Independence of the Seas Diverted From Bermuda Due to Severe Weather

Royal Caribbean has diverted Independence of the Seas from Bermuda to an overnight call in Saint John, New Brunswick, because of severe weather off the U.S. East Coast. The change affects the ship’s five-night Oct. 24, 2026, sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, with passengers receiving refundable onboard credit.

Guests were notified late on Oct. 22, less than 48 hours before embarkation. The diversion follows a similar change for Oasis of the Seas, whose Florida and Bahamas itinerary from the same homeport was replaced with a visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In an email to passengers obtained by Royal Caribbean Blog, Royal Caribbean said its meteorology team had been tracking deteriorating conditions offshore. The company said the weather prevented it from offering “a safe and comfortable journey to Bermuda” and that it had selected Saint John after reviewing alternatives.

A National Weather Service gale warning covered Atlantic waters between 60 and 250 nautical miles off the U.S. coast in the wake of Post-Tropical Cyclone Josephine. The forecast called for winds of 25 to 35 knots on Oct. 24, strengthening to as much as 40 knots overnight and into the following day, with seas ranging from seven to 19 feet.

What Independence passengers get instead

Independence of the Seas was docked at Port Saint John on Oct. 26, according to CruiseMapper. Its revised schedule calls for departure at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 27.

The original itinerary included an overnight call at King’s Wharf at Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard, beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday and ending at 5 p.m. Tuesday. No replacement Bermuda visit is planned for this sailing.

Royal Caribbean advised passengers to bring sweaters and other warmer clothing, with daytime temperatures in Saint John forecast in the mid-50s Fahrenheit. The Canadian port is on the Bay of Fundy, where local attractions include the Reversing Falls.

Compensation for Independence passengers is calculated per stateroom: $150 for inside cabins, $200 for ocean-view accommodation, $300 for balcony cabins and $500 for suites. An additional $50 applies for each third or subsequent guest sharing a cabin. All amounts are in U.S. dollars.

Royal Caribbean is automatically cancelling Bermuda shore excursions purchased through the line and crediting payments to passengers’ onboard accounts.

Earlier Halifax diversion brought short notice

Oasis of the Seas departed Cape Liberty on Oct. 18 for a seven-night voyage originally scheduled to visit Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau. Passengers learned on the evening before departure that all three calls had been removed because of the weather.

The initial replacement schedule provided only an overnight stop in Halifax, with passengers advised they would not be allowed ashore. Royal Caribbean subsequently extended the call until 6 p.m. on Oct. 21, allowing a full day to visit the city. Guests were offered onboard credit, a future cruise credit worth 50% of the fare paid and refunds for shore excursions.

Nicholas Meli, who drove seven hours with his family from Toronto to New Jersey, told CTV News: “I am already from Canada, and I wanted to go to the Bahamas.”

Independence of the Seas is scheduled to return to Cape Liberty on Oct. 29. Any unused refundable onboard credit will be returned to the payment card associated with each guest’s onboard account.

See current Independence of the Seas fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.