Blog Page 22

Carnival Ship Docks at Private Island, Then Leaves Over Unsafe Swells

Emrys Thakkar
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Carnival Ship Docks at Private Island, Then Leaves Over Unsafe Swells

Weather conditions are having a major impact on cruise ships, with the Nor’easter affecting the East Coast and major hurricanes such as Hurricane Polo in the Pacific off Mexico. Carnival Celebration is also dealing with weather conditions in the Bahamas, at its own private island.

Multiple passengers onboard the September 20 seven-day sailing out of Miami, Florida, confirmed that the Carnival Excel-class vessel had to cut short its call at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, in the Bahamas on September 25. The 5,362-passenger ship had already docked at the newly built pier on the island, but ocean swells made it unsafe for the ship to remain alongside.

Cruise director Joey Boyes announced the decision to cancel the visit over the ship’s PA system just after 8:00 AM. A passenger posted the announcement on Facebook, which said:

“Unfortunately, today due to the swell it has been deemed to be unsafe to remain docked here today. This difficult decision was made with the safety of all guests, crew, and the ship in mind,” the announcement said.

Carnival Celebration pulled away from the dock and is now spending a day at sea. The ship was originally expected to remain docked at RelaxAway until 5:00 PM.

The Cruise Dude, also a guest onboard the ship, posted, “Carnival Celebration has made the difficult decision to not remain docked at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay. Although the ship successfully docked at the port, the captain, along with his team, determined that the swell did not allow the ship to remain docked without the fear of damage to the vessel. Today will be a Sea Day aboard the Carnival Celebration. The crew is working on a new list of activities aboard the ship.”

Although the ship had briefly docked, Captain Vincenzo Alcaras later wrote to guests to explain why the visit could not go ahead. “We are sorry we were not able to visit Relax Away, Half Moon Cay today due to unfavorable weather, which made docking unsafe,” the letter said.

Shore excursions booked through Carnival for the island will be automatically refunded to guests’ Sail & Sign accounts, and the ship’s team has put together a full day of activities and entertainment onboard, including some special events.

According to The Bahamas Department of Meteorology, isolated thunderstorms, ranging from slight to moderate, are expected across parts of the central and southeast Bahamas heading into September 26. Half Moon Cay is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Nassau and is not being impacted by the northeastern storm impacting the U.S. East Coast.

Carnival Celebration is still scheduled to visit Carnival’s private destination of Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island on September 26. The ship will return home to Miami on September 27.

Crew Member Urgently Evacuated From Allure of the Seas

Melissa Mayntz
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Crew Member Urgently Evacuated From Allure of the Seas

Key Aspects:

  • A sick, 32-year-old male crew member was medically airlifted from Allure of the Seas on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
  • The evacuation request was made at approximately 8 p.m., and the rendezvous with the US Coast Guard helicopter happened 58 miles northwest of Puerto Rico.
  • No further information has been released about the crew member’s condition at this time, but the call was initiated in response to severe, chronic abdominal pain.

There were some tense moments for crew members onboard Allure of the Seas on Thursday, September 24, 2026 when one of their own required a medical evacuation northwest of Puerto Rico.

The 225,282-gross ton, Oasis-class cruise ship had departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, five hours earlier when at approximately 8 p.m., the call for an urgent medical evacuation was received by US Coast Guard (USCG) Sector San Juan watchstanders.

A 32-year-old male crewmember was suffering from severe, chronic abdominal pain and it was determined he required a higher level of care than the ship’s medical facility could provide. No further details on the crew member’s identity, his position on the ship, or the nature of his medical condition have been disclosed. This is standard procedure for the individual’s privacy protection.

Allure of the Seas was roughly 75 miles northwest of Aguadilla (120 miles west-northwest of San Juan) at the time of the call, and the vessel turned back toward Puerto Rico to meet the evacuation team more quickly. The rendezvous between the cruise ship and the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen occurred about 58 miles northwest of Puerto Rico.

A precision hoist operation brought the crew member to the helicopter safely, and he was then transported directly to Air Station Borinquen to meet waiting emergency personnel for further transport to the Buen Samaritano Hospital in Aguadilla, roughly six miles from the air station.

Allure of the Seas Airlift by U.S. Coast Guard
Allure of the Seas Airlift by U.S. Coast Guard

Video of the hoist released by the USCG shows just how carefully the team works together to bring the crew member aboard the helicopter, and how quickly the operation is handled.

