World · North America · 2 hrs ago
Royal Caribbean reroutes Bahamas cruise to Nova Scotia over storm
More than 5,000 passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas expected a seven-day trip from New Jersey to the Bahamas.
About 12 hours before departure on October 18, the company changed the route because of stormy weather, sending the ship instead to Nova Scotia in Canada.
Passengers had little time to exchange beach clothes for cold-weather gear, with temperatures there expected to reach no more than 12°C.
The ship called at Halifax for a day, then headed back toward the United States; accounts differ on whether passengers were allowed off the ship in port.
The change was unusual because it sent the cruise to a different climate and region rather than simply skipping a stop.
Royal Caribbean offered future-cruise vouchers and onboard credit, and refunded the cost of prepaid shore excursions.
The ship was expected back in New Jersey on Sunday.
Royal Caribbean changed the route of the Oasis of the Seas from the Bahamas to Nova Scotia because of stormy weather.
More than 5,000 passengers had booked the seven-day cruise from New Jersey, with the change announced shortly before departure on October 18.
The ship reached Halifax on October 20 and stayed for one day before heading back toward the United States.
Passengers had packed for warm weather, while temperatures in Nova Scotia were forecast to reach no more than 12 degrees Celsius.
Royal Caribbean offered compensation that included future-cruise vouchers and refunds for prepaid shore excursions.
- Who
- More than 5,000 passengers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.
- What
- The cruise was rerouted from the Bahamas to Nova Scotia because of stormy weather.
- When
- The cruise was due to depart on October 18, 2026; the ship reached Halifax on October 20.
- Where
- The cruise departed from New Jersey and was redirected to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Why
- Stormy weather led Royal Caribbean to change the ship’s route.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Oasis of the Seas was due to depart New Jersey on a seven-day cruise, and its route was changed shortly before departure.
The ship docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for one day.
The ship headed back toward the United States, with three days at sea before its return to New Jersey.
- Ship
- Oasis of the Seas
- Operator
- Royal Caribbean
- Passengers
- More than 5,000
- Original destination
- The Bahamas
- Rerouted destination
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Halifax stop
- October 20, 2026; one day
3 sources
What people are saying
I have my winter hat and earmuffs, but I forgot my scarf.
We have just landed in Newark and were told that our family cruise to the Bahamas, which literally leaves in twelve hours, is now supposed to go to Nova Scotia?!? We don’t have the right clothes for this.
We were supposed to go to Florida, stay half a day in Port Canaveral, then go to the Bahamas and then return on a seven-day cruise. But then the weather got bad and we came here.
That’s how it turned out, but I’m grateful and will make the best of it.