Strong winds and big waves from a storm have forced two ships to cancel every port of call on each of their itineraries.
Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas had plans to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, but will miss both ports.
Wonder of the Seas will spend both of its days at sea instead of visiting either port out of concern for weather conditions.
Celebrity Reflection is also sailing a 3-night weekend cruise that was scheduled to visit Key West, Florida and Bimini, Bahamas.
Initially, plans were to salvage the sailing with a shortened visit to Key West. However, those plans had to be scratched at the last minute.
According to a letter distributed to passengers, Reflection will now skip all of its ports and sail a "cruise to nowhere".
Strong winds changing plans
Royal Caribbean Group Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer worked with the Captain of Celebrity Reflection to determine changes to the ship's plans.
A faster-than-anticipated storm is to blame for the drastic cruise changes.
"We have been closely monitoring the advancing weather front passing through the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. Initial forecasts indicated that the high winds would not develop until around 2:00pm," the letter to guests said.
"As the system advanced more quickly than expected, the onset of these stronger winds is expected to happen closer to midday. This earlier arrival of adverse conditions would make both our stay in Key West, and our departure unsafe, and we had to cancel our visit."
Plans were for the ship to make it to Bimini the next day, but that too has changed.
"Due to the significant increase in winds on Sunday and the Port of Bimini, Bahamas just advising us that they will be closed tomorrow to maintain port safety, we will need to cancel our call to Bimini and will enjoy a day at sea instead."
As a result, there will be no ports of call for this sailing.
"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we have no doubt your time with us will be nothing short of amazing."
Money offered to make up for the change
Celebrity is offering passengers onboard credit to take the sting out of the change in plans.
Every passenger is being given onboard credit based on their stateroom category:
- Inside Stateroom: $150 USD
- Outside Stateroom: $150 USD
- Veranda Stateroom: $200 USD
- Concierge Class Stateroom: $250 USD
- AquaClass Stateroom: $250 USD
- Suites: $400 USD
- Additional Guests (3rd and 4th): $25 USD per guest
Any pre-paid Celebrity Cruises shore excursions booked for Key West or Bimini will automatically be refunded as an Onboard Credit.
To be clear, cruise lines have no obligation to offer any money back in the case of cancelled ports.
The Celebrity cruise contract that all passengers agree to before booking a cruise stipulates they reserve the right to cancel or change any voyage at any time for any reason.
Carrier may for any reason at any time and without prior notice, cancel, advance, postpone or deviate from any scheduled sailing, port of call, destination, lodging or any activity on or off the Vessel, or substitute another vessel or port of call, destination, lodging or activity.
Moreover, no compensation is inherently expected.
Carrier shall not be liable for any claim whatsoever by Passenger, including but not limited to loss, compensation or refund, by reason of such cancellation, advancement, postponement, substitution or deviation.
Why cruises to nowhere are rare
A cruise ship sailing from the United States and visiting no ports of call is all but impossible, except for extenuating circumstances like bad weather.
The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (PVSA) requires foreign flagged ships that sail from the United States to stop in at least one foreign port.
Nearly every cruise ship operated by cruise lines are foreign flagged, so they are legally required to stop in another country and it's why you don't see a "cruise to nowhere" offered for sale.
Other cruise ships impacted by this storm
Celebrity Reflection is one of many ships to change plans this weekend.
Utopia of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas all had their itineraries radically altered. In fact, Perfect Day at CocoCay is closed to all ships on Sunday because of strong winds and large waves.
Moreover, cruise ships from Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line are all getting re-routed.