“This successful mission highlights the vital importance of our interagency partnerships and the close collaboration we maintain with commercial vessel medical teams,” said Commander Zachery Geyer, Coast Guard Sector San Juan search and rescue mission coordinator for the case.

“The rapid communication between our watchstanders, Air Station Miami’s flight surgeon, our tactical aircrew and the cruise ship’s officers and crew ensured we could meet a tight time-to-care window and safely deliver this patient to a hospital to receive the higher level of care he needed.”

There has been no updated information released about the crew member’s condition, but the fast response of emergency teams and the smooth coordination between communication and transport can ensure everyone, whether a crew member or a guest, can receive the care they need.

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas (Photo Credit: Just dance)

Cruise Hive has reported on that same dedication and the intense focus of emergency rescue crews in several medical evacuations recently, including the Monday, September 14, 2026 airlift of a sick guest from Serenade of the Seas roughly 480 miles northwest of Vancouver. That particular call was the third medical evacuation from a cruise ship that same emergency team had done in just one week.

Allure of the Seas had departed Fort Lauderdale for the 8-night sailing on Saturday, September 19, and there has been no reported delay to the itinerary. AIS tracking shows the vessel on course for her next port of call, Perfect Day CocoCay, on Saturday, September 26. The ship is home to approximately 2,100 crew members.

Why Medical Evacuations Can Be Tricky

It takes very specialized training for emergency evacuation teams to perform rescues at sea, which can have very different conditions from day to day and even hour to hour.

Local winds, wave swells, the ship’s sailing route, the availability of helicopter access, distance from shore, visibility, and the nature of the medical emergency are just a few factors that must be considered for such evacuations.

Cruise Hive is grateful that such crews are available to assist crew members and guests whenever there is a need for an emergency medical evacuation, and our thoughts are with the Allure of the Seas crew member, his family members, friends, and co-workers at this stressful time.

Why Allure of the Seas Guests Could Cruise for Free

Melissa Mayntz
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Why Allure of the Seas Guests Could Cruise for Free

Key Aspects:

  • Royal Caribbean has emailed tempting offers to select guests on the September 27, 2026 sailing of Allure of the Seas, enticing them to change their travel plans.
  • Different options include a fare refund and transfer to an identical cruise setting sail on October 11 or cancelling altogether for a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit.
  • The cruise line typically makes these offers when a sailing appears overbooked as a way to free up more staterooms, but not all guests take advantage of the deals.

Select guests booked on Allure of the Seas‘ September 27, 2026 cruise departure have received very tempting offers from Royal Caribbean to change their travel plans: emails offering full refunds and free cruises if guests can switch their sailing dates.

The 5,718-guest Oasis-class ship is due to set sail on a 6-night Western Caribbean itinerary departing Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday with port visits planned for Perfect Day CocoCay in the Bahamas; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Nassau, Bahamas before returning to the Sunshine State on Saturday, October 3.

If guests can adjust their plans, however, Royal Caribbean is calling the options “pretty sweet” according to the email.

“Ahead of our Allure of the Seas September 27, 2026, sailing, we are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements. If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as ‘Read’, and gear up for your upcoming adventure, although there are some pretty sweet options below,” the email said.

The first of those options is to switch to the ship’s Sunday, October 11, 2026 departure. Also onboard Allure of the Seas, that is an identical itinerary with the exact same port visits planned, down to the same order of the visits and the specific times in each port. The only difference is the cruise sets sail two weeks later.

If guests select that option, they will receive a full refund of the cruise fare paid for the September 27 sailing, though they will still pay for any applicable fees, taxes, and add-on amenities (spa reservations, specialty dining, drink packages, etc.) as those charges apply to the new cruise date. That cruise fare refund would be processed back to the original form of payment.

There would be no transfer fee to move the booking to the October 11 sailing, and the new reservation would be in a similar category to the original cruise stateroom selected.

The offer notes that Royal Caribbean would also reimburse guests for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses such as flights or hotels.

Read that all again: full refund for moving to an identical sailing two weeks later, with reimbursement for travel expenses if necessary. So, guests who take that option effectively get a free cruise just for delaying their vacation plans for two weeks.

A second option is for guests to cancel their cruise, but in return they get a full refund of all funds paid, including non-refundable deposits, as well as a future cruise credit worth 100% of the cruise fare paid. This option also includes reimbursement for travel expenses.

