Royal Caribbean redirected the cruise ship Oasis of the Seas from its original seven-night route in the Bahamas to Halifax, Nova Scotia, cancelling visits to Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau in 2026. The ship departed Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on 18 October 2026, and made its only port call in Halifax starting 6pm on 20 October, initially allowing no shore access. The visit was later extended to depart at 6pm on 21 October. Oasis of the Seas was scheduled to return to Cape Liberty on 25 October 2026.
Independence of the Seas Rerouted from Bermuda to Saint John Due to Weather
Independence of the Seas, with 3,858 passengers, was set
to depart Cape Liberty on 24 October 2026 for a five-night cruise to Bermuda, with a scheduled stop at King’s Wharf at Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard. Instead, due to hazardous marine conditions forecast by the National Weather Service, including gale warnings of 25 to 35 knot winds and wave heights up to 19 feet, the ship rerouted to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Independence of the Seas arrived in Saint John at approximately 10:30am on 26 October and departed at 2:30pm on 27 October. The entire Bermuda stop was cancelled.
Harmony of the Seas Adjusts Bahamas Itinerary to Avoid Severe Weather
Harmony of the Seas altered its original five-night cruise itinerary,
which departed Port Canaveral, Florida, on 24 October 2026, by rearranging port calls in the Bahamas. Instead of visiting CocoCay first, the ship visited Nassau on 25 October from 7:30am to 5:30pm and shifted the Perfect Day at CocoCay visit to 27 October from 7am to 5pm. The final sea day and return to Port Canaveral on 29 October remained unchanged. All original Bahamas destinations remained included despite the reshuffling.
Passenger Impact and Compensation Measures
Passengers on Oasis of the Seas and Independence of the Seas were notified of itinerary changes shortly before departure, limiting their time to adjust plans. Oasis of the Seas passengers
initially faced no shore access during the Halifax overnight but later received a full day ashore when the visit was extended. Passengers had to adapt from tropical to cooler Canadian climates, especially on Independence of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean offered onboard credit from $200 to $600 per guest for Oasis of the Seas passengers, plus a future cruise credit equal to 50% of the fare paid. For Independence of the Seas, onboard refundable credit was provided per stateroom. Bermudian shore excursions booked on Independence of the Seas were cancelled with automatic refunds to onboard accounts.
Harmony of the Seas passengers had their shore excursions transferred to new dates or refunded if cancellations occurred.
Official Statements and Weather as Cause
Royal Caribbean stated weather conditions along the US East Coast made the original Bermuda route unsuitable. The company said, “After exploring all of our options, we’ve decided to sail to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada for an overnight stay instead.” It communicated itinerary changes via notices shortly before sailing and confirmed that cancelled shore excursions would be refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. The cruise line also acknowledged passenger flexibility amid unexpected changes.
Worsening weather including Post-Tropical Cyclone Josephine and a Nor’easter affected
the region in October 2026. National Weather Service gale warnings forecasted sustained winds of 25 to 35 knots, gusts up to 40 knots, and 7 to 19 foot waves between the US East Coast and Bermuda. These hazardous marine conditions caused Royal Caribbean to alter several itineraries to maintain passenger safety.
Scale of Disruptions and Cruise Industry Context
Thousands of passengers sailing on Royal Caribbean ships leaving from New Jersey and Florida faced cancellations or substantial changes to their Bahamas and Bermuda itineraries in October 2026. Reroutes to Canadian ports replaced warm-weather destinations for Oasis of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas,
while Harmony of the Seas maintained all its Bahamas stops but reordered them. Such weather-driven itinerary changes are common and outlined in cruise contracts, with onboard credits typically offered as compensation.
