Key Aspects:
- Utopia of the Seas‘ December 15 cruise will swap port days due to the departure delay.
- Guests will still visit both ports, but Nassau will be on Thursday instead of Tuesday.
- Shore tours will be adjusted automatically or refunded if necessary.
Following the preemptive delay to Utopia of the Seas‘ return to Port Canaveral planned after her weekend cruise, guests on the ship’s December 15, 2025 departure have been notified that not only is their embarkation delayed, but their 4-night itinerary has been changed as well.
As guests boarded the Oasis-class ship on Friday, they were alerted to the delay due to an incoming cold front in Florida late Sunday and early Monday, with high winds and swells that will make it unsafe for the ship to dock on schedule.
The situation was also explained to guests on the ship’s next cruise, so they are aware of the situation and how it will impact their sailing.
“Along with our Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer, we are closely monitoring the approach of a strong cold front Sunday night into Port Canaveral. This system will bring high winds that will make our schedule arrival into the port challenging,” the email explained.
“With safety in mind, the ship is expected to be delayed in returning to the port by approximately six (6) hours, but the situation remains fluid.”
Royal Caribbean is reminding incoming guests that parking areas and the cruise terminal cannot accommodate new travelers until the guests debarking Utopia of the Seas have departed, so arrival windows for Monday will need to be adjusted.
While the exact times for the new cruise terminal arrival appointments have not been confirmed, the cruise line will reach out by 6 p.m. on Sunday evening, December 14, with updated times and any further instructions.
Itinerary Changed for Next Sailing
The delay to embarkation for the next cruise is not unexpected, but the itinerary change will help ensure everyone can enjoy plenty of time in port regardless.
Fortunately, the December 15 departure is a 4-night cruise that already has a day at sea built in to the schedule, so swapping port visits is possible.
“Due to our anticipated late departure on Monday, we’ll need to swap our visit to Nassau on Tuesday with a day at sea,” the email said.
“The good news is we’ll still have a chance to visit Nassau on Thursday with updated call times. Not to worry, you’ll still have the same amount of time in port to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer!”
Originally, Utopia of the Seas was to have visited the capital of the Bahamas from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday. With the updated itinerary, the ship will now be in port from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, while Tuesday will be a day at sea.
The visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Wednesday, December 17, remains from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. without any changes.
Shore Tours to Be Adjusted or Refunded
Royal Caribbean will automatically reschedule any pre-paid shore tours for Nassau booked through the cruise line according to the updated itinerary. If tours cannot be moved to Thursday, they will be cancelled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.
Any funds remaining at the end of the cruise will then be returned to the card on file after debarkation. Such refunds may take up to 14 days, depending on individual banking institutions’ policies.