Effectively, this also amounts to a free cruise, as guests get both the full refund as well as the future cruise credit, which they can use on a booking of their choice on any ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Allure of the Seas Cruise Ship
Allure of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz / Cruise Hive)

While Royal Caribbean has not explained why these offers are being made, this is a typical strategy the cruise line may use when a sailing is overbooked and they are attempting to free up staterooms.

Cruise Hive has reported on these types of offers in the past, most recently for Utopia of the Seas’ September 4, 2026 departure. That offer included options for stateroom upgrades as well as refunds if guests changed their plans.

Voyager of the Seas’ September 4, 2026 sailing to Alaska also appeared to be overbooked with similar offers that included free transfers to other sailings, full refunds, and onboard credit to enjoy on the new cruise.

Who Wouldn’t Take the Offer?

These offers may seem too good to be true, but not all guests are eager to take advantage of the deals.

“I got it to [sic] but I’m disregarding it & still going for the original date as it states it’s not guaranteed,” one guest commented on Facebook, referring to the fact that not everyone may get the deal, even if they express interest.

“I did get the offer and it sounds pretty amazing but everybody’s ready to go at this point and not finding out until tomorrow would be an issue,” another guest said, noting that guests won’t have confirmation of the change until Friday, two days before sailing.

If travelers are planning to fly in ahead of the cruise or if they have already confirmed time off work, set up a pet sitter, or otherwise made arrangements for the trip, it could be challenging to shift travel dates at the last minute.

Other guests might have chosen this specific sailing date to celebrate a special occasion or sail with a larger group, and not everyone could be eligible for the offer.

Nevertheless, for the right traveler, it can be a very tempting offer indeed.

Significant Weather Disruptions Delay Norwegian Cruise Ship in Hawaii

Emrys Thakkar
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Significant Weather Disruptions Delay Norwegian Cruise Ship in Hawaii

As Tropical Storm Nolo continues to develop and gain strength south of the Hawaiian Islands, Norwegian Cruise Line, which operates one ship in the region, has been forced to delay embarkation operations.

The 2,180-passenger Pride of America is the vessel that’s impacted for its seven-night cruise departing Saturday, September 26 out of Honolulu.

In a letter sent to booked guests on September 24, the cruise line stated, “As Tropical Storm Nolo is forecasted to impact the Hawaiian Islands in the coming days, port operations in Honolulu are preparing for significant weather-related disruptions.“

Although the ship is returning to Honolulu early from its September 19 sailing, embarkation for the following cruise cannot safely go ahead.

The cruise line stated, “Although adjustments have been made to Pride of America’s current voyage to facilitate an earlier return to Honolulu, current forecasts indicate that Honolulu Harbor will be unable to safely support embarkation operations on Saturday, September 26, 2026.“

It now means that Pride of America’s planned embarkation on September 26 has been pushed back to Monday, September 28, a two-day delay. However, NCL has made it clear this may not be the final decision and has told guests that further updates via text and email will continue over the coming days.

With the delayed embarkation planned, it does mean a shortened itinerary for the delayed sailing. Tuesday, September 29 will be a call in Hilo from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Wednesday, September 30 will be a call to Kona from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Thursday, October 1 will be a visit to Nawiliwili from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and then the final port of call will be on Friday, October 2 to Kahului from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM before returning to Honolulu on October 3.

Norwegian Cruise Line Giving Guests Compensation Options

Norwegian Cruise Line is providing impacted guests with compensation options. Option 1 allows guests to continue to embark on Monday and receive a 50% refund of the original fare paid, service charges, and any applicable Free at Sea drink package charges.

Guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit of 50% of the fare they paid. This can be used on a future sailing with the cruise line through December 31, 2027. For guests who booked shore excursions through NCL, the cruise line said it’s working on adjusting them to match the new port times.

Norwegian Cruise Line has been very apologetic to guests regarding the situation: “We recognize how disappointing it is when unexpected weather affects the vacation experience you looked forward to, and we are sincerely sorry for the inconvenience this change may cause.“

Of course, guests also have a second option: they can choose not to sail and receive a full refund, but they must do so no later than September 26. They will also receive a Future Cruise Credit with a 10% discount toward any Norwegian cruise through December 31, 2027.

