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Hawaii and more destinations are seeing cruise plans change as Princess and others adjust voyages around Hurricane Lowell. As Hawaii faces changing weather conditions, cruise plans are shifting, and travellers are watching every update. Princess and other cruise operators are adjusting voyages to protect passengers while keeping Hawaii travel plans moving. Meanwhile, Hurricane Lowell has changed expectations for several cruise journeys, making flexible travel more important than ever. For travellers planning Hawaii cruises, these changes offer important lessons about itineraries, ports and shore excursions. Travel And Tour World urges readers to follow the entire story for the latest Hawaii cruise plans, Princess updates, and Hurricane Lowell travel developments.

Why the Ruby Princess Change Matters to Hawaii Cruise Travellers

The Ruby Princess itinerary adjustment illustrates an important reality of cruising around Hawaii during tropical-weather season.

The ship was scheduled to call at Nawiliwili on Kauaʻi on September 22, 2026. Princess Cruises cancelled that port visit following Hurricane Lowell and moved the vessel to an extended Honolulu call.

Ruby Princess will reach Honolulu earlier and remain overnight before continuing its voyage.

The sailing is a 16-night round trip from San Francisco. Its scheduled Hawaiian and Mexican calls include Honolulu, Kailua Kona, Kahului and Ensenada, alongside ten full days at sea.

For passengers, the change does not simply mean losing one sightseeing stop.

It changes where travellers can spend their shore time, which excursions remain possible, and how they should approach independent travel arrangements.

The situation is also significant because Hurricane Lowell produced particularly strong impacts on Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.

The National Weather Service recorded a maximum gust of 92 mph at Puu Lua on Kauaʻi. Lihue Airport recorded an 84 mph gust, while Nawiliwili recorded an 87 mph maritime gust.

Rainfall was also substantial.

The National Weather Service recorded 21.11 inches over 72 hours at Kilohana and 18.63 inches at Mount Waialeale. Other Kauaʻi locations also recorded more than 10 inches.

These figures help explain why a cruise ship can alter a port call even after the storm has moved away.

Hurricane Lowell: Key Data Travellers Should Know

The National Weather Service data show that the storm’s impact was not limited to rainfall.

Strong winds affected exposed areas, while heavy precipitation created additional risks involving roads, streams, slopes and coastal locations.

For cruise passengers, this is an important distinction.

A port may be geographically close to a storm’s track but still become unsuitable because roads, utilities, shore facilities or tourist attractions have not recovered.

Kauaʻi Recovery Data and Current Visitor Warning

Travellers should be particularly careful with Kauaʻi plans following the Ruby Princess cancellation.

Hawaiʻi’s Division of State Parks reported that all Kauaʻi island parks remained closed following Hurricane Lowell because of storm damage.

Officials specifically warned about flash flooding, storm surge and other hazards.

Camping on Kauaʻi state park land was also unavailable at that point.

The Governor’s office separately reported that DLNR lands on Kauaʻi would remain closed into the foreseeable future because of widespread damage.

Kōkeʻe State Park and Kōkeʻe Road were specifically highlighted because of numerous unresolved hazards.

This means travellers should not automatically replace a cancelled cruise excursion with a self-arranged Kauaʻi tour.

The status of individual roads, parks, trails and commercial activities can change independently.

Līhuʻe Airport has also faced infrastructure problems.

Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation reported that the airport had been operating on backup generators after the storm damaged power infrastructure.

Security screening was reduced to one line, resulting in longer waiting periods. Airlines were spacing flights to allow passengers additional time.

Traveller takeaway

Anyone planning a post-cruise stay on Kauaʻi should confirm:

• Airport operating conditions
• Road restrictions
• Park reopening announcements
• Tour operator availability
• Hotel access
• Rental-car operating conditions
• Cruise embarkation requirements
• Weather forecasts
• Official emergency notices

A beautiful destination can remain temporarily inaccessible even when commercial flights are operating.

Six Other Cruises That Faced Weather-Related Itinerary Disruption

1. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America and Hurricane Lala

Pride of America provides one of the closest comparisons to Ruby Princess because it operates a dedicated Hawaii itinerary.

Hurricane Lala affected Hawaii in August 2026 and produced another example of a cruise itinerary being modified because of changing weather and port conditions.

The National Weather Service reported that Lala made a direct hit as a Category 1 hurricane over Hawaiʻi Island, with its eyewall passing near South Point around 4 p.m. HST on August 15.

