Blog Page 5

MSC Seashore Scraps Ocean Cay Overnight Over Bahamas Gale Warning

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Seashore Scraps Ocean Cay Overnight Over Bahamas Gale Warning

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Seashore is skipping her overnight visit to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve on Monday, October 26, due to rough weather.
  • Strong winds and a gale warning in the Northern Bahamas have made it unsafe for the ship to visit the private island.
  • Instead, MSC Seashore will visit Nassau on Tuesday, October 27, one day earlier than originally planned on the 4-night cruise.

Guests aboard MSC Seashore will not be able to visit Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve for her overnight visit as planned on Monday, October 26, 2026, due to bad weather. MSC Cruises has notified guests of the itinerary change, including what the ship’s plan is moving forward on the current 4-night itinerary.

MSC Seashore set sail from Port Canaveral on Sunday, October 25 for the Bahamas cruise, and guests were notified of the change just hours after departure. One of those guests provided that notification to Cruise Hive.

“Due to adverse weather, with rough seas and wind gusts up to 40 knots [46 miles per hour] forecast for October 26-27, our call at Ocean Cay has been canceled for safety reasons,” the notification said. “We will proceed directly to Nassau, arriving Tuesday, October 27, for a full-day visit.”

The 4,540-guest ship was to have been at Ocean Cay for an overnight visit from 7 a.m. on Monday through 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Originally, the visit to Nassau was scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now, MSC Seashore will be in the capital of the Bahamas on Tuesday, which means Wednesday will be a day at sea as the vessel returns to Port Canaveral for debarkation on Thursday, October 29.

AIS tracking confirms that MSC Seashore is currently at sea en route to Nassau. There have been no changes to the ship’s return to Florida, and the ship is still due back in Port Canaveral on Thursday.

MSC Seashore at Ocean Cay
MSC Seashore at Ocean Cay (Photo Credit: Solarisys)

The cruise line noted that if guests had booked shore excursions for Ocean Cay, those tours will be automatically cancelled and fully refunded to onboard accounts.

MSC Seashore was the only ship scheduled for MSC Cruises’ private island destination on Monday and Tuesday, with MSC Seaside scheduled for an overnight visit from Wednesday, October 28 until Thursday, October 29. At this time, there has been no confirmation of any changes to that ship’s planned visit. MSC Seashore is scheduled to return to Ocean Cay for a day visit on Saturday, October 31, as part of her next sailing.

Bahamas Weather Update

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology’s marine forecast for Monday, October 26 includes a gale warning for the Northern Bahamas through early Wednesday. The warning notes northeasterly winds at 20-30 knots (23-35 miles per hour) with gusts up to 40 knots.

“Strong winds will persist through Tuesday before gradually easing across the northern territories by midweek, as high pressure weakens and shifts eastward into the Atlantic,” the forecast reads. “Despite this, hazardous marine conditions may linger as seas may be slow to subside.”

Swells are expected to be 2-4 feet in sheltered, nearshore waters and 5-8 feet in sheltered offshore waters. In the Gulf Stream, which includes waters near Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, swells may be 12-16 feet.

MSC Seashore is not the only ship to have altered itinerary plans due to the rough weather in the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, which offers a regular schedule of 3- and 4-night Bahamas itineraries, shifted to a Cozumel sailing for the ship’s October 26, 2026 departure to avoid the inclement conditions.

Utopia of the Seas Not Heading to Mexico After Fake Email Circulates

Melissa Mayntz
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Utopia of the Seas Not Heading to Mexico After Fake Email Circulates

Key Aspects:

  • Utopia of the Seas will be visiting Cozumel, Mexico, on her October 26 sailing instead of her regular Bahamas destinations.
  • King tides and expected near-gale or gale-force winds in the Bahamas are forcing the itinerary change.
  • There is no change to the ship’s departure from Port Canaveral on Monday or her return on Friday, October 30.

