The Alaska cruise season is wrapping up, but Mother Nature is making sure it doesn’t end quietly.
A powerful low-pressure system moving through the Gulf of Alaska on September 17, 2025, has brought heavy rain, strong winds, and rough seas, forcing multiple ships to adjust their plans.
So far, six cruise ships have announced last-minute changes, ranging from cancelled ports to rerouted scenic cruising.
The storm is expected to impact both Southcentral Alaska ports, such as Seward, Whittier, and Anchorage, as well as key Southeastern Alaska stops like Juneau, Skagway, and Endicott Arm.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the storm will peak on Wednesday with heavy rainfall across the Copper River Basin.
Conditions are expected to ease by Thursday as the system weakens, though unsettled weather is still likely to linger across the region.
Caribbean Princess Stays Overnight in Juneau
While some Princess ships chose to skip Juneau, Caribbean Princess is taking the opposite approach by hunkering down in port until the worst of the weather passes.
The 3,140-guest Grand-class ship arrived at the South Franklin Dock in Juneau on September 16, 2025, and is remaining overnight.
She is now scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. on September 17, once conditions are expected to improve.
This change means the ship’s planned call to Skagway on September 17 has been completely canceled.
However, passengers will still get to visit:
- Icy Strait Point
- Sitka
- Glacier Bay
- Victoria, British Columbia
The ship’s current 10-night Alaska sailing, which began in Vancouver, is still set to finish as scheduled on September 23, 2025.
By staying in Juneau overnight, Caribbean Princess has provided guests with a rare extended port visit, even though it comes at the cost of missing Skagway.
Princess Ships Forced to Cancel Juneau and Endicott Arm
Three Princess Cruises vessels — Sapphire Princess, Ruby Princess, and Discovery Princess — have all been forced to scrap their scheduled call to Juneau on September 17, 2025.
Passengers onboard received letters from the cruise line confirming that the ships would remain in protected waters instead, to avoid heavy swells and unsafe conditions.
Some travelers already reported experiencing 2-meter (6-foot) swells earlier in the voyage.
- Sapphire Princess is nearing the end of a 14-night Alaska cruise that began in Vancouver on September 6, 2025.
- Ruby Princess is sailing an 11-night itinerary round-trip from San Francisco, which departed on September 13, 2025.
- Discovery Princess is midway through a 7-night round-trip from Seattle, which left port on September 14, 2025.
Onboard Discovery Princess, not only was the Juneau visit canceled, but the planned scenic cruising in Endicott Arm — a highlight paired with Juneau calls — has also been dropped.
Guests expressed disappointment but also understanding, with one noting:
“They cancelled our Endicott Arm cruise and Juneau stop due to weather. It’s a bummer, but I understand safety is first.”
While it hasn’t been officially confirmed, it’s expected that Sapphire Princess and Ruby Princess also dropped their scenic cruising plans as a result of the storm.
Nieuw Amsterdam Swaps Skagway for Haines
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam has also had to adjust course because of the storm.
The ship is currently on a 7-night, one-way Alaska sailing that departed Whittier on September 14, 2025, and is scheduled to end in Vancouver.
Originally, the ship was set to visit Skagway on September 17, but due to high winds and heavy swells, that call has been cancelled.
Instead, the captain announced a replacement stop in Haines, Alaska, with the ship scheduled to dock from 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM.
Guests onboard also received disappointing news that the planned scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier has been cancelled for the same safety reasons.
While missing Skagway and Hubbard Glacier is unfortunate, passengers still benefit from a full day in Haines—a port that offers stunning mountain scenery, cultural experiences, and wildlife excursions.
Viking Orion Reroutes From Sitka to Juneau
The smallest ship impacted by this Alaska storm is Viking Orion, which carries around 930 guests.
The 47,842-gross-ton vessel is on a 23-night voyage from Vancouver to Tokyo, Japan, having departed on September 14, 2025.
She was originally scheduled to call at Sitka on September 17, but because Sitka is a tender port, high winds made it unsafe to transfer passengers by small boats.
Instead, Viking Orion adjusted her itinerary and will now visit Juneau on that date.
The arrival has been carefully timed to work around the storm, with the ship expected to dock in Juneau from 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM local time.
This change gives guests a secure port day while still keeping them within Alaska’s scenic southeast region.
Final Word
While guests on ships like Sapphire Princess, Ruby Princess, Discovery Princess, Caribbean Princess, Nieuw Amsterdam, and Viking Orion are disappointed by the cancelled or changed stops, these adjustments ensure everyone stays safe and comfortable.
The good news is that most ships are still managing to visit alternative ports or remain docked until the worst passes.
And for many travelers, even with some missed ports, the breathtaking scenery of Alaska and the onboard cruise experience make the journey memorable.
If you’re planning an Alaska sailing, it’s always wise to pack some patience along with your rain jacket.
Flexibility is part of the adventure — and sometimes the detour ends up being just as rewarding as the original plan.
