Royal Caribbean Delays Odyssey of the Seas Departure Due to Winter Storm

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Royal Caribbean just informed passengers booked on the next Odyssey of the Seas cruise that their trip will start one day late. The ship won’t arrive at Cape Liberty until January 27, 2026, instead of the planned January 26 date.

Winter Storm Forces Schedule Change

A major winter storm is hitting the East Coast and Northeast regions hard. The severe weather is making travel dangerous and disrupting port operations.

“Due to the major winter storm affecting much of the East and Northeast U.S., and the impacts on land-based travel and port operations, we are delaying our arrival into Bayonne,” Royal Caribbean explained. The cruise line wants to “allow for weather to improve and shore-based operations to recover.”

The company hopes the extra day helps guests reach the port safely. “For many guests experiencing difficulties getting to Bayonne, we hope this relieves some worry as you’ll have an extra day to make it there safely,” Royal Caribbean said.

Itinerary Changes for the Caribbean Cruise

The Odyssey of the Seas was supposed to sail for 11 nights to the Southern Caribbean. Now the cruise will be shorter with a modified route.

Two ports got cut from the schedule. San Juan in Puerto Rico and Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas won’t be included anymore. “Due to this change, our calls to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, will be cancelled and instead, we’ll enjoy some extra time onboard,” the company stated.

The good news? Four other Caribbean ports remain on the itinerary. Guests will still visit St. John’s in Antigua, Bridgetown in Barbados, Castries in St. Lucia, and Philipsburg in St. Maarten.

What Passengers Get in Return

Royal Caribbean is giving passengers onboard cruise credit to make up for the changes. The credit equals one day of the cruise fare you already paid.

You can use this credit during your cruise. If you don’t spend all of it by the end of your trip, the company will refund the remaining balance.

Other Weather-Related Changes

This isn’t the only Royal Caribbean cruise affected by winter weather recently. The Harmony of the Seas also changed its schedule because of a Texas winter storm.

That ship returned to Galveston one day early to avoid dangerous weather conditions. Winter storms can create serious safety concerns for cruise ships and passengers.