A South Point observation recorded sustained winds of 51 mph and a gust of 71 mph. Radar data indicated considerably stronger winds at higher elevations.

The storm produced catastrophic flooding in the Kau District of Hawaiʻi Island and significant flooding on Oʻahu and Maui.

Pride of America subsequently altered its itinerary.

The Kauaʻi visit was cancelled and an overnight Hilo stay was incorporated instead, while planned calls at Kahului and Kailua Kona remained part of the revised journey.

For travellers, the comparison is useful because the replacement destination still provided an opportunity to explore Hawaii rather than simply converting the affected day into sea time.

Hilo can provide a different experience from Kauaʻi, with access to Hawaiʻi Island’s volcanic landscapes, waterfalls and cultural attractions.

However, passengers should understand that an alternative port is not necessarily equivalent to the cancelled destination.

Cruise excursions are built around specific arrival and departure windows. Weather-related changes can therefore affect transport availability, attraction opening hours and independent sightseeing.

Lala also demonstrates why travellers should avoid building an entire Hawaii holiday around one specific port.

The National Weather Service documented substantial flooding and damaging winds across several islands, showing how a single tropical system can influence multiple destinations.

For future Pride of America passengers, a flexible excursion strategy is therefore useful.

Keep one or two shore activities interchangeable, monitor official weather information and avoid expensive non-refundable arrangements that depend entirely on a single port call.

2. Norwegian Spirit and Hurricane Lala

Norwegian Spirit faced another significant itinerary change during the same Lala weather event.

The ship was operating a 16-night Vancouver-to-Honolulu voyage during August 2026.

The planned Hawaiian programme included Kahului and Nawiliwili before the ship was expected to finish in Honolulu.

After the weather situation deteriorated, the final planned Hawaiian calls at Hilo and Kailua-Kona were cancelled.

The vessel reached Honolulu earlier than originally scheduled and passengers were affected by changes surrounding the port operation. Contemporary reporting put the early Honolulu arrival roughly two days ahead of the original finishing schedule.

The case demonstrates another important difference between an itinerary change and a normal port cancellation.

When weather conditions affect the final stages of a cruise, the cruise line may have to manage not only sightseeing but also the next passenger turnover.

That can influence disembarkation timing, airport connections, luggage arrangements and hotel bookings.

The Lala event also affected Honolulu harbour operations.

Reporting at the time indicated that the port faced restrictions while authorities assessed conditions before normal vessel movements resumed.

For travellers, Norwegian Spirit demonstrates why passengers should avoid booking very tight post-cruise flights after a weather-sensitive voyage.

A same-day connection can become difficult if a ship reaches port earlier, later or at a different berth.

Travellers staying overnight in Honolulu should also keep their accommodation reservation flexible when possible.

The wider lesson is that itinerary protection works best when passengers plan around a destination rather than a single fixed activity.

If Hilo disappears from the schedule, the traveller can explore Honolulu.

If Kona disappears, the traveller can use additional shipboard time.

That flexibility becomes especially valuable during tropical weather periods.

3. Carnival Dream and Hurricane Beryl

Carnival Dream was among the ships affected by Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

Carnival Cruise Line announced that the ship’s departure from Galveston was moved earlier.

Passengers embarking on July 7 were instructed to arrive at the port by 2 p.m., with the ship scheduled to depart at 3 p.m.

The change illustrates that hurricane-related disruption does not always mean cancelling a port.

Sometimes the most important change occurs before the ship even leaves its homeport.

Cruise lines can modify departure times to place vessels farther away from forecast weather conditions or to provide greater flexibility for the voyage.

For travellers, an altered embarkation time can have significant consequences.

Guests flying into the departure city should monitor airline schedules and cruise-line instructions rather than relying exclusively on the original booking confirmation.

A hotel booked for the night before departure can become particularly valuable during uncertain weather.

The Carnival case also highlights the importance of monitoring official hurricane information.

Carnival stated that its operational decisions considered information from the National Hurricane Center, the U.S. Coast Guard and local port authorities.

This is a useful model for cruise passengers.

Social-media forecasts may provide useful context, but official weather agencies and direct cruise-line notifications should guide practical travel decisions.

For travellers considering Gulf Coast cruises during hurricane season, the Dream experience also shows why arriving in the departure city early can reduce stress.

A passenger who arrives a day before embarkation has more protection against flight delays.

A passenger arriving only hours before sailing has fewer options if weather disrupts air traffic.