UPDATE – Royal Caribbean has confirmed directly with Cruise Hive that the notification email, which has now been deleted from Reddit, was a fake and there is no itinerary change at this time for Utopia of the Seas. The ship is still planned to visit Nassau and Perfect Day CocoCay for her October 26 sailing as originally scheduled.

“Utopia is not scheduled to go to Mexico this week, and no guest communication regarding such a change was sent out by our team,” the cruise line confirmed.

Fake Utopia of the Seas Communication
Fake Utopia of the Seas Communication

This is not the first time Royal Caribbean emails have been the target of scams and spoofing. Less than a week ago, a fake gratuity change letter was circulating on social media that was a more obvious scam and was quickly reported.

The original article remains below for readers’ reference:

Guests boarding Utopia of the Seas in Port Canaveral on Monday, October 26, 2026 won’t be sailing to the Bahamas as originally planned, but instead will be heading west: more than 650 miles west of their original destinations of Nassau and Perfect Day CocoCay, in fact, as they will be going to Cozumel, Mexico instead.

Royal Caribbean notified booked guests on Sunday, the day before embarkation, of the weather-related itinerary change.

“Due to a weather system expected to bring unfavorable conditions to the Bahamas next week, we’ve adjusted our itinerary. We will now enjoy two relaxing sea days, with a visit to Cozumel, Mexico on Wednesday,” the email, which has been posted to Reddit, explained.

Originally, the 5,668-guest ship was scheduled to visit Nassau from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by a day at sea on Wednesday and Perfect Day CocoCay from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, before returning to the Sunshine State on Friday, October 30.

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

Instead, Tuesday and Thursday will now both be days at sea, with Utopia of the Seas in Cozumel from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28. There is no change to the ship’s departure from Port Canaveral at 4 p.m. on Monday or her return to her Florida homeport on Friday, expected to be roughly 7 a.m.

If guests had booked any pre-paid shore tours through Royal Caribbean for either Nassau or Perfect Day CocoCay, those excursions will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard SeaPass accounts.

Not the First Cozumel Visit for Utopia of the Seas

While Utopia of the Seas frequently visits both Nassau and Perfect Day CocoCay on her regular 3- and 4-night cruises, this is not the first time the Oasis-class ship has been to Mexico.

In May 2025, Utopia of the Seas made her first visit to Cozumel on a Mexico sailing rather than her regular Bahamas itineraries. According to Riviera Maya News, a welcome ceremony for the vessel included a commemorative plaque presentation and greetings from local dignitaries.

At the time, the ship was the second largest in the world, just after Icon of the Seas.

Strong Winds and Waves Expected in the Bahamas

The next few days are expected to be rough ones in the Bahamas. According to the Bahamas Department of Meteorology, strong winds of near-gale to gale-force are expected from Sunday, October 25 through Tuesday, October 27. Some marine hazards are likely to continue into Wednesday, and heavy rain and flash flooding are also possible.

Extreme conditions will be exacerbated by the king tides, the highest astronomical tides of the season, which will push water levels higher than usual, raising the risk of coastal flooding. Seas of 9-14 feet are expected, with some local conditions even higher. Atlantic conditions are expected to be higher than sheltered conditions.

Any cruise guests on any line with destinations in the Bahamas over the next few days should stay in close communication with their cruise line in case of itinerary changes and updates as they are confirmed.

Mein Schiff 3 Lifeboats Torn Apart in Bremerhaven Container Ship Collision

Melissa Mayntz
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Mein Schiff 3 Lifeboats Torn Apart in Bremerhaven Container Ship Collision

Key Aspects:

  • TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 collided with a container ship while attempting to depart Bremerhaven, Germany, at roughly 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
  • High winds contributed to the collision despite at least one tugboat working to keep the vessels from impacting, but there have been no immediate reports of injuries.
  • Video taken by guests onboard Mein Schiff 3 shows severe damage to at least two of the cruise ship’s lifeboats, and the cruise ship now remains docked in Bremerhaven.

