Superstorm Sandy devastated many people in the northeastern United States and for one family, it ruined their cruise vacation.

Joanne Keating couldn't reschedule a cruise vacation that she had invested more than $4,000 into due to the storm and now 6 months later, she's had to work through losing her home and getting her life back.

"I had saved for years for this trip and I was taking my grandkids," Keating said.

They were setting sail November 4th, just days after the storm.

"How can you go on a vacation when you lost every single thing you own?" she wondered aloud.

Keating tried to appeal to Norwegian Cruise Line, even going as far as to write the CEO but no one would help make an exception to the rule of no refund or rescheduling. 

However, a local news reporter reached out to Royal Caribbean who's public relations representative was from Monmouth, New Jersey and helped make the Keating vacation a reality.  

Royal Caribbean is sending all of them on a 7 night cruise to Bermuda and the Bahamas on Explorer of the Seas.

Following the devastation by Hurricane Sandy, Cape Liberty cruise port in Bayonne, New Jersey is open again for departures and arrivals.

Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas is in port today for an eight night cruise to the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean spokesperson Cynthia Martinez said the Cape Liberty sustained some water damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy.  Once the storm passed, the Cape Liberty staff began working to prepare the terminal for the arrival of passengers today. All of the port's power is being produced by backup generation because the electricity has not been restored to the terminal building.

Royal Caribbean is dealing with refunds and rescheduling tickets for those who can't get to the port because of Hurricane Sandy on a case-by-case basis.

People who can't make their scheduled departure are encouraged to call (866) 562-7625. 

Royal Caribbean is starting to take a look at the damage Hurricane Sandy has done to its private island of CocoCay in the Bahamas.

"The impact to the island of CocoCay from Hurricane Sandy was not severe, but requires a significant cleanup effort ahead of guest arrival. Guests will be able to enjoy most of the island, however due to significant beach erosion in one area of the island, that area will unfortunately not be accessible to guests. The majority of our shore excursions will be available."

The good news is the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism says things are nearly back to normal in Nassau and Freeport, where minimal damage was sustained.  

Royal Caribbean has made more changes to its cruise ship itineraries due to Hurricane Sandy. 

Brilliance of the Seas has canceled its planned stop at Bar Harbor, Maine for Tuesday, October 30. Instead, Brilliance of the Seas will call on Saint John, New Brunswick today (as scheduled) and then remain in port until Tuesday.  Staying in port will provide Brilliance of the Seas shelter from the weather.

As we reported earlier, Jewel of the Seas did not depart Boston, Massachusetts as originally planned yesterday.  Instead she will remain in Boston until October 30th. Once Jewel of the Seas can safely depart Boston, she will sail a revised itinerary.

Monarch of the Seas will call to CocoCay, Bahamas, on Thursday, November 1, instead of on Tuesday, October 30, as originally scheduled.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again tomorrow, October 30, at 10:00 a.m. E.S.T.

Hurricane Sandy is keeping Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas in port instead of departing on schedule.  

Jewel of the Seas was supposed to depart yesterday on a two-week repositioning cruise to Tampa, Florida but instead will remain docked in Boston until at least tomorrow according to the Massachusetts Port Authority.

Royal Caribbean was concerned about Hurricane Sandy's path and opted to keep the ship in port.  Due to the delayed departure from Boston, Jewel of the Seas will sail a revised itinerary.

Royal Caribbean has issued a new update in regards to how Hurricane Sandy is affecting cruises and there are more changes to be aware of.

Enchantment of the Seas will not be able to call on Kings Wharf, Bermuda, as originally scheduled. Instead, the ship will sail out to sea in an effort to try to find the calmest seas possible.

In addition, due to high winds Monarch of the Seas' departure from Port Canaveral, Florida, today has been delayed. Consequently, the delayed departure and the time and speed needed now will mean Monarch of the Seas will not be able to call on Nassau, Bahamas.  Instead, Monarch of the Seas will stop at Freeport, Bahamas.  However, calling on Freeport will depend on the time the ship is able to depart Port Canaveral, as well as the most recent weather forecast. Royal Caribbean had previously announced that Monarch of the Seas would skip CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean is monitoring the situation with Hurricane Sandy which could affect guests sailing on Oasis of the Seas tomorrow, Saturday, October 27, and Explorer of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas on Sunday, October 28.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again tomorrow, October 27, at 10:00 a.m. E.S.T.

Hurricane Sandy has forced Royal Caribbean to change the itinerary of two more cruise ships.  

Given the location and direction of Hurricane Sandy, both Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas will not call on CocoCay this weekend.  CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.  Instead, both ships will spend a day at sea.

Royal Caribbean is still watching Hurricane Sandy and is considering itinerary changes for the Oasis of the Seas cruise leaving on October 27 as well as Explorer of the Seas leaving on October 28.

These changes are in addition to Allure of the Seas having skipped Falmouth, Jamaica earlier this week.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again today, October 26, at 6:00 p.m. E.S.T.

Royal Caribbean posted another update on the status of its fleet in regards to any changes due to Hurricane Sandy.  No further changes to report.

At this time, given Hurricane Sandy's current location and projected path, Royal Caribbean has not altered the itineraries of any ship that departs tomorrow, Saturday or Sunday. However, we encourage guests sailing on Majesty of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas monitor this website for any additional updates.

If you have not done so already, we strongly suggest guests complete their online check-in as soon as possible, including the section on your preferred method of contact while traveling.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again tomorrow, October 26, at 10:00 a.m. E.S.T. 

Royal Caribbean continues to monitor the situation in regards to Hurricane Sandy and how it might affect their cruise ships.  At 11am, Royal Caribbean announced no additional itinerary changes beyond Allure of the Seas earlier this week.

At this time, given Hurricane Sandy's current location and projected path, Royal Caribbean has not altered the itineraries of any ship that departs this Friday, Saturday or Sunday. However, we encourage guests sailing on Majesty of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas monitor this website for any additional updates.

If you have not done so already, we strongly suggest guests complete their online check-in as soon as possible, including the section on your preferred method of contact while traveling.

Royal Caribbean will continue to closely monitor weather conditions and will update this information again this evening, October 25, at 6:00 p.m. E.S.T.