4. Carnival Paradise and Hurricane Beryl

Carnival Paradise experienced a direct port substitution during Hurricane Beryl.

Instead of visiting Cozumel, Mexico, the ship visited Nassau in The Bahamas on July 6, 2024.

This is a useful comparison with Ruby Princess because the cruise line did not simply remove the entire shore experience.

The destination was changed.

For travellers, a substituted port can create both opportunities and complications.

Passengers who have already visited Nassau may prefer a different experience from those who had planned Cozumel.

Excursions booked around the original destination may also become irrelevant.

The practical response is to treat the new port as a separate destination.

Travellers should check whether their original excursion has been cancelled and determine whether the cruise line has automatically refunded it.

They should then review available activities at the substitute port.

This is particularly important because cruise ports differ significantly in geography.

Cozumel is associated with reef, marine and archaeological experiences, while Nassau offers a different mix of beaches, historic attractions and island activities.

The Paradise example therefore demonstrates that flexibility is more valuable than trying to recreate the cancelled excursion elsewhere.

Passengers should also avoid booking independent transportation until the revised arrival time is confirmed.

Weather changes can alter both the duration and exact timing of a port call.

Carnival’s wider Beryl update covered several ships simultaneously and stated that its teams were monitoring the hurricane and incorporating guidance from weather and maritime authorities.

For travellers, that provides a clear reminder that hurricane-related cruise changes are operational decisions based on evolving conditions.

5. Carnival Breeze and Hurricane Beryl

Carnival Breeze was another ship whose itinerary changed because of Hurricane Beryl.

The ship did not make its scheduled July 4, 2024 call at Progreso, Mexico.

Carnival’s published update identified the port omission as part of a wider group of itinerary changes made because of Beryl’s projected path.

The Breeze example is particularly relevant for travellers who assume that a cruise itinerary is fixed once the ship leaves port.

Cruise routes remain subject to operational decisions throughout the voyage.

A missed destination can mean a sea day, an alternative port or a modified arrival sequence.

For passengers, the best preparation is financial rather than merely logistical.

Independent excursions, transportation reservations and attraction tickets should ideally be refundable when possible.

Travellers should also maintain a record of booking confirmations and payment information.

If the cruise line cancels a port, the passenger can then identify which independent reservations need to be cancelled separately.

The Breeze case also demonstrates why passengers should distinguish between cruise-line excursions and independently arranged activities.

Cruise-line excursions are normally integrated into the ship’s revised schedule.

Independent arrangements remain the passenger’s responsibility.

For families, an unexpected sea day can also require a change in expectations.

Parents travelling with children should keep flexible onboard activities available.

Couples may prefer additional dining, spa or entertainment options.

Travellers seeking cultural experiences can use sea days to research the next destination rather than treating the cancelled call as a lost holiday day.

The wider lesson is straightforward.

A cruise is a moving holiday, and the route can change when safety or port conditions require it.

6. Carnival Horizon and Hurricane Beryl

Carnival Horizon experienced a more substantial itinerary alteration during Hurricane Beryl.

Its scheduled Grand Cayman call on July 3, 2024 was cancelled.

The ship also changed its Cozumel visit and added Nassau to the itinerary on July 5 instead.

This makes Horizon one of the clearest examples of a cruise itinerary being rebuilt around changing weather conditions.

The passenger experience can change substantially when more than one port is affected.

A traveller may lose one destination while gaining another.

The timing of shore days can also change.

That affects independent excursions, restaurant reservations and transportation plans.

Horizon also shows why travellers should avoid assuming that a replacement destination will necessarily operate on the same timetable as the original.

A revised arrival could provide several hours in port, while another destination may be shortened.

Cruise passengers should therefore check the ship’s updated daily programme before leaving the vessel.

For international visitors, this is particularly important because immigration, port-security and identification procedures can differ between destinations.

Passengers should carry the identification documents required by their cruise line and destination authorities.

The Beryl examples collectively demonstrate that cruise operators can make several types of adjustments.

They can alter departure times, cancel ports, substitute destinations, reorder calls or add sea time.

The underlying principle is that the vessel’s route remains adaptable.

Royal Caribbean similarly explains that its ships may alter itineraries when tropical systems threaten passengers, ships or affected areas.

For travellers, this means flexibility should be considered part of hurricane-season cruise planning rather than an unusual exception.

