The cruise ship Norwegian Epic skipped its scheduled stop in Curaçao on Wednesday and sailed directly to Barbados instead. According to passengers on social media, the ship’s captain said the decision was made to avoid the area due to nearby naval exercises, reportedly following instructions from cruise line operator Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).
Curaçao’s Minister of Economic Development, Roderick Middelhof, confirmed that the vessel traveled straight from Aruba to Barbados, but stated that he could not officially confirm the reason for the change in itinerary.
Growing tensions between the United States and Venezuela have raised concerns across the Caribbean. Despite this, caretaker Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans emphasized that there is no immediate threat to Aruba, Bonaire, or Curaçao, which are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The situation intensified after two near-miss incidents involving commercial passenger aircraft and US military planes in Curaçao’s airspace. The American military aircraft involved were reportedly flying with their transponders turned off, making them difficult to detect by air traffic control and civilian pilots.
In response, a majority in the Curaçao parliament has asked the Netherlands for military assistance, including access to advanced Dutch military equipment capable of better identifying unidentified aircraft. Lawmakers also want the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten to address the situation diplomatically.
As tourism plays a vital role in the island’s economy, Curaçao’s government has sought to reassure travelers that the destination remains safe despite increased US military activity near Venezuela. Dutch airline KLM, which operates around 20 flights to and from Curaçao during the current season, has increased monitoring and implemented additional measures to ensure its aircraft remain highly visible in the region.
Photo Credits : https://nltimes.nl/2025/12/18/cruise-ships-skipping-curacao-us-venezuela-tensions
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