Multiple Royal Caribbean cruise ships have had their itineraries altered due to a powerful cold front impacting Florida and The Bahamas.
As the cold front moves across the region, less-than-ideal weather conditions, including strong winds, showers, and thunderstorms, have forced the cruise line to make adjustments.
On Tuesday in Nassau, winds near the port will be around 22-24 knots (25-28 miles per hour). In comparison, the winds are forecasted to drop to around 12 knots, or 14 mph, by Thursday. By Monday afternoon, The Bahamas had already issued a near Gale warning (28-33 knots) for the Northern and Northwest Bahamas.
According to forecasters, the front will continue to push through The Bahamas before stalling over the Southeast islands. This will result in elevated shower and thunderstorm chances throughout the week.
"Our Captain, along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, are tracking a cold front that will bring adverse weather conditions to CocoCay on Tuesday...To provide you with the best experience, we've switched the days and order we'll visit Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas," reads a letter given to guests sailing aboard Wonder of the Seas.
The 4-night cruise was initially scheduled to call at CocoCay on Tuesday. Now, however, passengers will enjoy a sea day before visiting Nassau on Wednesday, followed by CocoCay on Thursday.
Similarly, Freedom of the Seas' 5-night cruise to CocoCay and Mexico has been completely changed.
The November 10 sailing axed both scheduled stops and replaced them with visits to Taino Bay on Wednesday and Amber Cove on Thursday.
This means that both port days will be spent in the Dominican Republic's Puerto Plata region, which is known for its beaches and outdoor activities. Royal Caribbean guests also have the rare opportunity to visit Carnival Corporation’s private destination, Amber Cove, which opened in 2015.
Finally, although no ports were cancelled on Utopia of the Seas' Nov. 10 departure, guests will visit Nassau and CocoCay in a different order.
Utopia, like Wonder, will enjoy a day at sea on Tuesday, followed by CocoCay on Wednesday. The ship will call at Nassau on Thursday, which was formerly the cruise's day at sea, before returning to Port Canaveral on Friday.
"We're terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather - your safety is our top priority," concludes the letter given to guests aboard Wonder of the Seas.
The ships' shore excursion teams will reschedule any prepaid tours booked through Royal Caribbean. If the excursion cannot be reaccommodated, it will be automatically canceled and refunded to the card on file in up to 14 business days.
Reminder to remain flexible
The Atlantic hurricane season is set to wrap up on Nov. 30. However, that does not mean that cruisers are in the clear for weather-related itinerary changes.
Cold fronts and high winds can impact sailing conditions, making it unsafe to call in port. Although last-minute changes are disappointing, they are always made with guests' comfort and safety in mind.
Royal Caribbean has a full-time meteorologist who monitors weather patterns and conditions, working directly with cruise ship captains to determine the safest and most comfortable adjustments when unexpected weather arises.
