion, Cruise Industry News digs into the company’s traditional hull artworks.

Norwegian introduced the hull art trend in 2002 with the Norwegian Dawn. Through 2013, Norwegian cruise vessels received simpler design patterns related to their names, the artwork evolved significantly in recent years. 

Starting with the Norwegian Breakaway, the company decided to commission famous artists for the jobs, which now present several different styles, inspirations and motifs.

Here are all the artists hired by Norwegian through the years and their artworks: 

Norwegian Prima
Year: 2022

Artist: Manuel “Peeta” Di Rita

The recently floated out Norwegian Prima (pictured above) will feature the company’s largest hull art yet, with elements going up to the ship’s superstructure.

Inspired by Italian graffiti art, the piece is signed by the Venice-based spray can artist Manuel Di Rita, better known as “Peeta.”

NCL UNVEILS NORWEGIAN DAWN’S EX-UK PROGRAMME FOR 2023

Norwegian Cruise Line has released the programme of itineraries for Norwegian Dawn when the ship homeports in Southampton in 2023.

NCL will offer a range of eight to 14-day voyages on Norwegian Dawn from Southampton in 2023, as part of its partnership with Associated British Ports to open a new cruise terminal at the Hampshire port from 2021 onwards.

The 2023 itineraries on Dawn will include a 14-day transatlantic trip from New York to Southampton, departing on 20 April, and a series of 10 and 11-day cruises around the British Isles, as well as voyages to the Baltics and Northern Europe.

Eamonn Ferrin, NCL’s vice president and managing director in the UK, Ireland, Middle East and Africa, said: “We’re seeing strong demand for closer to home sailings in 2021 and beyond. Looking ahead, British holidaymakers are excited to explore Europe, with endless destinations to suit all types of travellers.

“At NCL, we will expand our itineraries out of Southampton onboard Norwegian Dawn in 2023 and have some fantastic trips available across the British Isles, the Baltics and Northern Europe. We can’t wait to welcome guests onboard again.”

NCL INTRODUCES NEW FLY-CRUISE BOOKING TOOL

Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a new booking platform for fly-cruise itineraries.

The line claims NCL Air will transform the way agents make bookings of this type.

 

NCL Air offers real-time access and current pricing to flights from the UK and Ireland to departure ports around the world.

 

Agents earn “a minimum 10% commission on the entire flight package”.

The line said: “With NCL Air, agents can offer flight options from a wide variety of regional gateways and can opt for exclusive NCL-contracted fares, which give guests greater flexibility, or restricted fares at more attractive pricing that are subject to payment and cancellation restrictions. It also allows for easy upgrades to premium economy, business and first-class flights.”

Fares include checked baggage and airport and port round-trip transfers as well as a pre-cruise hotel night, can be added.

 

All cabin classes and airlines bookable through Amadeus, including British Airways, Jet2.com, Virgin Atlantic, EasyJet and KLM are available.

 

To mark NCL Air’s introduction, NCL is giving agents the opportunity to win a fly-cruise for two onboard Norwegian Epic or Norwegian Dawn. Agents will be entered into a prize draw for every fly-cruise booking they make using NCL Air before 31 December 2020.

 

As an alternative prize, NCL is offering tickets to hit musical Six, which will tour the UK in 2021.

“This new air tool is precisely what we’ve been looking for as a great addition to the tech made available to us by NCL”, said Dave Mills, vice president global supply director of Iglu.

 

“These days, more than ever, being able to offer customers both choice and reassurance that the holiday they’ve been looking forward to for so long can be tailored exactly to their requirements is a huge benefit. Agents are going to love it."

NCL’s Leonardo class to sail out of Southampton

NCL’s Leonardo class to sail out of Southampton

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Leonardo ship class will sail out of Southampton after the vessels begin to launch in 2022.

Frank Del Rio, chief executive of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), said at least one of the six Leonardo ships, which will carry around 3,300 passengers and are 140,000 gross tonnes, will operate from Southampton.

But he would not reveal which Leonardo vessel will sail ex-Southampton sailings.

Speaking to Travel Weekly, he said: “There are a handful of iconic ports of around the world – Port Miami and Barcelona, which caters Europe.

“Southampton is the one for northern Europe. We do seasonal departures from Southampton, but it is not enough.

“Southampton is a port in which we will put our Leonardo Class ships in.”

Del Rio called Southampton a “sophisticated” port that demanded new hardware.

He later said there were always times that a line had to “stimulate” a marketplace by “adding more value to the product” and that there were “dozens” of under-served markets around the world.

Del Rio suggested that older vessels, such as Norwegian Dawn, would operate out of new ports, such as Baltimore, Charleston and Texas, where NCL ships are expected to sail out of from 2022.

Leonardo vessels would then be free to sail itineraries from ports where NCL’s older vessels operated from.

“It is about controlling risk,” he said. “It means we have ships in both new and established ports.”

He dismissed overcapacity fears in the premium market, saying: “Every single one of our ships is packed. We are constrained by capacity.”

Norwegian Cruise Line taking the wraps off Harvest Caye

The Landshark Bar & Grill at Harvest Caye. 

