Norwegian Joy's 2028 Alaska Itinerary Drops Skagway
Norwegian Cruise Line has altered Norwegian Joy's May 19, 2028, Alaska sailing, replacing Skagway and Sitka with Whittier and adjusting other port timings
Norwegian Cruise Line has changed the itinerary for Norwegian Joy's 10-day Alaska sailing departing Seattle on May 19, 2028. The cruise line notified booked guests of the changes via email on September 8, 2026, citing berth availability as the reason.
The notification, shared by guests on social media, acknowledged the shift. "Even the most thoughtfully planned sailings can occasionally shift course," the email stated. "While these moments aren't always expected, they often open the door to fresh ways of experiencing your vacation." The new schedule removes two planned port calls entirely and reshuffles several others.
Revised Itinerary Details
The 3,802-guest ship will still depart Seattle at 3 p.m. On May 19 and begin with a sea day. Its first port call in Juneau from 1:30 to 10 p.m. On May 21 remains unchanged. After that, the following five days of the voyage are completely different from the original plan.
| Day | New Schedule (Date) | Previous Schedule (Date) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 22 | Icy Strait Point (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) | Skagway (6 a.m. - 7 p.m.) |
| Tuesday, May 23 | Scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier | Sitka (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) |
| Wednesday, May 24 | Whittier (7 a.m. - 6 p.m.) | Hubbard Glacier scenic cruising |
| Thursday, May 25 | Day at sea | Icy Strait Point (7 a.m. - 4 p.m.) |
| Friday, May 26 | Ketchikan (12 p.m. - 8 p.m.) | Ketchikan (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.) |
The final segment of the cruise is unaffected. It includes a sea day on May 27 and a visit to Victoria, British Columbia, from 8 a.m. To 6 p.m. On May 28. Norwegian Joy will return to Seattle for debarkation at 6 a.m. On May 29 as originally scheduled.
Impact on Port Visits
Sitka and Skagway have been dropped from the schedule, while Whittier, a port serving as a gateway to Anchorage, has been added. The scenic cruising day at Hubbard Glacier has moved from May 24 to May 23. The visit to Icy Strait Point now occurs a day earlier and starts an hour later, though its duration is the same. The call in Ketchikan remains on the same day but is now four hours shorter, with arrival pushed back to noon.
Norwegian Cruise Line said the revised itinerary would still "shows the remarkable beauty, wildlife, glaciers, and coastal scenery that make Alaska such an extraordinary destination to explore." The line did not specify which port's berth availability triggered the widespread adjustments.
Guest Next Steps
These itinerary changes are automatic, and guests do not need to take action to remain on the sailing. The cruise line typically adjusts or refunds pre-paid shore excursions booked through it for altered ports. However, since this sailing is more than 20 months away, such tours may not yet be available for booking.
Guests who have made independent tour arrangements in the affected ports must contact those operators directly to cancel or modify their plans. The substantial lead time should make this process easier. Travelers will not need to adjust any pre- or post-cruise travel plans, as the ship's departure from and return to Seattle are unchanged.
Norwegian Cruise Line advises guests to stay in close contact for any further updates regarding their booked sailings.