Tropical Storm Nolo Gaining Strength

Tropical Storm Nolo Advisory 17 Track
Tropical Storm Nolo Advisory 17 Track (Central Pacific Hurricane Center/NOAA)

Tropical Storm Nolo is gaining strength just south of Hawaii, and according to Advisory 17 from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (NOAA), Nolo has maximum sustained winds of 70 MPH and is 455 miles south-southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii.

The storm is moving north at 2 MPH, and it’s gaining strength, with tracking showing it could become a major hurricane by the time it passes near or just south of the Big Island.

Cruise Passenger Fights Royal Caribbean Ban Over Card Counting Claim

Calvin Musquez
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Cruise Passenger Fights Royal Caribbean Ban Over Card Counting Claim

Key Aspects:

  • Australian passenger Mark Timothy Grant is challenging a Royal Caribbean ban imposed over alleged violations of casino rules, including card counting.
  • Grant is seeking AU$22,040.83 in compensation for five complimentary cruises earned through Royal Caribbean’s onboard casino program that were later cancelled.
  • A September 14 appeal overturned an earlier dismissal of Grant’s claim, allowing the underlying dispute to return to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

An Australian cruise passenger accused of counting cards has won the right to continue a legal challenge against Royal Caribbean. Mark Timothy Grant previously had five complimentary cruises cancelled and was placed on a no-sail list for alleged violations of casino rules, including card counting.

Grant says the free sailings resulted from gambling through Royal Caribbean’s casino program. Cruise Hive has previously reported on the complimentary cruises offered as rewards through the program, which can be redeemed for future sailings.

While Grant did not specify the exact ships he was sailing on at the time, at least one of the rewards was earned during a Royal Caribbean cruise on February 7, 2024. It’s also unclear how many sailings Grant earned the rewards on.

Using one of these free cruise rewards, Grant had booked a January 17, 2025 South Pacific sailing aboard the 4,180-guest Quantum of the Seas from Brisbane with his partner and son. However, three days before boarding, Grant received a call from Royal Caribbean informing him that all five of his bookings had been cancelled.

Despite this call, Grant arrived at the terminal on January 17, but was refused boarding, with no explanation given. Royal Caribbean later told the tribunal that the cruise line’s global security team had placed him on a no-sail list, following a review of his play activity.

Royal Caribbean says the decision is a result of Grant of violating its casino rules, with the cruise line identifying card counting as part of the dispute. While Royal Caribbean’s casino etiquette guide does not specifically call out counting cards, it does clearly prohibit “advantage play”.

Tribunal Says Case Can Continue

Initially, Grant disputed Royal Caribbean’s actions with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), seeking AU$22,040.83 in compensation for the five cancelled cruises. This initial claim was dismissed on November 3, 2025 because the tribunal determined it lacked jurisdiction.

Quantum of the Seas Casino
Quantum of the Seas Casino (Photo Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani)

Grant later appealed this decision. The appeal was granted on September 14, 2026, with Senior Member Samantha Traves remitting the matter for reconsideration.

“The services (being the free cruise) was supplied as a reward for gambling onboard,” Senior Member Traves wrote in the decision. “RCC is a trader, being a person who in trade or commerce ‘carries on a business of supplying goods or providing services’.”

“The contract did not need to be for the payment of money to the applicant; it needed to give rise to a claim for the payment of money,” the decision further clarified.

The ruling does not determine whether Grant counted cards, whether Royal Caribbean was entitled to ban him, or whether he is owed the AU$22,040.83. Grant’s dispute will now return to QCAT, where the underlying question of whether any compensation is owed remains unresolved. 

Grant Has Challenged Casino Ban Before

This Royal Caribbean incident is not the first time Grant has challenged allegations of advantage play from casinos. He and another player, Nathan Trent Anderson, previously faced exclusions from two Star Entertainment casinos in 2018, The Star Gold Coast and Treasury Brisbane. 

Star Entertainment’s allegations against Grant explicitly included card counting as well as behavior akin to “edge sorting.” This is an advantage play technique where a player attempts to determine the likely value of a card by observing subtle differences in their back patterns.

More From Cruise Hive

That case was likewise taken to QCAT, where Grant acknowledged noticing asymmetrical cards, but denied engaging in edge sorting. The tribunal ultimately concluded there were no reasonable grounds for the exclusions and set them aside.

