Storm Damage Leaves CocoCay With One Berth, Forcing Itinerary Swaps

Royal Caribbean’s private destination Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas is operating with reduced docking capacity after severe weather damaged part of its pier system, forcing itinerary changes for multiple sailings.

The disruption followed a winter storm that brought strong winds and heavy seas to the region. Royal Caribbean said damage on the eastern side of the pier has created safety concerns for berthing, leaving the destination able to accommodate only one ship at a time on the west side in the near term.

What was damaged and why the eastern berth is closed

Royal Caribbean told guests that several catwalks on the eastern side of CocoCay’s pier fell into the water during the storm. The company said divers have not yet been able to locate all of the fallen sections, and that uncertainty is preventing ships from docking safely on that side.

With portions of the structure still unaccounted for, the cruise line has emphasized the need to verify that approaching ships have a clear and safe path to maneuver, including in turning areas. Until the debris is located and the area is confirmed safe, the eastern side remains unavailable for berthing.

Reduced capacity reshuffles CocoCay calls across multiple itineraries

Even with the eastern side closed, ships can still dock on the west side of the pier. In practice, that allows CocoCay to continue receiving a single ship per day, but it cannot reliably host two ships on the same day as many Bahamas itineraries were designed to do.

With capacity effectively cut in half, itinerary planners have had to decide which vessel keeps the CocoCay call and which is reassigned to an alternate port or an added day at sea. Royal Caribbean has said guests on impacted sailings are being notified directly as changes are made.

Ship-by-ship changes: Cabo Rojo, Freeport, sea days, and shortened port time

Several Royal Caribbean and Royal Caribbean Group itineraries have been adjusted as a result of the pier damage and the broader weather system moving through the Bahamas.

Freedom of the Seas, sailing a five-night Bahamas itinerary that departed Miami on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, had its scheduled Perfect Day at CocoCay call on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, removed from the itinerary. Royal Caribbean told guests the ship would spend that day at sea and add a call in Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic.

In its onboard message, Royal Caribbean said it made the change after “exploring and exhausting all other alternatives,” adding, “We’re terribly sorry for the unexpected change.” The company also told guests, “Feel free to use this information for insurance purposes.”

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection, which is also owned by Royal Caribbean Group, replaced its planned CocoCay stop with a visit to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. The ship departed Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 2, 2026, with CocoCay and Nassau on the original plan for the week, and cruise tracking data showed the vessel docking in Freeport while its scheduled Nassau call was expected to proceed.

• Star of the Seas cancelled a planned CocoCay call and substituted a sea day at the start of its seven-night sailing. Royal Caribbean said in a notice to guests that the ship’s captain and chief meteorologist Craig Setzer had been monitoring a strong cold front affecting CocoCay, Nassau, and nearby waters, and that “high winds and large ocean waves” led to the decision to skip the stop.
• Utopia of the Seas cancelled a CocoCay visit on an Ultimate Weekend sailing from Port Canaveral, with guests told the stop was cancelled “due to strong winds.” The ship also adjusted its Nassau schedule, departing earlier than planned, with Royal Caribbean citing safety considerations such as the risk of excessive tension on mooring lines in high winds.
• Oasis of the Seas cancelled a CocoCay call scheduled for Jan. 31, 2026, on a Southern Caribbean sailing, according to itinerary updates tied to the same weather system.
• Wonder of the Seas was among ships affected by shifting CocoCay access as capacity tightened, with a CocoCay call scheduled for Jan. 31, 2026, later cancelled. The ship also cancelled a Nassau call scheduled for Feb. 1, 2026, turning that itinerary into a sea-day-only sailing.

Royal Caribbean has also faced day-to-day scheduling pressure at CocoCay as ships jockey for the single available berth. The line has indicated that, on some dates, one vessel may still be able to proceed with a CocoCay visit on the west side while another is diverted to an alternate plan.

Refunds, cancellations, and guest communications

When a ship cannot call at CocoCay, pre-paid shore excursions booked through the cruise line for that destination are cancelled and refunded under standard practice for missed ports. Royal Caribbean has also said excursions at affected destinations would be automatically cancelled when itinerary changes prevent a call.

On sailings where Nassau timing or port order also changes, any impacted shore tours may be rescheduled when possible or cancelled and refunded when they cannot be accommodated. Royal Caribbean has also indicated guests will be updated as additional adjustments are made.

Wider weather-driven disruptions across the region

The rough conditions in the Bahamas coincided with a bomb cyclone affecting the U.S. East Coast, contributing to broader itinerary disruption beyond Royal Caribbean Group. Carnival Sunshine, for example, altered its Feb. 1, 2026 sailing from Norfolk, Virginia, with multiple Bahamas-area calls cancelled, and one report said the voyage ended early. Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises also modified itineraries during the same period as operators prioritized passenger safety.

No repair timeline yet as crews focus on debris recovery and inspections

Royal Caribbean has not announced a timeline for reopening the eastern side of CocoCay’s pier. The immediate constraint remains the missing catwalk sections that must be located or otherwise accounted for before ships can safely approach and berth.

Beyond debris recovery, replacement and inspection of damaged structures will be required before full operations can resume. As long as CocoCay remains limited to one ship per day, additional Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sailings with planned calls may see last-minute swaps to sea days or alternative ports as schedules are adjusted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How has the severe weather impacted Perfect Day at CocoCay?

The storm damaged the eastern side of CocoCay’s pier, with several catwalks falling into the sea. Because some submerged portions have not been retrieved or located, Royal Caribbean has treated the eastern berth as unavailable for safe docking, leading to itinerary changes.

Why can only one ship dock at Perfect Day at CocoCay right now?

Only the west side of the pier is currently being used. With the eastern side closed while crews work to locate debris and confirm safe maneuvering space, CocoCay’s docking capacity is effectively limited to one ship at a time.

Which ships have had itinerary changes tied to CocoCay disruptions?

Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Reflection had CocoCay calls cancelled and replaced with Cabo Rojo and Freeport, respectively. Other ships that have recently cancelled CocoCay stops amid the same weather and operational constraints include Star of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.

What happens to shore excursions booked for CocoCay if the stop is cancelled?

Pre-paid CocoCay shore excursions booked through the cruise line are automatically cancelled and refunded when the ship cannot visit the destination. Royal Caribbean has also said excursions at affected destinations would be cancelled automatically when itinerary changes prevent a call.

When will the CocoCay pier be fully reopened?

A reopening date has not been announced. Royal Caribbean has indicated that missing catwalk sections must be located and the docking area verified as clear and safe, followed by repairs and safety inspections, before the eastern side can return to service.