A South Pacific Cruise Just Lost Its Fijian Island Day

Passengers booked on Norwegian Spirit’s last South Pacific voyage of the year have learned that their itinerary is shrinking. Norwegian Cruise Line has notified guests and travel advisors that the 13-night sailing departing Papeete, Tahiti, on November 17, 2026, will skip one port entirely and spend less time in four others. The cruise was scheduled to visit Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Rarotonga, Pago Pago, Apia, Suva and Dravuni before ending in Lautoka, Fiji, on November 30.

The biggest loss is Dravuni, a tiny Fijian island that was due to host the 1,972-passenger ship for a full day on November 29, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Instead, Norwegian Spirit will sail straight to Lautoka, arriving at noon that day and staying overnight before guests disembark as planned on the morning of November 30. Small islands like Dravuni are often a highlight of South Pacific cruises because they offer beaches and village visits that larger ports cannot.

The French Polynesia calls are also being trimmed. The ship will now reach Moorea at 8 a.m. on November 18 rather than 7 a.m., leave Bora Bora two hours early on November 19 and depart Raiatea three hours early on November 20. In Fiji, the November 28 visit to Suva loses two hours, with departure moved from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. Guests who booked shore excursions independently should check whether their tours still fit inside the new windows.

NCL said only that the changes were made to support the overall operation of the voyage and did not give a specific reason. The line’s notice asked travel partners to make sure clients receive the update. Because the sailing is the final departure of Norwegian Spirit’s 2026 South Pacific season, the adjustments may be tied to the ship’s repositioning plans. Anyone flying home from Fiji keeps the same disembarkation morning, so onward flight bookings should not be affected.

Sources: Cruise Hive