Royal Caribbean has cancelled three scheduled stops for the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship in the Bahamas, including Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau, for its October 2026 sailing. The ship’s itinerary has been altered to replace these ports with an overnight visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
October 18–25, 2026 Sailing Details
The Oasis of the Seas will depart its home port at Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey, on October 18, 2026. The ship, measuring 362 meters in length and carrying 5,734 passengers, will dock in Halifax at 6:00 pm on October 20, disembarking passengers for roughly 14 hours before setting
sail again at 8:00 am on October 21. The cruise is scheduled to return to Cape Liberty on October 25, 2026.
Safety Concerns Prompt Itinerary Change
The itinerary alteration is due to a developing East Coast nor’easter and Atlantic storm system producing hazardous sea conditions. The weather system has created high seas and strong winds considered unsafe for the original path through the Bahamas and east Florida ports. Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay involve tender operations or approaches unsuitable under such swells. With Oasis of the Seas’ size and passenger count, navigating these conditions increases safety risks and operational challenges.
Compensation Offered to Passengers
Royal Caribbean
is providing affected passengers with refundable onboard credit (OBC) and future cruise credit (FCC). The onboard credit amount depends on stateroom category and the number of guests: $200 per first and second guest in interior and ocean view rooms; $300 per guest in balcony or neighborhood balcony cabins; $600 per suite guest; and $100 for each third and additional guest. For example, a family of four in a balcony cabin would receive $800 in refundable onboard credit.
Future cruise credit is equivalent to 50% of each passenger’s paid cruise fare and will be issued by November 1, 2026. Shore excursions
booked through Royal Caribbean for the cancelled Bahamas and Florida ports will automatically be refunded as onboard credit. However, excursions independently booked outside Royal Caribbean’s program will not be refunded by the cruise line.
Passenger Advice and Visa Requirements
Passengers are advised to pack warmer clothing for Halifax, where temperatures are expected around 12°C (mid-50s °F), significantly cooler than the original Bahamas ports. U.S. citizens on this closed-loop cruise are not required to have a passport for U.S. re-entry but are recommended to carry one in case of emergency disembarkation in Canada.
Non-U.S. passengers may need a Canadian visa, either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV)
or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), depending on nationality. Guests are urged to verify visa requirements with Royal Caribbean Guest Services prior to arrival.
Halifax Visit Opportunities
The 14-hour stop in Halifax offers late evening and early morning hours to explore. The ship docks near the Historic Properties waterfront area, featuring 19th-century warehouses converted to restaurants, bars, and shops serving Atlantic Canadian seafood such as Nova Scotia lobster. The Seaport Farmers Market nearby allows access to local crafts and food.
Shore visits are time-limited due to the ship’s 8:00 am departure requiring passengers to be onboard by approximately 7:30 am. Attractions such as the
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site open later than the ship’s departure, making only external viewing feasible. Alexander Keith’s Brewery, located close to the port, continues tours through October and offers a cultural experience if time permits. Trips to Peggy’s Cove lighthouse, about 43 km away, require car or tour bookings and are generally not feasible within the port window unless provided by Royal Caribbean as a specifically timed excursion.
Industry Context and Related Disruptions
Royal Caribbean’s itinerary change authority stems from cruise ticket contracts that permit substitutions or omission of ports for safety, weather, or operational reasons without passengers’ automatic rights to full refunds. Maritime
law governs cruise itineraries, offering less protection than aviation law, meaning port cancellations do not entitle passengers to complete refunds unless the entire cruise is cancelled.
Other Royal Caribbean sailings are also affected by Atlantic storm systems. The Vision of the Seas cancelled a Bermuda call on October 17, 2026, diverting instead to Saint John, New Brunswick, with no shore access granted during that stop.
Royal Caribbean advises passengers to monitor the official app and communications for updates on itinerary changes, details of compensation, and local excursions added for Halifax.
