Passengers who boarded Odyssey of the Seas expecting sunshine and Bahamas breezes instead woke up to something far more unusual — a cruise ship completely covered in snow.
Winter Storm Hernando slammed the Northeast just as the Quantum-class ship was scheduled to sail from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Sunday, February 22.
Instead of heading south, Odyssey remained docked as high winds and rough seas made departure unsafe.
And the result? A Caribbean-bound cruise ship turned into a floating winter postcard.
Snow-Covered Decks Instead of Poolside Loungers
Photos shared by passengers show upper decks blanketed in thick, white snow, with gray skies stretching across the Hudson River.
Rather than gazing at the endless blue ocean, guests stepped onto balconies overlooking a frozen scene that looked more like Alaska than The Bahamas.
Several cruisers captured striking images of:
- Snow piled along railings.
- Empty, snow-dusted pool decks.
- A fully white-coated upper promenade.
It’s not every day you see a Royal Caribbean ship looking like it belongs in a snow globe.
Still Waiting to Depart
As of Monday afternoon (February 23), the ship had yet to leave port.
Originally, Odyssey was scheduled to:
- Call at Port Canaveral on February 24.
- Visit Perfect Day at CocoCay.
- Stop in Nassau.
Depending on when departure clearance is granted, itinerary adjustments could still be possible.
Another Ship Also Stuck
Odyssey wasn’t alone in the freeze. MSC Meraviglia remained docked at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal as the blizzard pounded the region.
Like Odyssey, Meraviglia was also scheduled for:
- Port Canaveral.
- A private island stop in The Bahamas.
- Nassau.
Both vessels have been forced to wait until the Port Authority and U.S. Coast Guard determine it’s safe to resume ship movements.
Why They Can’t Just Leave
When cruise ships are docked in U.S. ports, several factors come into play:
- Port channel restrictions during severe weather.
- High wind safety limits for large vessels.
- Coast Guard clearance requirements.
- Frozen or debris-filled waterways.
Additionally, while ships remain in port, onboard casinos and duty-free shops must stay closed due to local regulations.
So even though guests are onboard, the cruise experience isn’t fully activated yet.
A Record-Breaking Storm
Winter Storm Hernando has caused widespread disruption across the Northeast:
- Over 600,000 homes and businesses are without power.
- More than 15 inches of snow were recorded in Central Park.
- Port operations across New York and New Jersey temporarily shut down.
If snowfall totals climb just a few inches higher, this storm could rank among the city’s most significant snow events in the past decade.
Snow Now, Sunshine Soon
For now, passengers on both ships can only wait while crews monitor conditions.
It’s certainly not the sailaway anyone imagined — but once cleared to depart, these ships will trade snowbanks for palm trees and cold winds for Caribbean warmth.
Until then, Odyssey of the Seas remains a rare sight: a tropical cruise ship transformed into a winter spectacle.
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