Utopia of the Seas Reroutes to Cozumel as Bahamas Winds Rise
Prepaid shore excursions for Nassau and Perfect Day CocoCay will be canceled automatically, with refunds credited to passengers’ onboard SeaPass accounts.
Royal Caribbean has replaced Utopia of the Seas’ Bahamas stops with a visit to Cozumel, Mexico, on its four-night cruise departing October 26, 2026. The line notified passengers on Sunday, October 25, a day before embarkation, as forecasts warned of near-gale to gale-force winds and elevated seas in the Bahamas.
The change sends the ship more than 650 miles west of its planned destinations, Nassau and Perfect Day CocoCay. Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s sixth Oasis-class ship, normally operates three- and four-night Bahamas cruises and accommodates 5,668 passengers at double occupancy.
In an email to booked passengers that was posted on Reddit, Royal Caribbean cited a weather system bringing “unfavorable conditions to the Bahamas next week.”
Revised schedule and excursion refunds
Utopia of the Seas will visit Cozumel on Wednesday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday become sea days, replacing the scheduled Nassau call on October 27 and Perfect Day CocoCay visit on October 29. Wednesday had originally been a day at sea. The ship will still leave Port Canaveral at 4 p.m. on Monday and is expected back at approximately 7 a.m. on Friday, October 30.
Utopia of the Seas has called at Cozumel before. Its first visit came in May 2025, when local dignitaries welcomed the ship with a ceremony that included a commemorative plaque presentation.
Royal Caribbean will automatically cancel prepaid shore excursions purchased through the line for either of the removed destinations. Refunds will be credited to passengers’ onboard SeaPass accounts.
Strong winds, high seas and king tides
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology forecast near-gale to gale-force winds from Sunday, October 25, through Tuesday, October 27, and said some marine hazards could continue into Wednesday. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are also possible.
Forecast seas range from 9 to 14 feet, with higher waves possible locally. Conditions on the Atlantic side are expected to be rougher than in sheltered waters.
King tides, the season’s highest astronomical tides, are expected to increase water levels further and raise the risk of coastal flooding.
See current Utopia of the Seas fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