Harvest Caye, Norwegian Cruise Line's destination island in Belize, is set to open on Nov. 17, with the first call being made by the Norwegian Dawn.

The project has been at least three years in the making and will be the most elaborate island destination Norwegian Cruise Line has developed to date.

About seven acres have been groomed for guests who can choose between a long white-sand beach, a water sports lagoon or a 300,000 gallon tropical pool to start their recreation ashore.

The venue serves as the first landside outpost of Norwegian's partnership with Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville franchise, with the debut a Landshark Bar & Grill in Belize. (There are Margaritaville restaurants on three Norwegian Cruise Line ships.)

The "Flighthouse" will serve as the anchor for a pair of ziplines and a freefall jump. 

There is a shopping village with Belizean products, art, food and drinks. Guests wanting to explore more of Belize can board two 275-person catamarans or 60-seat motorboats for the short ride to the mainland.

Towering above the action is the 130-foot tall "Flighthouse" that serves as the anchor for a pair of ziplines and an apparatus that drops guest from heights of 40, 60 or 100 feet before easing them gently to the sand at the end of the drop.

Unlike some private cruise destinations, Harvest Caye has a built-in dock so tenders aren't needed. Guests walk through a ceremonial set of gates with the Harvest Caye name displayed in a wrought-iron arch.

The island's buildings are made of rustic stone trimmed with mahogany and other native hardwoods. Landscaping includes 15,000 newly planted mangroves.

Eleven air-conditioned beach villas are available for rent, at $475 per villa. They accommodate six adults and feature a bathroom with a shower, a deck and Bluetooth connections for concierge services and music.

Also, there are 15 pool cabanas for rent at $199 for the day. The cabanas accommodate two adults. A beach clamshell with a pair of loungers is priced at $29.

Norwegian will offer a variety of watersports and toys. Mini speedboats are available for $69 for adults, $49 for children, and eco-friendly electric boats rent for $40. Kayaks rent for $25 and stand-up paddleboards for $20. The zipline attraction has packages starting at $59 for adults and $49 for children. There is a river float feature for $79/$59.

Air-conditioned beach villas will rent for $475 per day. 

In the lagoon, Norwegian runs a wildlife boat tour for spotting manatees that costs $49/$39.  Tours to see Mayan ruins run $89/69, or $109/$79 with an add-on visit to a spice plantation.

While the name Harvest Caye doesn't sound particularly indigenous, Norwegian said it was the name used by Belize for the island before Norwegian arrived. "We choose not to change it," a spokeswoman said.

After the initial call by the Norwegian Dawn sailing from New Orleans, Harvest Caye is scheduled to host the Norwegian Jade on Nov. 18, and then the Norwegian Getaway on Nov. 23.  A call by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a cruise line owned by Norwegian Cruise Line's parent company, is slated for January.

Norwegian Dawn debuts after extensive refit

Norwegian Dawn debuts after extensive refit

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn sailed into her seasonal homeport of Boston, Massachusetts on 17 June following a month-long drydock.

Norwegian Dream, which was renovated as part of the US$400 million The Norwegian Edge programme, now has two new restaurants, three new bars and lounges, updated design and décor in all public spaces, and refurbished staterooms and suites.

“As with each of the ship refurbishments in the Norwegian Edge programme, this was not your average drydock,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and COO. “Norwegian Dawn was brought down to the steel in many spaces and rebuilt to evoke the look and feel of the newest Norwegian ships, allowing guests sailing on her to enjoy all of the freedom and flexibility that only Norwegian offers, along with a more premium experience from bow to stern.”

New dining venues include Mexican restaurant Los Lobos Cantina, which will open on 1 July, and the popular O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill. Now, guests can also visit bars such as Sugarcane Mojito Bar, Bliss Lounge (formerly Spinnakers Lounge) and The Cellars, a Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar to enable guests to enjoy tastings and educational events. This venue was previously the Pearly King Pub.

Existing complimentary dining venues, such as The Venetian, Aqua, Bamboo Asian Restaurant and the Garden Café, have all been revamped with new flooring, wall coverings, furniture, artwork, signage and decorative lighting.

Similar upgrades where completed in the ship’s speciality restaurants, including Cagney’s Steakhouse and Moderno Churrascaria, which has been moved to Deck 13 adjacent to Sugarcane Mojito Bar. Le Bistro and La Cucina have also switched places, while Teppanyaki restaurant has been doubled in size to add to more tables and a divider between Bamboo and Teppanyaki.

The ship’s existing bars and lounges – such as Gatsby’s Champagne Bar and the Cigar Bar – have also been fitted with new flooring, furniture, decorative lighting, artwork and more. All staterooms received updated carpets, bedding, drapery, artwork, flat screen TVs and furniture. The two Garden Villas were completely remodeled with new flooring, inside and outside furniture, ceilings, lighting, bedding, décor and 42-inch flat screen TVs.

