Royal Caribbean reroutes three ships from the Bahamas to Canada over stormy forecasts
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The gist
Royal Caribbean rerouted Oasis of the Seas and Independence of the Seas to Canadian stops within a week.
Thousands of passengers repacked for cold destinations instead of Bermuda and the Bahamas.
Background
Royal Caribbean is the cruise line operating Oasis of the Seas, Independence of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas. Forecasts of stormy weather along the US East Coast made the original routes to Bermuda and the Bahamas unsuitable, so the line swapped in Canadian ports. The changes drew notice because two ships were rerouted within a week, turning planned tropical trips into cold-weather ones.
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 2026More than 5,000 passengers boarded Oasis of the Seas at Cape Liberty, New Jersey, expecting a seven-day cruise to Florida and the Bahamas; the line had announced the changed itinerary the evening before sailing, according to reports.
- Oct 19, 2026A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Royal Caribbean Blog that an apparent gratuity rate change came from an error in the line's FAQ section, and that gratuity rates had not changed.
- Oct 21, 2026The BBB National Programs' National Advertising Division reviewed Royal Caribbean Group's gratuity-related advertising and found its recent modifications supported.
- Oct 22, 2026Passengers on Independence of the Seas were notified of a change on Thursday evening, less than two days before departure.
- Oct 24, 2026Independence of the Seas was due to leave Cape Liberty for Bermuda but instead headed north to Saint John, New Brunswick.
- Oct 26, 2026Independence of the Seas was expected to reach Saint John around 10.30am and stay until 2.30pm on Tuesday, Oct 27.
- Oct 27, 2026Royal Caribbean Cruises was due to report third-quarter results; the CocoCay visit on Harmony of the Seas moved to this day, 7am to 5pm.
- Oct 29, 2026Harmony of the Seas' final sea day and return to Port Canaveral remained unchanged.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Royal Caribbean told guests it explored all options and decided to sail to Saint John, New Brunswick, for an overnight stay, citing weather conditions along the US East Coast that made the Bermuda route unsuitable.
- Public
- New Jersey passenger Marie Durning said her husband asked 'This is a joke, right?' and that she had her winter hat and earmuffs but forgot her scarf while scrambling to repack.
Still unverified
The Oasis of the Seas itinerary change and the timing of the announcement the evening before sailing are attributed to 'reports' rather than a confirmed company statement.