Strong winds contributed to a collision between TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 and at least one container ship in Bremerhaven, Germany at roughly 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 25 2026, as the 99,526-gross ton cruise ship was departing for a 20-night Western Europe and Canary Islands itinerary.

An officer onboard Mein Schiff 3 posted eyewitness video of the event, showing the tense moments of the collision. A tugboat was helping guide the cruise ship past the docked container ship MSC Anne F, with the aft of the cruise ship swinging very close to a collision. It is unclear if there was any contact between the two vessels.

As Mein Schiff 3 approaches a second container ship, MSC Victorine, however, there is no mistaking the contact, as the screeching of metal and sudden shakiness of the video confirm the collision. The port aft corner of the docked container ship tears through several of the cruise ship’s lifeboats, with debris scattering on the wind and in the water.

The video shows obviously rough conditions, and the German Weather Service had issued wind warnings for gusts near Bremerhaven reaching 55 kilometers per hour (35 miles per hour) beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday and extending until 1 a.m. on Monday.

According to Nordsee-Zeitung, one of the container ships suffered a 10-meter (roughly 33 feet) tear in its hull, but that damage is not yet confirmed by local authorities.

Mein Schiff 3 returned to Columbus Quay and AIS tracking confirms the ship remains docked hours after its scheduled departure time.

The police report notes that no injuries have yet been reported related to the collision and the Bremen Water Police are investigating the incident.

Cruise Hive has reached out to TUI Cruises but has not yet received a reply from the cruise line.

Itinerary Disruption Very Likely

With such significant damage to multiple lifeboats, it is very likely that Mein Schiff 3‘s 20-night sailing will be impacted. At the moment, guests are remaining onboard the cruise ship while damage assessment is underway in Bremerhaven.

According to TUI Cruises, 2,428 guests and 922 crew members were onboard the ship at the time of the collision, which involved Mein Schiff 3 and just one container ship.

“We will provide further information as soon as we have confirmed findings,” the cruise line said.

The ship was to have spent several days at sea before reaching Porto, Portugal as the first port destination on Thursday, October 29. Other destinations in Portugal, the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Spain are also scheduled before Mein Schiff 3 is planned to be back in Bremerhaven on Saturday, November 14.

There have been no official announcements confirming any itinerary change or port cancelations at this time. A thorough damage assessment would most likely be the cruise line’s first priority to determine if the vessel remains seaworthy, followed by replacing the damaged lifeboats and any other necessary repairs.

Cruise Hive has reported on other wind-related incidents in recent weeks, including Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady breaking free of her mooring lines in Rhodes on September 30, 2026. As the cruise ship drifted, she impacted three smaller vessels in the harbor.

The owner of one of those boats, a catamaran ferry, filed a claim against Virgin Voyages shortly after the incident, requesting to have the cruise ship seized and claiming roughly $448,000 USD in damage and lost revenue.

Disney Cruisers Face Ongoing Pelican Plunge Shutdowns on Private Island

Melissa Mayntz
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Disney Cruisers Face Ongoing Pelican Plunge Shutdowns on Private Island

Key Aspects:

  • Guests are reporting continued intermittent closures for the Pelican Plunge waterslides and play structure on Castaway Cay.
  • Disney Cruise Line has not provided any firm timeline for the refurbishment to be completed and the structure to fully reopen.
  • Closure notifications are being posted in the cruise line’s Navigator app, but not until just before guests arrive at Castaway Cay.

Disney Cruise Line guests visiting Castaway Cay may be unable to enjoy the splash-tastic thrills of Pelican Plunge, as the family favorite waterslide continues to be closed intermittently.

Guests with itineraries that include the private island in the Bahamas are being notified through Disney Cruise Line’s Navigator app that the waterslide is closed for refurbishment, with no timeline yet reported for it to fully reopen.

“While the Pelican Plunge water slide is closed over the coming weeks due to necessary refurbishments, there is lots to see and do!” the notification reads.