Other highlights include refreshed décor in the public spaces, elevators, toilets, the library and the Atrium – which also features an additional seating area – while the upgraded shopping area has been renamed Tradewinds. Tides, which sells jewellery, was added to the Atrium. The Photo Gallery also features individual digital monitors and larger photo display panels, while the Dawn Casino and Entourage teen space and video arcade were refurbished. The Stardust Theater has reupholstered and recushioned seats, and will offer performances of Band on the Run, Showdown and Elements.

Meanwhile, the pool deck has new decking, white awnings, exterior showers, pool loungers, and a fresh look to all exterior corridors. In addition, the Bimini Bar overlooking the main pool deck was redesigned, the Pulse Fitness Center now offers Techno Gym equipment, and the Mandara Spa has updated treatment rooms and a new barber shop, nail salon, spa pool and eight heated loungers.

Norwegian Dawn will sail from Boston to Bermuda each week until the end of October, spending three nights in port. In the winter, the ship will sail from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean, calling at Norwegian’s private island Harvest Caye, as well as Belize.

A Plethora of Norwegian Ships

Norwegian Dawn on schedule for next voyage

Norwegian Dawn

The Norwegian Dawn is structurally sound and will sail its next scheduled cruise from Boston on May 22, Norwegian Cruise Line said on Wednesday.

The Dawn ran aground on the sea bed near Bermuda after departing King’s Wharf on Tuesday. Norwegian Cruise Line said there was a temporary malfunction of the steering system.

Later on Tuesday, the ship was refloated to Heritage Wharf in Bermuda to be assessed by a team consisting of cruise line personnel; an independent dive team; and inspectors from the Dawn's classification society, DNVGL.

“The team confirmed the structural integrity of the ship, and the technical issue which caused the steering malfunction was identified and corrected,” Norwegian said Wednesday on its Twitter account.

The ship is expected to depart Bermuda at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and resume sailing to Boston.

All guests on the current voyage will receive a credit of 15% of their cruise fare to use toward a future sailing.

Bermuda launches Horseshoe Bay shuttle for cruisers

By Tom Stieghorst

Bermuda cruise visitors will be able to ride a dedicated shuttle to Horseshoe Bay Beach, starting this week.

The shuttle, sponsored by the West End Development Corp. and the Ministry of Tourism and Transit, is expected to take pressure off of the crowded public buses that cruise tourists have been using.

Priced at $16 roundtrip, the shuttles will leave the cruise pier from 8 a.m. to 3 pm daily. The last return bus leaves at 6 p.m.

The minibus shuttle will serve the King’s Wharf terminal, which is used by Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Dawn, Celebrity Summit and Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas.

5 Things Not to Do on Your First Cruise

5 Things Not to Do on Your First Cruise

So my first cruise -- a week-long Bermuda cruise sailing on Norwegian Dawn -- wasn't perfect (credit the rain, a couple lacklustre shows and several cancelled activities), but it was pretty great. It took me a couple days to figure out how to make the most of my time on-board. As the days progressed and I learned the lay of the ship, my experience improved exponentially. I might have thought I knew a lot about cruising, but until you actually experience a cruise … well, you experienced cruisers know what I mean. So what did this first-time cruiser learn? Don't overdo it your first day on-board. Most mainstream cruise ships are bigger than you think -- even if they're not among the largest afloat. Most modern ships are composed of deck upon deck of cabins and public spaces and can accommodate thousands of people. The last thing you want to do is wear yourself out trying to unearth every nook and cranny of the ship before your vacation is even under-way. It's easy to want to see and do it all on the first day, but avoid the temptation. Don't try to eat at every speciality restaurant.Most major cruise lines have made a habit of building multiple for-fee speciality restaurants into newer ships, and while these restaurants can be fantastic, you could end up shelling out a fistful of cash by the time your cruise commences. Plus, you risk missing some of the special items found in the ship's main dining room. During my cruise, I was in such a hurry to start trying out the speciality restaurants that I neglected to realize that Night No. 1 was lobster night in the MDR. I was so sad to miss it -- and those passengers raving about the quality didn't help. Don't think you're too cool to participate in corny cruise activities. Sure you can sit in your cabin all day or loaf about on the pool deck, but the real fun comes when you dip your toe in the cheesy cruise waters. No, I won't sing karaoke, and bingo is not really my thing, but I found that even playing spectator at some of these events resulted in gut-busting good times. And don't forget, cruising's much better when you meet new people -- and these cruise line organized activities are the best way to do so. Don't stay in your cabin for hours at a time.While a few short naps are nice (especially if you have a balcony to veg on), if you spend too long of a stretch in your cabin, you're sure to miss some fun on-board activities. It took me a couple days to realize I was missing things like movies on the big screen, trivia sessions and game shows like "Battle of the Sexes." When cruising, there's something going on every hour of the day, and the only way you're going to have the best time possible is to venture out of your cabin and get involved. Don't forget to be nice to the crew. These guys and gals work hard for your enjoyment. Remember to smile at them and thank them for their hard work. You'll be rewarded with personalized service and great conversation. It was awesome to have crew members addressing me by name and stopping in the halls to chat me up at every turn. Be sure to set the right tone from the beginning, and your effort will surely be reflected in your experience.