Key Features:
- The FAA quickly restricted US flights, together with Puerto Rico and different elements of the Caribbean.
- It’s as a result of US army assault in Venezuela that came about on January 3.
- Cruise passengers have been unable to fly house, whereas others on suspended flights missed embarkation.
Cruise passengers touring throughout the Caribbean woke as much as widespread disruption on Jan. 3, 2026, after a US army assault in Venezuela led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to limit airspace over Puerto Rico, prompting widespread flight cancellations by US airways.
Cruise passengers getting back from Caribbean vacation cruises, anticipating to disembark and return to the US, in addition to others wanting ahead to arriving within the islands to embark on the primary trip of the brand new yr, obtained flight cancellation notices.
Luis Muñoz Marín Worldwide Airport in San Juan, particularly, confirmed the disruption in an official announcement, citing a safety order issued by the FAA, quickly proscribing airspace for twenty-four hours.
The airport is anticipated to stay closed till no less than 1 a.m. on January 4, 2026.
Virgin Voyages Points Advisory
Virgin Voyages issued an advisory to its company disembarking in San Juan, confirming that US airline flights have been impacted and outlining required procedures.
“Native port authorities have suggested that the airspace over Puerto Rico is quickly closed for all US airways because of army exercise in Venezuela,” the cruise line stated in a press release. “That is impacting flights operated by US airways flying into and out of San Juan.”
“US Customs and Border Safety requires the ship to be cleared. Disembarkation occasions stay unchanged. All Sailors should disembark by 10:30 a.m. as initially schedule,” the discover continued.
Regardless of the flight disruptions, the cruise line stated disembarkation procedures couldn’t be delayed. Nevertheless, the cruise line confirmed an itinerary change to keep away from calls at Curaçao and Aruba on its January 3 cruise.
The discover to company stated:
“As a result of evolving scenario in Venezuela, we’ve made some cautious changes to our route in the perfect curiosity of our sailors and crew. Security is all the time our high precedence, and after shut coordination with authorities officers, we’re assured that that is the proper resolution to make your time at sea peaceable, protected and full of wonderful moments.“
Passengers have been instructed to proceed to the airport as deliberate and to work instantly with their airline for flight-specific updates, as airways are answerable for accounting for all vacationers and sharing rebooking choices.
Different Caribbean Airports Impacted
Different airports throughout the Caribbean made comparable bulletins, together with Princess Juliana Worldwide Airport in St. Maarten (St. Martin).
“Whereas airport operations proceed, flight exercise is at the moment impacted, and a few flights could also be delayed or cancelled, significantly these involving US-registered plane, because of an lively NOTAM affecting Caribbean airspace,” the airport stated in a press release.
Different airports affected embrace these within the US Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Antigua, Grenada, and St. Lucia.
Cruise Passengers Left Scrambling
The disruption created challenges not just for passengers ending cruises in San Juan and past, but in addition for these scheduled to reach for brand spanking new sailings.
Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, carrying as much as 2,191 passengers, and Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Woman, with as much as 2,770 company, each arrived in San Juan on January 3 to finish a voyage and relaunch on a subsequent cruise.
Virgin Voyages acknowledged that some passengers can be unable to succeed in ships in time for the following embarkation because of cancelled or suspended flights. It stated these not capable of attain Valiant Woman earlier than her 8 p.m. departure would obtain compensation.
“Any Sailor unable to embark because of this example will obtain a full voyage credit score to make use of on a future Virgin Voyages crusing,” the cruise line stated.
Though San Juan’s airport is shut down till 1 a.m. on January 4, the reopening time is topic to additional analysis and will impression others making an attempt to reach in Puerto Rico for January 4 departures.
Learn Additionally: San Juan Cruise Port – Facilities and What’s Close by
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic, and Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas are every set to return to San Juan on January 4 with company each desirous to get house and to embark on the following voyage.
Grand Princess, which can be based mostly out of San Juan, is, in reality, delaying its departure from the Caribbean port till Monday, January 6, at 6:00 PM, giving stranded passengers extra time to get to the ship. Nevertheless, that has resulted in an itinerary with the cancellation of St. Thomas within the US Virgin Islands.
“On our solution to airport this morning in Indiana and flight was cancelled. Southwest Airways is saying Puerto Rico is on lockdown. Can’t come up with Princess Cruises,” stated one distraught passenger.
Friends crusing with Virgin Voyages additionally obtained notification of tour cancellations in Aruba and Curaçao, that are positioned inside 220 nautical miles from Venezuela’s border. The calls have been scheduled for January 5 and 6, respectively, and the cruise line has not revealed if ships will probably be repositioned to new ports instead.
Brilliance of the Seas additionally has Aruba and Curaçao on its itinerary, with a January 8 and 9 arrivals, respectively.
Undoubtedly, cruise strains will probably be paying very shut consideration to additional army motion which will have an effect on the security of crew and passengers.
Cruise company are suggested to verify instantly with airways and cruise strains, though cruise strains are reporting higher-than-normal name volumes and to stay affected person throughout this disruption.