Pelican Plunge is a floating activity platform that includes two twisting waterslides, one of which is an open slide and the other is an enclosed tunnel slide. The platform also features an oversized water dump bucket, water cannons for shooting at nearby targets, and fun nautical theming.

Cruise Hive reported that Pelican Plunge was also closed for refurbishment in August 2026, but guests who have visited Castaway Cay in recent weeks have noted it was open at least for some sailings in the weeks since.

“It was reopened before our mid-September sailing,” one guest confirmed, while another added on Saturday, October 24, “We were there a week ago and it was open, seemed in fairly good condition to me.”

Disney Cruise Line has not commented on the nature of the repeated closures. It is not known whether the refurbishment is for the same issue or if different parts of Pelican Plunge are undergoing refurbishment at different times, resulting in intermittent closures as the work continues.

Because the play structure is exposed to all weather conditions in salt water, it likely requires more frequent maintenance and refurbishment than a more protected feature would need. Guests are encouraged that Disney Cruise Line continues to invest in the structure to ensure it is safe and fun for everyone to enjoy.

Timing of Notifications Frustrating Some Guests

While guests do appreciate being alerted to the closure, the timing of the notifications is leaving some guests frustrated.

“Sailed this week, and we weren’t told until the night before while already on the boat. Sucked to find out that way,” one guest explained.

“It was closed on our sailing, with a note in Navigator late the night before or morning of Castaway. Had some very disappointed kids who were finally big enough,” another noted.

Castaway Cay Kids Area
Photo By: Brian Hart (Creative Commons)

Guests must be at least 38″ tall to use the slides on Pelican Plunge. Because there is no walking pathway access to the floating play platform, guests must also be able to swim out to the structure. Both of the waterslides exit directly into the swimming lagoon. Guests can wear life vests on Pelican Plunge, and complimentary vests are provided.

What Other Attractions Are Available?

When Pelican Plunge is closed, other Castaway Cay attractions remain available for guests to enjoy. A smaller play structure is available in the swimming lagoon, and the Spring-a-Leak splash pad is ideal for younger guests. Of course, swimming is always an option, and guests can purchase tours while they visit the island.

Non-water-based attractions are also available, including tetherball, basketball, ping-pong, the Monstro Point whale dig site, shopping, and more.

Guests can also enjoy the waterslides onboard their respective Disney Cruise Line ships, which typically remain operating even while visiting Castaway Cay.

P&O Ventura Delayed a Full Day by Storms Austen and Boelo

Melissa Mayntz
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P&O Ventura Delayed a Full Day by Storms Austen and Boelo

Key Aspects:

  • P&O Cruises’ Ventura was delayed a full day returning to Southampton and arrived on Sunday, October 25 instead of Saturday due to Storms Austen and Boelo.
  • The October 24 departure has subsequently been delayed a full day and will now be a 6-night sailing, and guests are receiving a one-day prorated credit for a future cruise.
  • Ventura will not visit Cherbourg as planned due to protests in France, but the rest of the itinerary is unchanged.

Both storms and protests are impacting the current sailing of P&O Cruises’ Ventura, which has arrived in Southampton, UK a day later than originally planned.

The 3,192-guest ship was supposed to conclude her previous 7-night itinerary in Southampton on Saturday, October 24, 2026, but rough weather forced a delay and the ship did not arrive until 6:07 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, according to the Associated British Ports schedule.

Guests who expected to board the ship on Saturday were notified of the late arrival on Friday, October 23. At that time, they were advised of changes to their itinerary, as well as compensation for their now-shortened sailing.

“Due to the impact of Storm Austen and Storm Boelo our Southampton operations team and the Port Authority have delayed Ventura’s arrival into Southampton by 24 hours,” the email confirmed. “Your embarkation will now take place one day later than originally planned on Sunday 25 October.”

Guests’ cruise terminal check-in times remained unchanged, only shifted to Sunday’s embarkation rather than on Saturday. The port schedule confirms that Ventura is expected to depart Southampton at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

The cruise was to have been a 7-night France, Spain, and Portugal itinerary. Now a 6-night sailing instead, the first port and only stop in France, Cherbourg, is now cancelled.