The previous case involved a different casino operator, different allegations and a different legal question, and has no bearing on whether Royal Caribbean’s current ban was justified. The cruise line’s allegations against Grant will instead be considered as part of the ongoing dispute now returning to QCAT.

Nor’easter Cuts Carnival Venezia’s Bermuda Visit Short, Delays Return to New York

Melissa Mayntz
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Nor’easter Cuts Carnival Venezia’s Bermuda Visit Short, Delays Return to New York

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Venezia adjusted her time in Bermuda on her September 20, 2026 cruise and is now delayed in returning to New York because of the impending nor’easter.
  • Guests on the September 24 sailing have been informed of the embarkation delay, which pushes back cruise terminal arrival appointments by three hours.
  • The ship will still visit Bermuda but just from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 27 instead of overnight from Saturday as originally planned.

The massive nor’easter impacting the Atlantic seaboard has changed plans for Carnival Venezia in Bermuda. The ship departed New York on Sunday, September 20, 2026 for the 4-night Bermuda cruise as planned, but due to the projected storm’s impact on the return trip to the Big Apple, the visit to the British Overseas Territory was cut short.

Guests were notified onboard about the change to the port visit with letters delivered to their staterooms on Monday, September 21.

“In partnership with our Fleet Operations Center, we have been closely monitoring weather conditions along our originally planned route back to New York. Current forecasts indicate that, after departing Bermuda tomorrow, we are likely to encounter unfavorable conditions,” the letter explained.

“As safety is always our priority, we have decided to adjust our plans to sail a route that would help provide a more comfortable journey for everyone on board.”

The letter goes on to explain that the revised route back to New York would require Carnival Venezia to depart Bermuda at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22. Originally, the itinerary had the ship in port from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Carnival Venezia in New York
Carnival Venezia in New York (Photo Credit: Stephen Tomasulo)

Carnival Venezia was able to arrive 30 minutes earlier than planned, but all guests were required to return to the ship no later than 2:30 p.m. for the earlier departure.

Any shore tours purchased through Carnival Cruise Line were adjusted to the new port times if necessary.

Return to New York Also Delayed

Not only did Carnival Venezia shift her route to return to New York, but Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, confirmed the ship slowed in order to have a more comfortable voyage. These two factors combined have meant the 4,090-guest ship is delayed back to the Big Apple.

“I must say thank you to the guests on board now who have a delayed debarkation in New York this morning because the Captain slowed the ship to make it more comfortable for them in the bad weather,” Heald explained in a Facebook post on Thursday morning, September 24.

Booked guests also shared screenshots of the text alerts they’ve received about the delay, which confirm that terminal arrival appointments are to be pushed back by three hours. All guests should be onboard the ship no later than 6 p.m.

Carnival Venezia‘s September 24, 2026 departure is a 5-night cruise to Bermuda. Originally, the ship was to have been docked at King’s Wharf from 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 26 until 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 27. These overnight visits are popular with guests, as they offer abundant time to enjoy all the island has to offer.

Because of the ship’s now-delayed departure from New York, however, the port visit time has also been changed. Carnival Venezia will now be in port only on Sunday, September 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More From Cruise Hive

At this time, there is no word on whether the ship’s return to New York on Tuesday, September 29 will be impacted. By that time, the storm system causing travel disruptions along the East Coast should have moved well out of the region.

Cruise Hive has already reported on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas being impacted by the same nor’easter, as the ship is remaining overnight in Baltimore and will be heading to Florida and the Bahamas instead of Canada and New England for her September 24, 2026 departure.

No Sign of Carnival Panorama Guest as Coast Guard Suspends Search

Melissa Mayntz
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No Sign of Carnival Panorama Guest as Coast Guard Suspends Search

Key Aspects:

  • Search efforts for a guest confirmed overboard from Carnival Panorama on September 19, 2026 have been suspended unless new information is reported.
  • The US Coast Guard noted that combined search efforts covered more than 1,707 square miles of the ocean surface 57 miles off the Mexican coast without success.
  • The guest has been identified as 56-year-old Tom Gigler, who was onboard Carnival Panorama with his wife and family to celebrate an upcoming wedding anniversary.

Days after a guest jumped overboard from Carnival Panorama as the ship was sailing back to Long Beach, California, the US Coast Guard (USCG) suspended search efforts to locate the individual on Tuesday, September 22.

