Winds Force Celebrity Reflection Into Rare Cruise to Nowhere

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Reflection completed a rare “cruise to nowhere” over the weekend of Jan. 30, 2026 after worsening weather forced the ship to cancel every scheduled port visit on its three-night sailing from Fort Lauderdale.

The Solstice Class ship had been scheduled to call on Key West, Florida, on Jan. 31 and Bimini, Bahamas, on Feb. 1, but both stops were removed from the itinerary after guests had boarded. Celebrity Reflection ultimately returned to Port Everglades as planned on Feb. 2, 2026, with no delays to debarkation.

Storm timing and wind concerns drive last-minute cancellations

In a letter delivered to staterooms, Celebrity told passengers that the ship’s captain was working with Royal Caribbean Group Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer as forecasts deteriorated for the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. Setzer said the system arrived faster and more intense than forecasted, and Celebrity said it had been “closely monitoring the advancing weather front” affecting the region.

Celebrity explained that because the weather front accelerated, “the onset of stronger winds” was expected earlier than planned, creating concerns about safely remaining alongside and departing Key West. Setzer’s communication to guests cited gusts reaching up to 33 mph, which Celebrity said would have jeopardized docking and undocking operations.

Historical wind data from Weather Underground for Key West also showed winds increasing during the morning hours on Saturday and holding in the 15–20 mph range for much of the day, with higher gusts. In strong winds, cruise lines can face elevated risks during docking, including strain on mooring lines and unsafe conditions around gangways and the pier.

Bimini closure turns the voyage into an all-sea-day itinerary

After dropping Key West, the ship still aimed to call on Bimini on Sunday. That plan was also scrapped as winds increased across the Bahamas and the port closed. Celebrity told guests that Bimini advised it would be closed for safety, requiring the ship to remain at sea for a second consecutive day instead of calling on the island.

The result was an unexpected all-sea-day sailing: two consecutive sea days followed by an on-time return to South Florida.

Onboard activities expanded, with credits and excursion refunds for guests

Celebrity said onboard teams added activities on both sea days to help fill the schedule, while acknowledging in its guest communication that the trip was no longer the itinerary passengers expected. The cruise line also apologized for the inconvenience as the itinerary shifted.

To compensate guests, Celebrity provided complimentary onboard credit based on stateroom category, and it arranged for pre-paid shore excursions for Key West or Bimini to be automatically returned as onboard credit. Celebrity said refunds did not require additional steps from passengers. Credit amounts ranged from $150 to $400 per stateroom, with additional credit for third and fourth guests in the same cabin.

• Inside and ocean view staterooms: Guests received $150 per stateroom in onboard credit for the itinerary disruption, applied to the stateroom’s account.
• Veranda staterooms: Guests received $200 per stateroom in onboard credit, reflecting the higher-category accommodation.
• Concierge Class and AquaClass: Guests received $250 per stateroom in onboard credit, with the amount tied to these premium cabin categories.
• Suites: Guests received $400 per stateroom in onboard credit, the highest tier of compensation cited in the guest communication.
• Third and fourth guests in a stateroom: Celebrity provided an additional $25 per extra guest, on top of the stateroom’s base onboard credit amount.

PVSA rules raise questions when a foreign port becomes unreachable

Because Celebrity Reflection is foreign-flagged, the all-sea-day itinerary also raised questions about U.S. rules that generally require an international stop on cruises departing from U.S. homeports. The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (PVSA) requires foreign-flagged ships operating from the United States to call on a foreign port during a cruise.

When weather or other exceptional circumstances prevent a foreign port call, potential penalties can come into play, including fines assessed on a per-passenger basis. Cruise lines can appeal and request relief depending on the facts of the disruption, and Celebrity said any PVSA-related fines are not charged to passengers. The line also noted that extenuating circumstances such as weather can allow for exceptions and that prior instances show penalties can sometimes be reduced due to safety concerns.

Regional disruptions hit multiple cruise lines that weekend

Celebrity Reflection was among numerous ships that faced last-minute itinerary changes as strong winds affected the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and parts of the eastern United States. Other vessels cited as impacted included Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and Disney Cruise Line’s Dream and Wish, with multiple lines adjusting itineraries to prioritize safety.

Royal Caribbean also closed its private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and canceled visits to Nassau, while cruise lines including Norwegian, Carnival, and MSC were reported to have altered plans, including early returns to their respective U.S. ports. Forecasters warned of gale-force winds and inclement conditions impacting the Bahamas and the eastern U.S. coastline from Jan. 31 through Feb. 1, prompting a weekend of rapid itinerary changes across the industry.

Upcoming sailings from Fort Lauderdale

Celebrity Reflection is scheduled to continue a winter run of short cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas and nearby destinations. Following the weather-impacted weekend voyage, the ship’s next itinerary was set as a four-night cruise that includes Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and no confirmed changes to upcoming Celebrity Reflection sailings were announced at the time of the disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What caused Celebrity Reflection’s itinerary changes?

Celebrity Reflection’s planned calls to Key West and Bimini were canceled after a weather front moved in faster than expected, bringing strong winds and unsafe conditions for docking and port operations. Celebrity said it had been “closely monitoring the advancing weather front,” and that “the onset of stronger winds” was expected earlier than forecasted.

What compensation was offered to passengers?

Celebrity provided onboard credit based on stateroom category, ranging from $150 per stateroom for inside and ocean view cabins up to $400 per stateroom for suites. The cruise line also provided $25 in additional onboard credit for third and fourth guests in the same stateroom.

Will shore excursions for canceled ports be refunded?

Yes. Celebrity said pre-paid shore excursions for Key West and Bimini were automatically returned to guests as onboard credit.

Is a “cruise to nowhere” allowed from a U.S. port?

Foreign-flagged ships sailing from U.S. ports are generally required under the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 to make a foreign port call, meaning cruises to nowhere cannot be planned in advance. When exceptional circumstances such as severe weather prevent a foreign call, fines may apply but cruise lines can appeal based on the circumstances, and Celebrity said any PVSA-related fines are not charged to passengers.