“Following recent protests and civil unrest in France, we have also taken the decision to cancel the planned call to Cherbourg on Sunday 25 October,” the email confirmed.

Of course, the ship’s now-delayed departure from Southampton would have ruled out the visit to Cherbourg regardless.

There are no further changes to the itinerary at this time. Ventura is still scheduled to visit Porto on Tuesday, October 27, followed by Lisbon on Wednesday and Vigo on Thursday before returning to Southampton for debarkation on Saturday, October 31.

Compensation Offered But Not All Guests Want It

As compensation for the loss of a day of their sailing, P&O Cruises is offering all guests a future cruise credit prorated to the value of one day of their cruise. This credit must be used on a future P&O Cruises booking and is not being offered in cash.

The offer of a credit rather than a refund is frustrating to some guests, particularly those who do not have a future cruise vacation planned with the line.

P&O Ventura in Southampton
P&O Ventura in Southampton (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)

“The refund should be in cash, not a future cruise credit. I know it’s not their fault, but we’re not getting the 7-night cruise we paid for,” one guest commented on Facebook in response to the email notification.

“I haven’t got a future cruise planned with P&O and don’t intend to either,” another guest commented in a similar conversation.

Other guests asked about refunds for drink packages and WiFi access on the now shorter cruise, but those packages and any possible refunds were not mentioned in the initial notification emails.

Multiple Cruises Impacted by Same Factors

Storms Austen and Boelo, as well as the protests and strikes in France, have been impacting multiple ships from multiple cruise lines.

Cruise Hive has already reported several such disruptions, including MSC Virtuosa remaining in Southampton longer than expected and cancelling her planned visit to La Rochelle.

P&O Cruises’ Arvia and Iona have also had storm-related adjustments, as have Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition and MSC Cruises’ MSC Preziosa.

While the Met Office does not have any current warnings issued for the English Channel on Sunday, Windy.com noted wind speeds of 35-40 miles per hour throughout the Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning. This is down only slightly from late Saturday evening, though wind speeds are expected to continue decreasing throughout the day.

MSC Virtuosa Held in Southampton as Storm and Strikes Upend Itinerary

Melissa Mayntz
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MSC Virtuosa Held in Southampton as Storm and Strikes Upend Itinerary

Key Aspects:

  • MSC Virtuosa will remain overnight in Southampton to wait out Storm Austen and will not depart until 7 p.m. Sunday, October 25.
  • The visit to La Rochelle is also cancelled due to poor weather, and the visit to Le Havre is cancelled because of strike activity.
  • A visit to Vigo has been added to the 7-night itinerary for Thursday, October 29 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa is spending extra time in Southampton, UK, as Storm Austen brings rough weather to the English Channel. Instead of departing at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026 as planned, the ship will not leave until 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 25.

Guests were alerted to the change for the 7-night itinerary after boarding the ship on Saturday, as well as additional changes due not only to the storm, but also to strike activity in France.

“We would like to inform you of an important itinerary adjustment to our itinerary that we have made for your safety and comfort following a careful assessment of Storm Austen, which is expected to bring challenging weather conditions across the English Channel and Bay of Biscay, as well as strike action affecting parts of France,” the letter delivered to guests’ staterooms explained.

MSC Virtuosa will not be able to visit La Rochelle as planned on Monday, October 26, due to sea conditions that are expected to make entering the port unsafe. Instead, the 4,842-guest ship will spend Monday at sea.

The visits to Bilbao on Tuesday and A Coruna on Wednesday will proceed as scheduled. Rather than a day at sea on Thursday, October 29, MSC Virtuosa will now visit Vigo from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Because of planned strikes in France that are expected to close the port, the planned visit to Le Havre on Friday, October 30 is no longer possible. Instead the ship will spend that day at sea, making her way back to Southampton for debarkation on Saturday, October 31 as scheduled.