A review of onboard CCTV footage from the time of the incident confirmed the 56-year-old male guest, now identified as Tom Gigler, deliberately jumped off the ship on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

At first, the guest was only believed missing. Cruise Hive reported on the extensive onboard search and subsequent overboard alert. At the time, all guests were asked to return to their staterooms for a full headcount and multiple public address announcements were made in an effort to locate Gigler.

Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) Alameda watch standers received the alert of a missing guest and possible overboard at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, September 19 with Carnival Panorama reporting the guest had last been seen at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Friday, September 18.

Multiple USCG resources were mobilized for the search 57 miles off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The USCG also coordinated with Mexican authorities and good samaritans to thoroughly cover the area.

In total, more than 41 hours of searching covered more than 1,707 square miles with no success. Should new information be discovered, it is possible the search may be resumed, though this is unlikely.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Mr. Tom Gigler,” said Captain Jessica Davila, chief of incident management, Coast Guard Southwest District. “Decisions to suspend search operations are never easy and are made with careful consideration of all available information. Our hearts are with those impacted by his loss.”

People identified Gigler, noting that he was sailing aboard the 4,008-guest Carnival Panorama with his wife and their three sons to celebrate his fifteenth wedding anniversary, which would have been on Wednesday, September 23.

Carnival Panorama Cruise Ship
Carnival Panorama Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Erik Morgan)

The ship had departed Long Beach, California on a 7-night Mexican Riviera sailing on Sunday, September 13, 2026, with visits to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. The overboard incident occurred after the ship had departed Puerto Vallarta and was at sea returning to Long Beach.

The ship did reverse course to assist in the search efforts, but there was no delay reported in her return to Long Beach.

Why Searches Are Suspended

While there is always hope that an overboard guest might be successfully located and rescued, that is sadly not the common outcome from such incidents.

The USCG and other authorities will end search efforts when it becomes less and less probable that an individual could be safely located. Factors such as water temperature, weather conditions, the type of fall, and the time from the initial overboard report all contribute to the decision to end a search.

In April 2026, the USCG called off a search for a crew member overboard from Norwegian Breakaway after less than a day. That incident took place in the waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where much cooler water temperatures would have played a significant role in survivability, with hypothermia possible in as little as 15-30 minutes.

Cruise Hive’s thoughts are with Gigler’s family members and friends at this very difficult time.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Completely Changes Sailing to Avoid Imminent Nor’easter

Melissa Mayntz
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Royal Caribbean Cruise Completely Changes Sailing to Avoid Imminent Nor’easter

Key Aspects:

  • Vision of the Seas will be sailing to Florida and the Bahamas instead of Canada and New England for her September 24, 2026 departure from Baltimore.
  • A nor’easter impacting the Atlantic seaboard has caused the itinerary change, as well as a departure delay and the ship will stay overnight in Baltimore before setting sail.
  • Pre-paid shore tours for the Canada and New England ports will be automatically cancelled and refunded as credit to guests’ onboard accounts.

Canada and New England cruises in autumn can be a spectacular way to see stunning fall foliage and enjoy cooler temperatures, but guests boarding Vision of the Seas in Baltimore, Maryland on Thursday, September 24, 2026 will be seeing palm trees and beach weather instead. Due to the storm expected to impact the northeastern US in the coming days, Royal Caribbean has alerted guests to a complete itinerary change.

“We’ve been closely monitoring the development of several weather systems along the path of our originally planned itinerary. Due to unfavorable weather conditions and high winds, we must change our itinerary to ensure a safe and comfortable experience,” the email notification sent to booked guests explained.

“After exploring all our options, we’ve made the difficult decision to replace our Canada and New England itinerary with a Caribbean itinerary.”

Vision of the Seas was originally scheduled to visit Boston, Portland, Saint John, and Halifax on the 9-night cruise. Instead, the ship will now be visiting Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Grand Bahama Island, more than 1,400 miles southwest of the original destinations.

Guests received the email notification the day before embarkation, but Vision of the Seas won’t actually be leaving on Thursday after all. To avoid sailing in the strong winds, the ship will remain overnight in Baltimore and will not depart until 3 p.m. on Friday, September 25.

Saturday and Sunday will be full days at sea, and the 2,050-guest ship will visit Port Canaveral, Florida from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, September 28. The next day the ship will be in Nassau from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Wednesday, September 30, will be spent at Grand Bahama Island from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vision of the Seas Itinerary Change Letter
Vision of the Seas Itinerary Change Letter

Two additional full days at sea will follow as Vision of the Seas heads north again, arriving back in Baltimore by 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 3.

