Norwegian Joy Delayed After Fin Whale Found on Bow Near Sitka – 17 September 2026

Norwegian Joy arrived at Sitka, Alaska, about three hours behind schedule on 17 September 2026 after a dead fin whale was found on the ship’s bow. The vessel was held offshore while local and federal authorities assessed the situation and coordinated the response.

The ship had been sailing from Hoonah/Icy Strait Point to Sitka with approximately 4,000 passengers aboard when passengers were advised that the vessel had apparently encountered a whale.

Norwegian Joy remained about two miles offshore before it was cleared to enter Sitka. Passengers reported that the Captain announced the ship needed to be inspected by local authorities after the whale was identified on the bow.

A response involving the US Coast Guard, NOAA Fisheries, the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network and a tugboat was organised to remove the animal. No injuries to passengers or crew were reported in connection with the event.

Responders estimated the fin whale was a juvenile male measuring about 35 to 45 feet (11 to 14 metres). During the towing operation, the carcass sank in a cove near the shoreline, but the response team secured it to trees on the beach.

The team planned to recover the remains for a necropsy, which may help establish the whale’s health, age and cause of death.

It was not known where along the route the whale was struck, or whether it had already died before Norwegian Joy encountered it. The available report did not identify a time of impact, the ship’s speed, weather conditions or any damage to the vessel.

NOAA Fisheries said that 10 whale strikes involving cruise ships in Alaska have been documented since 2001. The agency noted that some reported incidents are not confirmed and that the full number of encounters is difficult to determine because collisions can go unnoticed or occur in remote waters.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it was cooperating with authorities and wildlife specialists. The cruise line said the event highlighted the importance of cooperation between maritime, scientific and conservation organisations and reiterated its commitment to regulatory compliance and responsible operations.

The report did not state the exact location or time of the encounter, whether the whale was alive when struck, the extent of any inspection findings or whether Norwegian Joy sustained damage. It also did not disclose the total number of crew members aboard or any later findings from the planned necropsy.

• Norwegian Joy arrived in Sitka about three hours late on 17 September 2026.
• A dead fin whale was found on the ship’s bow after the vessel travelled from Hoonah/Icy Strait Point.
• Authorities held the ship offshore while a multi-agency team assessed the situation and removed the whale.
• The circumstances of the encounter, including whether the whale was alive when struck, had not been established.

Norwegian Joy was delayed while authorities inspected the vessel and managed the whale recovery operation. The ship was subsequently permitted to enter Sitka, and no passenger or crew injuries were reported.