If guests had pre-paid for shore excursions through MSC Cruises for La Rochelle or Le Havre, those excursions will automatically be cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. In the meantime, tours for the port visit to Vigo will be available for booking through the MSC for Me app.

English Channel Weather Conditions

Conditions in the English Channel were blustery on Saturday evening. MSC Virtuosa was expected to depart at 8 p.m., but Windy.com reported wind speeds at roughly 40 miles per hour just past the Isle of Wight at that time.

By 7 p.m. on Sunday, when MSC Virtuosa is now expected to depart Southampton, high winds will still be present in the eastern part of the Channel, but speeds should have lessened along the southwestern route the ship will take as she heads for Bilbao.

Nevertheless, guests are asked to be cautious in the potentially rough weather.

“While MSC Virtuosa is designed to operate safely in these conditions, some movement of the ship may still be experienced,” the notification letter said. “For your safety, please avoid outer decks and balconies, use handrails when moving around the ship, and note that outdoor activities and pools may be temporarily unavailable.”

Storm Austen has impacted multiple cruise ships over the past several days, and this is not the first impact felt by MSC Virtuosa.

On the previous sailing, the ship arrived in Southampton at 7:37 p.m. on Thursday evening, October 22 (as reported by the Associated British Ports schedule) instead of in the early hours of Saturday morning as originally planned. By arriving early, the ship was able to stay ahead of the worsening weather to seek shelter more comfortably.

MSC Preziosa, P&O Cruises’ Arvia and Iona, and Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition have all confirmed various itinerary changes due to Storm Austen.

Royal Caribbean Warns Odyssey of the Seas Guests About Naples Protests

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Warns Odyssey of the Seas Guests About Naples Protests

Key Aspects:

  • Guests onboard Odyssey of the Seas were alerted about protests planned in Naples during the ship’s Saturday, October 24, 2026 visit.
  • The protests were not related to the ship but had the potential to disrupt traffic in the Piazza Garibaldi region of the city, a major transportation hub.
  • Guests were guaranteed to return to the ship if they had a tour booked through Royal Caribbean but had to be cautious if exploring Naples independently.

Exploring ports of call is the highlight of a cruise vacation for many guests, but travelers currently onboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas were warned not to explore Naples, Italy, in one specific region.

The 4,198-guest ship departed Civitavecchia (Rome) on Sunday, October 18, 2026 for a 7-night Greek Isles and Italy sailing. While the calls to Messina, Santorini, and Mykonos have gone smoothly, the final port destination in Italy is Naples, and it was not quite smooth sailing for the ship’s visit on Saturday, October 24.

Guests received letters in their staterooms on Friday, October 23, noting the potential challenges if they had independent exploration plans ashore in Naples.

“Local authorities have advised us that public demonstrations are planned in Naples, Italy tomorrow. The demonstrations are expected to primarily affect the Piazza Garibaldi area, near Naples Central Railway Station,” the letter explained.

Piazza Garibaldi is a major transportation hub for Naples, while the Naples Central Railway Station is one of the busiest passenger railway stations in Italy. The piazza is located roughly a mile and a half northeast of the cruise port.

Odyssey of the Seas Naples Letter
Odyssey of the Seas Naples Letter

“If you are planning to explore Naples independently, we recommend avoiding this location during the afternoon as localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicle traffic may occur,” the letter cautioned guests. “Please ensure that you allow sufficient time to safely travel to and from the pier and to arrive back on the ship before our planned departure.”

Odyssey of the Seas was visiting Naples from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and AIS tracking confirms the ship departed on schedule and without incident.

Guests were assured that if they were on a shore excursion booked through Royal Caribbean, their return to the ship was guaranteed.

What Protests Were Scheduled?

The protests on Saturday, October 24, were not confined to Naples, but instead were organized in several major cities across Italy, including Rome, Milan, Turin, Bologna, and Florence.