The cruise line has confirmed that any pre-paid shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean for the previously planned port visits will be automatically cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts. Guests can visit the Shore Excursions desk onboard (portside, midship on Deck 5) to book tours for Port Canaveral, Nassau, or Grand Bahama Island.

Embarkation Delayed

In addition to the itinerary change, Royal Caribbean has noted that embarkation for the September 24 sailing is also delayed and the cruise terminal will not open until 4:30 p.m. All cruise terminal arrival windows have been pushed back 5-5.5 hours to accommodate that change, as Vision of the Seas is late returning to Baltimore due to the nor’easter.

This means if guests had originally selected 11 a.m. as their arrival time, they should now plan to be at the cruise terminal at 4:30 p.m. The latest arrival time is 6:30 p.m., and all guests must be checked in and onboard Vision of the Seas no later than 7 p.m.

Once aboard the ship, guests will not be permitted to debark for activities in Baltimore.

“Going ashore will not be permissible per the CBP [US Customs and Border Protection],” the cruise line explained.

Due to local regulations, the ship’s onboard shops and the Casino Royale must remain closed while Vision of the Seas remains in Baltimore, but other activities, entertainment, and dining will be available as planned and no other onboard operations are impacted.

Nor’easter Storm Update

The powerful nor’easter is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rains, and potential flooding along the eastern seaboard from North Carolina to New England.

According to the National Weather Service, Baltimore is under a hazardous weather advisory that includes a coastal flood warning with a gale watch beginning Friday afternoon, September 25 and continuing through Saturday. At 10 a.m. Thursday morning, September 24, Windy.com shows winds at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay ranging from 35-39 mph.

Because the nor’easter is approaching the area from the south, Vision of the Seas would have to sail right through the strongest region of rough weather if the ship were to depart as planned. By delaying departure, there will be smoother sailing as the ship heads toward Florida and the Bahamas.

Cruise Hive has also recently reported on a nearly complete itinerary change for another Royal Caribbean ship, Navigator of the Seas, departing Los Angeles, California, on Friday, September 25, 2026, which has shuffled her Mexican Riviera schedule due to Hurricane Polo.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Forced to Adjust Itinerary to Avoid Major Hurricane

Emrys Thakkar
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Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Forced to Adjust Itinerary to Avoid Major Hurricane

With the powerful Hurricane Polo Churning off Mexico’s Pacific coast, Royal Caribbean is taking no chances and has informed booked guests about an itinerary change. Navigator of the Seas‘ September 25 sailing out of Los Angeles, California, has been impacted.

Royal Caribbean stated in a letter that was sent to booked guests on September 23, “Due to inclement weather from Hurricane Polo near Western Mexico, we’ll now enjoy a relaxing Sea Day instead of our scheduled visit to Ensenada, Mexico.“

The 3,990-passenger vessel was originally scheduled to make a call in Ensenada on Saturday, September 26, but that has now been cancelled. Navigator of the Seas has also cancelled its call to Cabo San Lucas, which was scheduled for Monday, September 28. The cruise line will instead call at Mazatlan on September 28 rather than the port’s original date of September 29.

There is some good news for guests, as Royal Caribbean is adding the port of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico to the altered itinerary on Tuesday, September 29. Passengers will be able to spend a big chunk of the day there from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM before spending full sea days to return to Los Angeles on October 2.

Navigator of the Seas Storm Change Letter
Navigator of the Seas Storm Change Letter

Royal Caribbean also stated in the letter, “We’re sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather – your safety is our top priority. 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 cruise line is also making sure that any pre-paid shore excursions booked through them for Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas are being refunded to guests’ SeaPass account as Onboard Credit.

Hurricane Polo Update

Hurricane Polo Advisory 14
Hurricane Polo Advisory 14 (Credit: NOAA)

As of publication time, Hurricane Polo is a very powerful Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 160 MPH. Advisory 14 from the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) puts Polo about 240 miles southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico, moving Northwest at 6 MPH.

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class Ovation of the Seas is scheduled to call at Ensenada on September 29 on its 3-night sailing from Los Angeles, departing September 28. Cruise Hive will keep readers updated on any further impact on cruise operations due to Hurricane Polo.

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