Storm Austen Brings Three Cruise Ships Back to Southampton Early
MSC Preziosa passengers have been told to arrive at Southampton’s City Cruise Terminal by 2 p.m. Friday, before the ship departs at 6 p.m., two hours early.
P&O Cruises’ Arvia and MSC Cruises’ MSC Preziosa and MSC Virtuosa are scheduled to reach Southampton early on Thursday evening, October 22, 2026, ahead of Storm Austen. Associated British Ports’ revised schedule lists Arvia and MSC Virtuosa for approximately 7 p.m., followed by MSC Preziosa at about 9:30 p.m.
The changes affect thousands of passengers returning from Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises. Arvia and MSC Preziosa had been expected on Friday morning, October 23. MSC Virtuosa was due on Saturday morning, October 24.
The disruption also affects passengers joining MSC Preziosa’s next sailing. MSC Cruises has instructed embarking guests to reach the City Cruise Terminal by 2 p.m. on Friday, with departure brought forward to 6 p.m. from the originally scheduled 8 p.m.
The revised arrival times remain provisional and could change with the weather, vessel traffic and the availability of local pilots.
Wind warnings cover southern Britain
The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning covering a broad area of southern Britain from midnight until 2 p.m. on Friday. Gusts are forecast to reach 50–60 mph, with coastal locations potentially experiencing 70 mph or more.
A separate amber warning runs from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. across southwestern areas, including Hartland, Cornwall and Plymouth. Gusts within that warning area could reach 60–70 mph, rising to 80 mph on some exposed headlands.
Chris Bulmer, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said on Wednesday that the storm’s precise track remained uncertain, but “there is increasing confidence in the potential for disruptive winds across parts of southwest England.”
Bulmer also warned that the strong winds would be accompanied by periods of heavy rain and urged people in affected areas to monitor updated forecasts and warnings as the storm develops.
Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings affected
Arvia is returning from a 13-night Mediterranean voyage that left Southampton on October 10. MSC Preziosa is completing a Northern Europe itinerary offered with several embarkation points, including Southampton, and MSC Virtuosa is finishing a five-night Northern Europe cruise that departed Southampton on October 19.
Arvia’s next scheduled voyage is a 14-night transatlantic crossing to Barbados, while both MSC ships are due to continue with Northern Europe itineraries. No route changes have yet been confirmed for those departures, and any adjustments will depend on the storm’s impact.