According to Euronews, the demonstrations turned violent in several cities as protesters clashed with police, throwing stones and bottles, setting off firecrackers, and other actions that led police to respond with water cannons and tear gas in some locations.

Rising living costs amid economic hardship, along with government policies, military spending, migrant detention plans, and other concerns are at the heart of the protests. As tensions have mounted, additional soldiers have been deployed in several cities in an attempt to curb violence and drone surveillance has been used to monitor demonstrations.

While Odyssey of the Seas was still able to visit Naples, civil unrest has impacted cruise travel in other European nations recently. P&O Cruises’ Iona skipped a planned visit to Le Havre, France on Sunday, October 18, due to ongoing protests, and shuffled the rest of the itinerary to adapt to the change.

This was Odyssey of the Seas‘ last roundtrip Mediterranean sailing of the season, as her October 25 departure begins the 14-night transatlantic cruise that will bring Odyssey of the Seas to Cape Liberty, New Jersey, for the winter season with sailings to Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. The Quantum-Ultra-class ship will return to Europe in April 2027.

Harmony of the Seas Makes Itinerary Change as Bahamas Weather Turns

Melissa Mayntz
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Harmony of the Seas Makes Itinerary Change as Bahamas Weather Turns

Key Aspects:

  • Port visits have been rearranged for the October 24 departure of Harmony of the Seas due to expected rough weather in the Bahamas next week.
  • The ship will still visit all the same destinations, but Nassau is now first on the itinerary, while Perfect Day CocoCay has been moved later in the schedule.
  • There is no impact to the ship’s return to Port Canaveral at the end of the 5-night cruise.

Guests boarding Harmony of the Seas in Port Canaveral on Saturday, October 24, 2026 were notified the day before embarkation of a shakeup to their itinerary. Fortunately, the Oasis-class ship will still be visiting all the planned ports of call on the 5-night itinerary, but in a different order than originally scheduled.

“Due to a weather system expected to bring unfavorable conditions to the Bahamas next week, we’ve rearranged the order we’ll visit our ports of call,” the email notification confirmed.

Originally, Harmony of the Seas was to have a day at sea on Sunday, then visit Perfect Day CocoCay on Monday, October 26, followed by Nassau on Tuesday, October 27. After another day at sea on Wednesday, the 5,697-guest ship would return to the Sunshine State on Thursday, October 29.

Now the ship’s departure and return remain the same, as well as the final day at sea, but all the other days on the itinerary have changed.

Instead of a day at sea, Sunday, October 25, will be spent in Nassau from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the same time frame as the original schedule but on a different day.

Monday will now be a day at sea, and Harmony of the Seas will be at Perfect Day CocoCay on Tuesday, October 27, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., also the same port times but a different day than the original schedule.

The email notes that any shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean for either Nassau or Perfect Day CocoCay will be rescheduled for the appropriate day.

If the excursions cannot be changed, they will be automatically cancelled and refunded as onboard credit to guests’ SeaPass accounts. Any refundable amounts remaining after the end of the cruise will be reimbursed to the card on file.

Harmony of the Seas Weather Letter
Harmony of the Seas Weather Letter

While the change in port order might throw some guests’ plans off if the new days and times might conflict with onboard reservations such as spa treatments or specialty dining, these changes are relatively minor compared to other recent itinerary adjustments.

Also on Friday, the day before embarkation, guests aboard Independence of the Seas learned they would be sailing to Canada instead of Bermuda for their 5-night sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, the same rerouting that happened to Vision of the Seas for that ship’s October 17, 2026 departure from Baltimore, Maryland.

Bahamas Weather Update

On Monday, when Harmony of the Seas was originally scheduled to visit Perfect Day CocoCay, Windy.com is forecasting wind gusts that may be as high as 30 miles per hour, along with a strong chance of thunderstorms throughout the day.

Similarly, on Tuesday, conditions near Nassau are forecast to also include gusty winds up to 25-27 miles per hour with morning and afternoon storms.

