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Severe winter weather in the Mediterranean has reshaped part of a luxury cruise itinerary after Silversea Cruises chose caution over schedule.
The storm hitting the Mediterranean at that time — officially designated Storm Harry — was part of a wider windstorm affecting multiple countries in the region.
As Cyclone Harry swept across the region, Silver Muse remained docked in Valletta longer than planned, delaying departure and forcing changes to upcoming port calls.
The decision prioritized safety as high winds and heavy seas intensified along the ship’s intended route.
Why the Ship Stayed Put in Malta
Silver Muse was already scheduled for an overnight stay in Valletta from January 18 to January 19, 2026.
With forecasts worsening, that stay was extended until the morning of January 20, 2026—and then effectively pushed further.
In a message to guests, Captain Kosta Doroshenko explained that the ship’s leadership, alongside chief meteorologist Craig Setzer, had been monitoring a strong low-pressure system expected to bring dangerous conditions toward Tunisia.
With no improvement predicted, the captain confirmed a delayed departure of around 7:00 a.m. the following morning.
Cruise-tracking data later showed the vessel still alongside in Valletta as of 4:00 a.m. on January 21, with surrounding swells reaching 4.7 meters (about 15 feet)—underscoring why the ship remained sheltered.
Ports Lost — And One Still on the Schedule
The extended delay made it impossible to keep the original routing intact.
- January 20, 2026: The call to La Goulette-Tunis was cancelled.
- January 21, 2026: The planned stop in Cagliari, Italy, was also dropped as the storm continued to impact Italy, and the ship had not departed Malta in time.
Despite the disruptions, Silversea confirmed that the ship intends to follow a modified route and still reach Valencia on schedule at 8:00 a.m. on January 23, 2026. Valencia remains the final port call of the voyage.
The Voyage at a Glance
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Ship | Silver Muse (launched 2017) |
| Passenger Capacity | 632 guests |
| Sailing Length | 20 nights |
| Embarkation | Lisbon, Portugal – January 4, 2026 |
| Cancelled Ports | La Goulette-Tunis (Jan 20), Cagliari (Jan 21) |
| Final Port Call | Valencia, Spain (Jan 23) |
| Disembarkation | Barcelona, Spain – January 24, 2026 |
Silversea Offers Compensation — Even Though It Isn’t Required
Cruise contracts generally state that weather-related itinerary changes do not obligate compensation. Even so, Silversea elected to go further.
Guests will receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) equal to the prorated two-day cruise fare covering the missed port calls.
According to the line:
- The FCC will be issued within 20 business days after disembarkation
- It must be applied to a new booking made within two years
Silversea acknowledged the inconvenience, thanking guests for their understanding during the disruption.
What Cyclone Harry Did to the Region
Malta was hit by a storm with winds reaching force 9 between Monday and Tuesday. Conditions included intense rainfall, coastal flooding, and winds reaching 55 knots (around 63 mph).
Home Affairs, Security, and Employment Minister Byron Camilleri reported that by 2:00 p.m., the Civil Protection Department had already responded to 197 separate incidents.
These included cases involving collapsed or dangerously leaning trees, fallen billboards, vehicle fires, and a range of other storm-related hazards.
In addition, 54 further incidents were handled by the Police, primarily involving individuals trapped inside vehicles, encounters with downed electrical cables, and cars stranded or immobilized by floodwaters.
Civil Protection Malta reported significant emergency activity in the first 30 hours of the storm:
- Fallen Trees: Over 40 trees blocked roads and public spaces.
- Debris: 23+ operations to clear debris.
- Billboard Incidents: 2 billboards toppled.
- Fires: 3 vehicle fires and 6 rubbish fires.
While Tunisia experienced its heaviest rainfall in more than 70 years, resulting in severe flooding and at least four fatalities, authorities clarified that this damage was caused by a different storm system and not Cyclone Harry.
Conditions Improve, Sailing Resumes
By the time officials confirmed the ship’s next steps, weather conditions around Valletta had noticeably settled.
Heavy winds had eased, leaving behind overcast skies and intermittent rain rather than the severe conditions seen earlier in the week.
Further along the route, La Goulette, Tunisia, was experiencing only light rainfall, with forecasts showing similar conditions lingering through January 24.
For Silver Muse, remaining in Malta rather than pushing ahead into open seas ultimately proved to be a calculated and safety-driven decision.
Although the extended stay meant giving up two scheduled ports, it allowed the ship to avoid hazardous swells, safeguard passengers and crew, and preserve the integrity of the overall voyage.
During winter sailings in the Mediterranean—where fast-moving storm systems are not uncommon—this kind of operational flexibility often makes the difference between disruption and a controlled, on-schedule conclusion.
