Royal Caribbean redirected several cruises originally scheduled for the Bahamas and Bermuda to Canadian ports in late October 2026. Oasis of the Seas, departing Cape Liberty, New Jersey on October 18, had its three Bahamas port calls canceled and rerouted to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Independence of the Seas, departing Cape Liberty on October 24, was redirected from Bermuda to Saint John, New Brunswick, affecting over 5,000 passengers across multiple sailings.
Independence of the Seas Bermuda to Saint John Reroute
Passengers on Independence of the Seas were notified on October 22, 2026, less than two days before departure, that the scheduled Bermuda overnight stop had been replaced with a visit
to Saint John. Originally set to arrive at Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard at 9am on October 26 and depart at 5pm on October 27, the ship instead was planned to reach Saint John at 10:30am on October 26, remaining until 2:30pm on October 27. The reroute was prompted by gale warnings including sustained winds of 25 to 35 knots and gusts up to 40 knots, with wave heights of 7 to 19 feet forecasted in the waters between the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda.
Oasis of the Seas Bahamas Ports Canceled, Redirected to Halifax
Oasis of the Seas began its voyage from Cape Liberty on October 18, 2026, on a
seven-night itinerary originally scheduled to visit Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, Royal Caribbean canceled all three Bahamas ports and instead routed the ship to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ship was initially set to arrive in Halifax at 6pm on October 20, departing at 8am on October 21, but the stay was extended until 6pm on October 21, allowing passengers ashore access. Compensation for guests included onboard credits ranging from $200 to $600 per guest and a future cruise credit worth 50% of the fare paid.
Harmony of the Seas Itinerary Adjusted to Maintain Bahamas Calls
Harmony of the Seas, which departed Port
Canaveral, Florida on October 24, 2026, faced itinerary changes that reordered port visits without canceling any Bahamas destinations. Originally scheduled to visit Nassau on October 26 and Perfect Day at CocoCay on October 27, the itinerary was rescheduled so that Nassau’s visit moved to October 25 from 7:30am to 5:30pm, with Perfect Day at CocoCay shifted to October 27 from 7am to 5pm. The ship’s final sea day and return to Port Canaveral on October 29 remained unchanged. These adjustments were made to avoid the forecasted high winds along the Bahamas and ensured passengers still experienced all booked destinations.
Passenger Impact and Compensation
Passengers
on Independence of the Seas, carrying 3,858 guests, faced cancellation of Bermuda shore excursions with the cruise line providing refunds as onboard credits calculated per stateroom. Oasis of the Seas passengers initially were not permitted ashore during the overnight Halifax stop but later received extended port hours until 6pm, allowing a full day for sightseeing. Travelers had to adjust to cooler Canadian climates with temperatures forecasted in the mid-50s Fahrenheit, as advised by Royal Caribbean. The line instructed passengers to pack warmer clothes due to the significant temperature difference compared to the Bahamas and Bermuda. Thousands of passengers across multiple
sailings had to manage abrupt itinerary changes and canceled warm-weather excursions.
Official Statements and Weather Causes
Royal Caribbean explained that weather conditions along the U.S. East Coast, including gale warnings and high seas, made the original routes to Bermuda and the Bahamas unsuitable. The company stated, “After exploring all of our options, we’ve decided to sail to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada for an overnight stay instead.” The National Weather Service forecast significant winds ranging from 25 to 35 knots with gusts up to 40 knots and wave heights between 7 and 19 feet for October 24-25, contributing to the reroutes. Royal Caribbean provided onboard
credits and refunds for canceled port excursions as compensation to affected passengers.
Legal Authority and Industry Practice
Royal Caribbean’s itinerary changes reflect standard cruise industry practice during severe weather events. Cruise contracts grant operators broad authority to alter routes to ensure passenger safety. Passengers have limited options beyond accepting onboard credits or pursuing legal remedies if they dispute itinerary modifications. The repeated late-October 2026 diversions from warmer destinations to Canadian ports indicate operational challenges related to increasingly volatile weather along the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic cruise routes.
Patterns in U.S. East Coast Cruise Diversions
Within the same timeframe, Vision of the Seas also replaced its Bermuda port with Saint John after
departing Baltimore on October 17, although passengers were not allowed to disembark at the Canadian port. These multiple reroutes, including Independence and Oasis of the Seas, demonstrate a pattern of late changes affecting sailings from Cape Liberty and other U.S. East Coast ports. Weather-related deviations forced Royal Caribbean to divert thousands of passengers from original warm-weather destinations to cooler Canadian locations in mid- to late October 2026.
