Royal Caribbean Reroutes Three Cruises as Weather Worsens

Royal Caribbean has replaced Independence of the Seas’ planned Bermuda stop with an overnight visit to Saint John, New Brunswick, after weather conditions along the U.S. East Coast made the original route unsuitable.

The 3,858-passenger ship is scheduled to leave Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on Oct. 24, 2026. Its five-night itinerary had included roughly 32 hours at King’s Wharf in Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard, from 9 a.m. Oct. 26 until 5 p.m. the following day.

Under the revised plan, Independence of the Seas is expected to arrive in Saint John at about 10:30 a.m. Oct. 26 and depart at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 27. The Canadian port city sits on the Bay of Fundy and is known for its waterfront, historic streets and the Reversing Falls tides.

Royal Caribbean told guests it had explored its options before deciding on the Canadian overnight call. A National Weather Service gale warning for waters between the U.S. coast and Bermuda forecast winds of 25 to 35 knots, with conditions potentially reaching 40 knots, and waves from seven to 19 feet during the affected weekend. The unsettled weather followed Post-Tropical Cyclone Josephine.

Affected Independence guests will receive refundable onboard credit by stateroom: $150 for inside cabins, $200 for ocean-view cabins, $300 for balcony cabins and $500 for suites. Third and additional guests in a cabin will receive an extra $50 each. Bermuda excursions booked through Royal Caribbean will be canceled and credited to guests’ onboard accounts; unused refundable credit will be returned to the payment card linked to the account after the cruise.

The change is the latest weather-related reroute for Royal Caribbean sailings from the Northeast. Oasis of the Seas, which departed Cape Liberty on Oct. 18 for a Florida and Bahamas itinerary, had its calls at Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau replaced with Halifax, Nova Scotia. Royal Caribbean offered those guests onboard credit of $200 to $600 per person, depending on accommodations, plus a future cruise credit worth 50% of the fare paid.

Vision of the Seas also traded a Bermuda itinerary for Saint John after leaving Baltimore on Oct. 17. Meanwhile, Harmony of the Seas, departing Port Canaveral, Florida, on Oct. 24, has had its itinerary order changed because of forecasts near the Bahamas, though its planned calls at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau are still expected to take place.