Key Aspects:
- MSC Preziosa has cancelled an overnight stay in Hamburg with a sea day.
- The itinerary change for May 9, 2026, means guests will miss the annual Hafengeburtstag port festival.
- MSC Cruises offered 50 euros per person – up to 100 euros per cabin – as compensation for the adjustment.
Passengers sailing aboard MSC Cruises’ MSC Preziosa received an unexpected itinerary update after the cruise line delayed the ship’s arrival into Hamburg, Germany.
Guests were wrapping up a port call in Kristiansand, Norway, on May 6, 2026, when notices began arriving in cabins outlining changes to the remainder of the 7-night Northern Europe sailing from Hamburg.
Under the revised itinerary, MSC Preziosa will no longer arrive in Hamburg on the evening of May 9, as originally scheduled. Instead, passengers will spend that day at sea before arriving the morning of May 10 for disembarkation.
The change also extends the ship’s stop in Skagen, Denmark, by three additional hours.
“Our arrival in Hamburg has been postponed to the early morning hours of Sunday, May 10, due to operational reasons. At the same time, we are pleased to let you know that this will allow you to spend additional time in the charming coastal town of Skagen,” the notice read.
The notice said the change was necessary due to “urgent maintenance work,” although the cruise line did not provide additional details about the issue affecting the vessel.
MSC Cruises also encouraged passengers to take advantage of the longer Skagen stay by booking additional shore excursions through the cruise line.
Originally, the ship was scheduled to depart Skagen by 4 p.m. on May 8 before arriving in Hamburg at 5 p.m. the following day for an overnight call. Under the revised itinerary, the ship will now remain in Skagen until 7 p.m. before spending May 9 at sea.
To offset frustration over the change, MSC Cruises issued passengers a non-refundable onboard credit worth 50 euros per person, capped at 100 euros per cabin.
The credit can be used on board the ship for purchases such as drinks, shore excursions, spa treatments, and other onboard services.
MSC Preziosa is one of MSC Cruises’ Fantasia-class ships that can carry about 5,000 guests when fully occupied. The affected sailing departed from Hamburg on May 3 and also included visits to Copenhagen and Oslo.
Missing Out on the Fun
For many passengers aboard MSC Preziosa, the schedule change goes beyond losing an overnight port call. The revised schedule now means guests will miss one of Hamburg’s largest annual events.
The ship had originally been scheduled to arrive during Hamburg’s annual Hafengeburtstag celebration, also known as the Port Anniversary festival, which runs from May 8 through May 10.
The event is one of the world’s largest maritime festivals and regularly draws more than a million visitors to the German port city each year for fireworks over the harbor, ship parades, concerts, food stalls, waterfront events, and appearances by cruise ships, naval vessels, and tall ships.
Several cruise ships are expected to participate in this year’s festivities, including TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 7; AIDA Cruises’ AIDAperla, AIDAsol and AIDAluna; and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky, along with several other regional cruise lines.
Passenger reactions online quickly reflected disappointment over the change, with one guest saying on social media, “Eighty percent of the people booked this cruise to celebrate the Hamburg Port anniversary and see the fireworks.”
The annual Hafengeburtstag celebration is one of the largest port festivals in the world, drawing more than a million visitors annually.
Some passengers also criticized the onboard credit offer as inadequate compensation for missing one of Germany’s biggest celebrations.
