Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean has completely rerouted Oasis of the Seas’ October 18, 2026 sailing due to inclement weather developing off the East Coast.
- Instead of Port Canaveral, Perfect Day CocoCay, and Nassau, the 7-night cruise will visit Halifax, Nova Scotia, for an overnight stay.
- Guests are being offered refundable onboard credit based on stateroom category, plus a 50% future cruise credit for each paid guest.
Severe weather continues to wreak havoc on cruise itineraries. The latest subject of a weather reroute is the October 18, 2026 sailing of Oasis of the Seas, scheduled to depart from Cape Liberty, New Jersey and originally planned to call at Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau before returning on October 25.
However, inclement weather developing off the U.S. East Coast has caused Royal Caribbean to completely reroute the sailing, cancelling all scheduled ports. According to guests, they received a notice informing them of the change late on October 17, one day before departure.
“The weather’s impact makes it hard to provide you with a safe and comfortable journey to Florida and the Bahamas,” the notice said.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has identified a storm-force, non-tropical low expected to form off the southeastern United States within a day. NHC warns of high winds, coastal flooding, and dangerous surf along portions of the East Coast, with a 30% chance of subtropical development within the week.
Instead of Florida and the Bahamas, the cruise will visit a single port in Canada, calling at Halifax overnight from October 20 at 6:00 p.m. to October 21 at 8:00 a.m. The remainder of the 7-night sailing has been replaced with sea days and the Cape Liberty departure and return remain unchanged.
While many guests were understanding of the change as a safety necessity, others were less than thrilled. A guest shared the notice on Facebook, prompting some to express their disappointment in the cruise line’s handling of the situation.
“Arrive at 6pm then immediately leave next morning? That’s really the best they could do?” said one commenter.
“Tonight after 5 months of anticipation (and we all packed predominantly for warm weather) we all receive this email tonight. I am beyond disappointed,” another commented. “I live in New England. If I wanted to stay cold I could have just stayed home smh. Probably will be the last cruise I ever go on.”
Oasis of the Seas has faced other weather disruptions this year. As Cruise Hive covered in September, the 5,602-guest ship also faced itinerary changes during an earlier East Coast storm, when a nor’easter delayed the ship’s return to Cape Liberty, forcing the cancellation of another Port Canaveral visit on the following sailing.
Royal Caribbean Offers Compensation to Guests
As compensation for the heavily altered itinerary, Royal Caribbean is offering guests refundable onboard credit, per first and second passengers, based on their stateroom category. Guests in inside and oceanview staterooms will receive $200 per person, while balcony and neighborhood balcony staterooms will receive $300 per guest.
Meanwhile, guests staying in suites will receive $600 in onboard credit per first and second guest. Additional guests will receive $100 in onboard credit regardless of stateroom category.
The cruise line is also providing a 50% future cruise credit per paid guest. The credit will be issued by November 1, 2026, and guests must book their next sailing by October 18, 2027.
Shore excursions booked through the cruise line for the cancelled ports will be automatically refunded as onboard credit. Any unused balance will be refunded to the credit card linked to the guest’s onboard account following the cruise.
Weather and Travel Requirements
Due to the change, Royal Caribbean has advised guests to pack warmer clothing for the voyage. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s Fahrenheit in Halifax during the ship’s visit, compared to the high-70s and low-80s Fahrenheit forecast for Port Canaveral and Nassau.
The cruise line also emphasized that some guests, depending on their nationality, may be unable to join the sailing due to Canadian visa requirements. The country requires a visa for citizens of over 100 countries, including China, El Salvador, and Mexico.
For others, the cruise line recommends traveling with a passport book or card valid for at least six months after the voyage. However, eligible guests may also board with a U.S. birth certificate and valid government-issued ID.