By rearranging the visits, Harmony of the Seas should see calmer conditions in Nassau on Sunday with winds only 12-15 miles per hour. Just when wind gusts are expected to begin rising, the ship is scheduled to depart the capital of the Bahamas.

Tuesday at Perfect Day CocoCay may still be blustery, but winds should be dying down later in the day.

“Please know being onboard is one of the safest places to be because our ship can quickly move out of the way of any inclement weather,” the email notification reassured guests.

If further changes are needed as weather forecasts are refined, guests will be notified onboard as any adjustments are confirmed.

Royal Caribbean Blames Speed Restrictions for Cancelled Icy Strait Point Visit

Calvin Musquez
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Royal Caribbean Blames Speed Restrictions for Cancelled Icy Strait Point Visit

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean has removed Icy Strait Point from Anthem of the Seas’ May 7, 2027 Alaska cruise, citing speed restrictions.
  • The cancelled visit was replaced with a sea day, while Ketchikan’s scheduled stop has been shortened by two hours.
  • Affected Royal Caribbean shore excursions will be adjusted or cancelled, with refunds for cancelled tours issued within 14 business days.

Royal Caribbean has removed a port call at Icy Strait Point from the May 7, 2027 7-night, round-trip sailing of Anthem of the Seas from Vancouver, replacing it with a sea day. The cruise line cited speed restrictions as the reason for the itinerary adjustment.

The 4,180-guest ship was originally scheduled to visit Icy Strait Point on May 9, followed by scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier and visits to Sitka and Ketchikan, returning on May 14. A guest shared a notice informing them of the change, received October 21, 2026, on Facebook. 

“To comply with speed restrictions and maintain a comfortable sailing experience, we’ll enjoy an additional Sea Day in place of our visit to Icy Strait Point, Alaska,” the notice read. 

In addition to the cancelled Icy Strait Point call, the final call in Ketchikan was shortened by two hours and will depart at 5:00 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. as originally scheduled. Hubbard Glacier scenic cruising as well as the port call in Sitka and return to Vancouver remain unchanged. 

Royal Caribbean told guests that all prepaid shore excursions booked through the cruise line for Icy Strait Point will be automatically cancelled. Affected Ketchikan excursions will be rescheduled or cancelled, with refunds for all cancelled tours issued to the original form of payment within 14 business days.

This May 7 cruise marks the first sailing of the Quantum Class vessel’s 2027 Alaska deployment. Following this voyage, Anthem of the Seas will offer one-way, 7-night Alaska cruises between Vancouver and Seward through late September 2027.

Do We Know Why Speed Restrictions Are Affecting the Cruise?

Royal Caribbean’s explanation for the itinerary adjustment left questions about what exactly prompted the change. The guest who shared the notice on Facebook expressed frustration and confusion over how a speed limitation was not taken into consideration before the itinerary was announced.

“I understand that speed restrictions need to be followed, but I would think those factors would have been considered when planning the itinerary in the first place,” the guest said.

Ovation of the Seas With Whale
Ovation of the Seas With Whale (Photo Credit: pizzaboy420)

The cruise line has faced difficulties in the region due to cruising speed limitations before. For example, Cruise Hive reported in 2025 when Serenade of the Seas also skipped Icy Strait Point after a technical issue onboard forced the ship to sail at reduced speed.

In June 2026, Royal Caribbean came under scrutiny after the 168,666-gross-ton Ovation of the Seas arrived in Seward with a dead, pregnant fin whale on its bow. This prompted the Center for Biological Diversity to issue a plea to the cruise line to adopt a mandatory policy to reduce its speeds when sailing in known whale habitats.

This plea was for the cruise line to voluntarily adopt the policy and did not represent any actual law being imposed. The request was given several months after the cruise line’s 2027 deployment was announced, though it has not been officially linked to the Anthem of the Seas changes.

Other speed restrictions are in place around Alaska and can sometimes change after itineraries are announced. Royal Caribbean has not identified which speed restrictions prompted the revised itinerary.

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