Six Cruise Disruption Cases at a Glance

Hawaii Visitor Statistics: Five-Year Comparison

Hawaii’s tourism industry has changed significantly during the past five years.

The figures must be interpreted carefully because 2021 was still heavily affected by the pandemic and associated travel restrictions.

By 2022, visitor numbers had rebounded sharply.

The state recorded 6,777,760 visitors in 2021 and 9,247,848 in 2022.

The 2022 total represented a 36.4% increase over 2021.

The recovery continued in 2023.

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s annual research reported 9,499,995 visitors staying overnight or longer when measured through its annual visitor series.

DBEDT’s annual data series also show Hawaii operating close to the pre-pandemic visitor scale during this period.

In 2024, the state recorded approximately 9.70 million visitors in the revised annual series.

The latest full-year 2025 figure was 9,642,991, a 0.6% decline from 2024.

However, visitor spending reached $21.75 billion, up 5.7% from $20.58 billion in 2024.

This distinction is important.

Visitor numbers alone do not describe the entire tourism economy.

Travellers may be arriving in slightly smaller numbers while spending more per person or staying differently.

Five-Year Hawaii Visitor Table

*2024 figures have appeared in revised and preliminary DBEDT releases; the 9,701,499 figure is the comparison used in the latest 2025 annual release.

Visitor Spending Comparison

The 2025 figure demonstrates that tourism demand remained economically significant even though total arrivals were marginally lower.

For travellers, this also means popular destinations can remain busy even when headline arrival numbers appear stable.

Cruise Tourism in Hawaii: Detailed Numbers

Cruise tourism forms only one component of Hawaii’s overall visitor industry.

In 2025, 149,778 visitors arrived via 79 trips by out-of-state cruise ships.

A further 6,756 visitors flew to Honolulu for turnaround cruise operations.

The state also has the home-ported Pride of America operation.

In December 2025 alone, 18,631 visitors arrived through ten trips by out-of-state cruise ships.

Another 9,401 visitors flew into Hawaii to board Pride of America.

Cruise visitor statistics

Cruise arrivals therefore represent a much smaller component of Hawaii’s total tourism market than air arrivals.

Yet cruise passengers can have a concentrated effect on individual ports because thousands of visitors may arrive and depart around the same time.

That makes port accessibility and infrastructure particularly important after a hurricane.

Oahu and Kauaʻi: Visitor Comparison

Oahu remains Hawaii’s largest visitor market.

DBEDT recorded 5,679,047 visitors to Oahu in 2025, compared with 5,794,854 in 2024.

Visitor spending on Oahu nevertheless increased from $8.94 billion in 2024 to $9.42 billion in 2025.

Kauaʻi recorded 1,419,943 visitors in 2025, compared with 1,393,101 in 2024.

Its visitor spending reached $2.93 billion in 2025, compared with $2.87 billion in 2024.

These figures underline why a cruise passenger who loses a Kauaʻi call can still experience a destination with a substantial tourism infrastructure by spending additional time on Oahu.

What to Do in Honolulu During the Extended Ruby Princess Call

The extended Honolulu stay gives travellers a practical alternative to the cancelled Kauaʻi day.

A useful approach is to divide the day into cultural, coastal and culinary experiences.

Morning

Begin around Waikīkī and the surrounding central Honolulu area.

Travellers interested in history can build a cultural itinerary around Honolulu’s historic district and major heritage attractions.

Avoid overloading the morning because traffic can affect shore excursions.

Late morning

Choose either a coastal experience or a cultural attraction.

Travellers seeking outdoor scenery can consider officially operating coastal areas after checking local conditions.

Those interested in history can prioritise museums and historic sites.

Afternoon

Return toward the port area with sufficient time before the ship’s required onboard deadline.

Cruise passengers should not plan a long-distance independent excursion late in the day.

Evening

An overnight call creates more flexibility.

Travellers can consider a Hawaiian cultural performance or lūʻau-style evening experience.

Hawaiʻi’s official tourism information describes lūʻau as experiences combining food, music and cultural performance.

What to Eat in Honolulu

Travellers can use the extended Honolulu stay to explore traditional Hawaiian dishes.

Important foods include:

The official Go Hawaii cultural guide identifies poi, kālua pig, laulau, haupia and poke among popular lūʻau dishes.

For cruise passengers, a food-focused itinerary works particularly well because these dishes can be experienced without travelling deep into the island.

Where to Stay Before or After a Hawaii Cruise

Travellers extending their cruise holiday should choose accommodation based on the next transportation requirement.

