Passengers preparing for a week of sunshine in the Bahamas have reportedly received an unexpected change of plans, with Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas said to be heading north to Canada instead.
Guests booked on the seven-night cruise departing Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on Sunday, 18 October 2026, have taken to social media to share reports of a last-minute itinerary change.
Instead of the warm weather and beaches of the Bahamas, passengers say their holiday has been redirected towards Canada's Atlantic coast.
And for anyone who packed nothing but swimmers, shorts and sunscreen, that could make for an interesting week!
From the Bahamas to Canada
The original itinerary for Oasis of the Seas included visits to Port Canaveral in Florida, Royal Caribbean's private island destination Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau in the Bahamas.
The ship was scheduled to depart Cape Liberty on 18 October and return on 25 October.
However, passengers discussing the sailing on Reddit say they have received notifications advising that their itinerary has changed, with Halifax, Nova Scotia, reportedly included in the revised plans.
The change is believed to be weather-related, although Royal Caribbean has not publicly confirmed the full revised itinerary or the precise conditions behind the decision.
At the time of publication, Voyage Ready has been unable to independently verify the passenger notifications.
Passengers discuss compensation and changing holiday plans
The reported change has prompted plenty of discussion among passengers, particularly those who had been looking forward to a warm-weather Caribbean holiday.
In a Reddit discussion about the 18 October sailing, passengers have been sharing details of the reported itinerary changes and compensation offers.
One passenger claims their party of three was offered US$700 in onboard credit and US$780 in future cruise credit, with a full refund also available as an alternative.
These amounts have not been independently verified and may differ depending on individual bookings and cabin arrangements.
For passengers who had already travelled to New Jersey to board the ship, deciding whether to continue with the cruise or cancel altogether could be a difficult choice.
Of course, there's also the practical issue of packing for the Bahamas and discovering you're heading to Canada in October.
The two destinations offer rather different holiday experiences!
Another Royal Caribbean ship also rerouted to Canada
The reports come just a day after Royal Caribbean changed the itinerary of Vision of the Seas, which departed Baltimore on 17 October.
That ship had originally been scheduled to visit Bermuda but was instead redirected to Saint John, New Brunswick, because of unfavourable weather conditions.
In an unusual twist, passengers were advised that they would not be permitted to disembark during the overnight Canadian port visit.
As Cruise Hive reported on 17 October, the revised itinerary effectively leaves guests spending their entire five-night cruise aboard the ship.
Royal Caribbean offered onboard credit to affected passengers, with amounts varying according to cabin category.
While the reported Oasis of the Seas change has similarities, there is currently no verified information suggesting its passengers would face the same restrictions on going ashore.
Why do cruise ships change itineraries?
Cruise lines regularly adjust itineraries when weather conditions make their planned routes or ports unsuitable.
According to Royal Caribbean's official weather policy, the company monitors developing storms and may change itineraries to avoid potentially dangerous conditions.
These changes can involve rearranging port visits, replacing destinations or taking an entirely different route.
While cruise lines make these decisions with passenger and crew safety in mind, they can still be disappointing for guests who have planned their holidays around particular destinations.
For passengers on the reported Oasis of the Seas reroute, a Canadian cruise may offer some lovely autumn scenery, but it's certainly a different experience from relaxing on a beach in the Bahamas.
This is a developing story. The reported itinerary change and compensation details are based on passenger accounts and have not yet been independently confirmed by Royal Caribbean.
