Royal Caribbean Reorders Bahamas Cruises as Cold Front Hits Docks

Royal Caribbean International reshuffled several Bahamas-region itineraries for sailings departing Nov. 10 as a strong cold front brought high winds and rough seas to Florida and The Bahamas, creating challenging docking conditions at Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The cruise line said the adjustments were made to prioritize safety and vessel stability, with most changes involving swapped port days rather than missed destinations. In one case, however, scheduled stops were replaced entirely.

Cold-front conditions driving the changes

Forecasts around Nassau and CocoCay showed winds strong enough to complicate docking operations early in the week. Around Nassau, winds near the port were expected to be about 22-24 knots (roughly 25-28 miles per hour) on Tuesday, with forecasts calling for lighter winds closer to 12 knots (about 14 mph) by Thursday.

By Monday afternoon, The Bahamas had issued a near Gale warning of 28-33 knots for the Northern and Northwest Bahamas. Royal Caribbean also cited rough seas and choppy waters, noting that higher winds can be especially problematic for docking, particularly for larger vessels such as Oasis-class ships.

How Royal Caribbean communicated the safety rationale

In a notice to guests sailing on Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean said the ship’s leadership had been monitoring the approaching system and that the captain and Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer were “tracking a cold front,” adding that the ship had “switched the days and order” of Nassau and CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean has said Setzer worked closely with ship captains as the front moved through the region. Setzer also commented publicly on the broader setup behind the cooler, windier pattern, posting on X about an “ideal cold weather setup for Florida” as high pressure pushed cool, dry air south.

Revised port schedules for Nov. 10 departures

• Wonder of the Seas: The ship’s Nov. 10 departure from Miami was adjusted so Tuesday becomes a day at sea, followed by Nassau on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and Perfect Day at CocoCay on Thursday, Nov. 13. Royal Caribbean cited adverse conditions earlier in the week, including wind speeds expected around 22-25 knots on the originally planned CocoCay day, before returning to Miami on Friday, Nov. 14.
• Utopia of the Seas: Sailing from Port Canaveral on Nov. 10, the itinerary was reordered to place a sea day on Tuesday, then a CocoCay visit on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and a Nassau call on Thursday, Nov. 13. The ship is scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Friday, Nov. 14.
• Radiance of the Seas: Departing Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 10, 2025, the 4-night itinerary keeps Nassau but shifts the call from Tuesday to Thursday, Nov. 13, turning Tuesday into a sea day. The stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay remains set for Wednesday, Nov. 12, and the ship is scheduled to return to Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Nov. 14; Radiance of the Seas is a 90,090-gross-ton ship.
• Freedom of the Seas: The 5-night Nov. 10 sailing from Miami saw the most significant reroute, with both Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel, Mexico removed. The ship is now scheduled to call in the Dominican Republic on consecutive days, visiting Puerto Plata’s Taino Bay on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and Amber Cove on Thursday, Nov. 13, before returning to Miami on Saturday, Nov. 15; Royal Caribbean noted it had been monitoring the “development of a strong cold front” affecting the sailing area, and Amber Cove is a private cruise destination in the Puerto Plata region that opened in 2015.

Shore excursions and refunds for impacted port days

Royal Caribbean said its shore excursion teams will attempt to move booked tours to the updated port days for guests who reserved through the cruise line. When an excursion cannot be accommodated after the change, it will be canceled and refunded.

For affected sailings, the cruise line told guests that refunds for canceled Royal Caribbean excursions would be processed back to the card on file, with timing noted as up to 14 business days.

Not hurricane-related, despite the late-season calendar

Royal Caribbean emphasized that the itinerary disruptions were tied to a cold front rather than tropical development. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30, but the National Hurricane Center reported no tropical cyclone activity expected during the next seven days.

With forecasts calling for improved conditions later in the week, Royal Caribbean said Nov. 10 departures are expected to operate on their revised schedules, with excursion plans adjusted to match the new port sequence where possible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why did Royal Caribbean change these Bahamas itineraries for Nov. 10 departures?

Royal Caribbean said a strong cold front brought high winds and rough seas to Florida and The Bahamas, creating challenging docking conditions at ports including Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The cruise line said the changes were made to prioritize guest and crew safety and vessel stability.

Which Royal Caribbean ships were affected by the itinerary reshuffles?

The changes covered Nov. 10 departures for Wonder of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Freedom of the Seas. Adjustments ranged from swapping port days to replacing scheduled stops entirely.

What wind conditions were cited around CocoCay and Nassau?

Forecasts cited winds around Nassau near 22-24 knots (about 25-28 mph) on Tuesday, easing closer to 12 knots (about 14 mph) by Thursday. For the earlier-week CocoCay calls, winds were expected around 22-25 knots (about 25-29 mph), which the cruise line noted can complicate docking and pier access.

What happens to shore excursions when a port day is moved or canceled?

Royal Caribbean said excursions booked through the cruise line will be shifted to the new port day when possible. If an excursion cannot be accommodated after the itinerary change, it will be canceled and refunded to the card on file, with processing time noted as up to 14 business days.

Are the itinerary disruptions related to hurricanes?

No. Royal Caribbean said the changes were driven by a cold front, not tropical development. The National Hurricane Center forecast no tropical cyclone activity during the next seven days, even as the Atlantic hurricane season continues through Nov. 30.