Honolulu

Waikīkī is practical for visitors wanting beaches, restaurants and easy access to central Honolulu attractions.

Downtown Honolulu can suit travellers prioritising cultural and business districts.

Airport-area accommodation can be useful when the priority is an early flight.

Kauaʻi

Once Kauaʻi officially reopens affected areas, travellers can consider accommodation around Līhuʻe, Kapaʻa or Poʻipū depending on their itinerary.

However, accommodation availability should not be confused with destination readiness.

At the time of this report, DLNR lands and state parks remained closed because of Hurricane Lowell recovery.

Travellers should therefore verify the latest government information before booking activities around closed areas.

What to Visit on Kauaʻi When Conditions Fully Reopen

Kauaʻi’s attractions should be approached in phases after a major storm.

Travellers can consider:

• Waimea Canyon
• Kōkeʻe
• Wailua River
• Nāpali Coast
• Hanalei
• Poʻipū
• Līhuʻe
• Wailua Falls area

However, these should be treated as future planning ideas rather than current reopening advice.

Hawaiʻi officials have explicitly stated that Kauaʻi parks remain closed following Hurricane Lowell.

The state warns visitors not to enter closed areas because of flooding, storm-surge and other hazards.

Seven-Day Hawaii Traveller Plan Around a Cruise

For the Ruby Princess itinerary specifically, the additional Honolulu time creates an unusual opportunity for passengers to experience the capital city at a slower pace.

The key is not to fill every available hour.

A hurricane-related itinerary change can be followed by further operational adjustments.

A flexible schedule therefore provides greater protection than a tightly packed sightseeing plan.

Detailed Two-Day Honolulu Shore Plan

Day One: Culture, Coast and Local Food

Day Two: Flexible Oahu Exploration

Hurricane-Season Cruise Planning Checklist

Travellers considering Hawaii cruises should keep the following checklist.

Before booking

Check the cruise’s normal hurricane-season itinerary.

Look at the number of sea days.

Check whether alternative ports are commonly available.

Review the cruise line’s weather-change terms.

Consider refundable hotel and flight options.

Before departure

Monitor National Weather Service forecasts.

Check cruise-line notifications.

Review port conditions.

Confirm excursion cancellation rules.

Avoid booking expensive independent excursions too far in advance.

During the cruise

Read daily onboard updates.

Keep identification documents accessible.

Do not assume the original port schedule remains unchanged.

Wait for the latest shore-excursion information.

Avoid leaving the ship immediately after docking until local conditions are confirmed.

After a storm

Check state government notices.

Check airport operating conditions.

Check road restrictions.

Check park closures.

Check attraction reopening notices.

Allow additional airport and transportation time.

Key Travel Statistics at a Glance

Final Traveller Perspective

The Ruby Princess itinerary change is a reminder that Hawaii cruises are shaped by both tourism demand and island conditions.

Kauaʻi remains an important destination, but Hurricane Lowell created infrastructure and safety conditions that required cruise operators to reconsider port access.

For Ruby Princess passengers, the result is more time in Honolulu instead of a Nawiliwili call.

For future travellers, the bigger lesson is preparation.

A Hawaii cruise should be planned with flexibility around weather, ports, excursions, flights and accommodation.

The five-year tourism figures show a substantial recovery in Hawaii visitor numbers, while the 2025 spending data indicate that the visitor economy remains economically significant.

At the same time, the 2026 hurricane disruptions demonstrate why visitor statistics alone cannot determine whether a particular attraction or port is ready on a particular day.

Travellers should use official weather, transportation and park notices alongside cruise-line communications.

For Kauaʻi specifically, the latest government notices should take priority over older destination guides because recovery conditions can change rapidly.

The safest approach is therefore simple: keep the itinerary flexible, monitor official updates and treat every revised cruise schedule as the current plan rather than relying on the original booking.

Conclusion

Hawaii and more destinations continue to see cruise plans change as Princess and others adjust voyages around Hurricane Lowell. For travellers, these changes highlight the importance of flexibility when planning Hawaii cruises, shore excursions and island visits. Princess and other cruise operators continue to monitor conditions and revise voyages when required. Therefore, passengers should check official updates before travelling and remain prepared for itinerary changes. Hurricane Lowell has shown how quickly weather can influence cruise plans, ports and travel schedules. Travel And Tour World encourages travellers to monitor the latest cruise updates and plan carefully for a smoother Hawaii journey.