Winter Storm Fern Delays Odyssey of the Seas Return to Cape Liberty

Royal Caribbean International has delayed Odyssey of the Seas’ return to Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, by one day as Winter Storm Fern disrupts travel and port operations across the eastern United States. The ship is now scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, a shift that also pushes back the next sailing and shortens an upcoming Southern Caribbean itinerary by one day.

Odyssey of the Seas had been due back on Monday, January 26, but the cruise line told guests the revised timing is tied to weather impacts on the region and the knock-on effects for travel into the New York-New Jersey area.

Return to Cape Liberty pushed to January 27

In a message sent to booked guests, Royal Caribbean said, “Due to the major winter storm affecting much of the east and northeast US, and the impacts to land-based travel and port operations, we are delaying our arrival into Bayonne by one day.” The line added that the change is intended to give conditions time to improve and allow “shore-based operations to recover.”

Royal Caribbean also told guests the later arrival would give embarking passengers additional time to reach the terminal as flight and ground transportation disruptions continue.

Guests onboard the current sailing also received communications about the extended timeline and the debarkation plan. Royal Caribbean told passengers, “Our plan is to begin debarking guests at 7:00 AM on Tuesday, January 27th in Bayonne,” and asked guests to follow assigned departure groups.

Next sailing shifts by 24 hours, cutting one day from the itinerary

With the ship returning a day later than planned, embarkation and the next cruise move back by 24 hours. Royal Caribbean said Odyssey of the Seas will still depart Cape Liberty on Tuesday, January 27, but the scheduled Southern Caribbean sailing has been reduced from 12 nights to 11 nights.

Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum Class ship that entered service in 2021. Royal Caribbean lists the vessel at 167,704 gross tons, measuring 1,138 feet in length, with capacity for 4,198 guests at double occupancy.

Revised Southern Caribbean route and canceled port calls

Royal Caribbean said two port visits were removed to accommodate the shortened schedule. The ship will no longer call on San Juan, Puerto Rico, or Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and those dates will become time at sea.

The updated itinerary provided to guests is:

• Tuesday, January 27: Depart Cape Liberty at 3:00 p.m.
• Wednesday to Friday, January 28 to 30: Days at sea
• Saturday, January 31: St. John’s, Antigua (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
• Sunday, February 1: Bridgetown, Barbados (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Monday, February 2: Castries, St. Lucia (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Tuesday, February 3: Philipsburg, St. Maarten (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
• Wednesday to Friday, February 4 to 6: Days at sea
• Saturday, February 7: Arrive Cape Liberty at 6:00 a.m.

Royal Caribbean said shore excursions booked through the line for the canceled ports will be automatically canceled and refunded.

Refunds, onboard credit, and reimbursable travel costs

Royal Caribbean is tying guest compensation to the one-day reduction in the sailing. Guests on the shortened itinerary will receive a pro-rated, one-day refund of the cruise fare paid as onboard credit; any onboard credit that remains unused at the end of the cruise will be returned to the card on file.

The line also said it would reimburse certain non-refundable travel costs connected to the disruption, including non-refundable pre-purchased travel expenses such as hotels, train tickets, or rental cars. Royal Caribbean’s outlined limits include one night of hotel reimbursement up to $250 for one night, as well as airline change fees up to $200 per guest for domestic travel or up to $400 per guest for international travel.

For pre-paid add-ons booked through Royal Caribbean, the cruise line is also refunding one day’s worth of some packages, including internet and beverage packages. Royal Caribbean also told guests they can opt to extend select onboard packages for the additional day at reduced rates:

• Deluxe Beverage Package: $50 per person
• Refreshment Package: $20 per person
• Soda Package: $5 per person
• VOOM internet: $15 per day
• The Key: $15 per day

Royal Caribbean said guests who do not want an extension can request changes through Guest Services. The line also advised that gratuities would be extended by one additional day, adding one more day of automatic gratuities: $18.50 per person in standard cabins and $21.00 per person in suites.

Storm-driven disruption across airports and other cruise itineraries

Winter Storm Fern has disrupted transportation networks in the region, complicating cruise turnaround operations and passenger travel into Cape Liberty. On Sunday, January 25, FlightAware listed major cancellations and delays at nearby airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport (909 cancellations and 20 delays), John F. Kennedy International Airport (956 cancellations and 37 delays), and LaGuardia Airport (899 cancellations and 32 delays).

Other cruise ships have also adjusted plans as the storm system affects multiple ports and routes. Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas returned early to Galveston, Texas, to avoid incoming ice storms, while Carnival Pride delayed its arrival in Baltimore by one day. MSC Meraviglia in Brooklyn, New York, faced more mild disruptions but reminded guests to allow extra travel time to the terminal.

Odyssey of the Seas is now scheduled to arrive in Bayonne on January 27 and depart the same day for an 11-night Southern Caribbean cruise that retains calls in Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten, while replacing San Juan and St. Thomas with sea days. Royal Caribbean said booked guests will be notified if additional itinerary adjustments are confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why was Odyssey of the Seas delayed by a full day?

Royal Caribbean said it delayed the ship’s arrival because Winter Storm Fern is affecting much of the east and northeast United States and disrupting land-based travel and port operations. The line said the change is intended to give conditions time to improve and allow shore-based operations to recover.

Which ports were removed from the next Odyssey of the Seas cruise?

Royal Caribbean removed two calls from the next sailing: San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Those days are being replaced with sea days as part of the one-day reduction in cruise length.

What compensation is Royal Caribbean offering for the shortened sailing?

Royal Caribbean said guests will receive a pro-rated, one-day refund of cruise fare as onboard credit, with unused amounts refunded to the card on file after the cruise. The line also outlined reimbursement for certain non-refundable travel costs tied to the disruption, including one night of hotel reimbursement up to $250 and eligible airline change fees up to $200 per guest for domestic travel or up to $400 per guest for international travel.

Will Royal Caribbean refund shore excursions booked for canceled ports?

Yes. Royal Caribbean said shore excursions purchased through the cruise line for San Juan and Charlotte Amalie will be automatically canceled and refunded.

How is Winter Storm Fern affecting cruise travelers beyond the ship’s itinerary?

The storm has disrupted air travel and ground transportation into the New York-New Jersey region, which can affect embarkation and turnaround operations at Cape Liberty. FlightAware reported major cancellations and delays on January 25 at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia, and other cruise ships have also adjusted itineraries or arrival times as the storm impacts port operations.