Norwegian Star, carrying 2,348 passengers on a 14‑night transatlantic voyage bound for Halifax (Canada) and Reykjavík (Iceland), lost power shortly after departing NYC's Manhattan Terminal on July 12th.
The ship drifted in the Hudson River, between the Intrepid Museum and the New Jersey shoreline, as tugboats moved in to assist. Power outages disrupted propulsion, air conditioning, lighting, and water services amid mid‑80°F heat, prompting evident discomfort among passengers.
Within hours, the vessel was towed back to Manhattan's Pier 88.
Following inspections and repairs, clearance was granted by the USCG/Coast Guard, and Norwegian Star resumed the voyage at ~00:30 on July 13th, with a scheduled sea day before reaching Halifax on July 14th as planned.
The incident reflects a recurring issue; Norwegian Star has a history of propulsion and power system failures dating back to its 2001 launch, including multiple Azipod-related incidents and a 2022 legal settlement tied to system defects.
The specific cause of this failure remains unconfirmed.
Despite the initial setback, the current itinerary remains intact, with planned port calls in Sydney NS, Prince Edward Island, Nuuk, Paamiut, Ísafjordur, Akureyri, and Grundarfjordur leading to the ship’s scheduled arrival in Reykjavík on July 26th.
Affected guests appear to have tolerated the unease of temporary outages, and Norwegian Cruise Line/NCL has taken steps to manage the situation and reassure passengers.
For more Norwegian Star incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.