It’s been anything but smooth sailing this weekend.
A powerful winter system — described by meteorologists as a “bomb cyclone” — has slammed the Northeast with heavy snow, hurricane-force wind gusts, coastal flooding, and widespread power outages.
While airports and highways struggle, cruise terminals in New York and New Jersey are also feeling the impact.
Several major ships have faced delays, skipped ports, or last-minute changes, including:
- Odyssey of the Seas
- MSC Meraviglia
- Norwegian Breakaway
- Star of the Seas
And that’s just the beginning.
New York & New Jersey: Ships Forced to Wait Out the Storm
With forecasts calling for 12–24 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 70 mph, cruise lines made cautious calls before embarkation even began.
Odyssey of the Seas Stays Docked in Bayonne
Guests scheduled to sail from Bayonne, New Jersey, on February 22 were informed that Odyssey of the Seas would not depart as planned.
Instead:
- The ship remained docked until weather conditions improved.
- Departure was postponed for safety reasons.
- Final itinerary changes were still being evaluated.
The original 7-night sailing included:
- Port Canaveral
- Perfect Day at CocoCay
- Nassau
With the late departure, at least one port stop may be shortened or dropped entirely — though nothing has been officially confirmed yet.
For now, passengers remain in New Jersey waiting for calmer seas.
MSC Meraviglia Also Delayed in Brooklyn
Just across the harbor, MSC Meraviglia faced the same blizzard warnings while docked in Brooklyn.
The ship’s 7-night Bahamas cruise was delayed, and guests began noticing changes in the MSC app even before departure.
Here’s what appears to have changed:
- Nassau is likely being skipped.
- Port Canaveral and Ocean Cay have been reshuffled.
- Departure timing was pushed back.
With capacity for over 5,600 guests, the delay affects thousands of travelers — though cruise lines stress that safety must always come first.
Norwegian Breakaway Pushes Through
In a surprising twist, Norwegian Breakaway departed Manhattan as originally scheduled.
While the ship successfully left port, it’s far from smooth seas.
Current conditions include:
- 30–40 mph winds.
- Rough Atlantic swells.
- Possible route adjustments.
The 12-night Caribbean itinerary includes:
- Puerto Plata
- San Juan
- Tortola
- St. Kitts
- St. Maarten
- St. Thomas
As of now, no official port cancellations have been announced — but if the ship slows down or reroutes closer to shore to avoid the worst weather, changes could still follow.
It’s understandable that guests onboard the delayed ships are confused watching Breakaway sail while others remain docked — but every captain evaluates conditions independently based on ship size, route, timing, and safety thresholds.
Trouble in the Bahamas Too: Star of the Seas Adjusts Plans
While the Northeast battles snow, another weather system is stirring up trouble in the Bahamas.
Guests sailing aboard Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral on February 22 learned they would not be visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay after all.
Royal Caribbean notified passengers:
- Rough seas expected at CocoCay.
- Docking conditions unsafe.
- Visit canceled.
Instead:
- A sea day was added.
- Time in St. Thomas was extended.
Originally scheduled to arrive at 12:30 p.m., the ship will now dock in Charlotte Amalie at 8 a.m. — giving guests a much longer day to explore.
All pre-booked shore excursions for CocoCay are being automatically refunded.
Why Cruise Lines Make These Calls
When extreme weather hits, cruise lines evaluate:
- Wind speeds
- Sea state conditions
- Docking safety
- Visibility
- Port Authority guidance
- Passenger safety margins
Even if one ship sails and another doesn’t, the decision depends on:
- Ship size and maneuverability
- Departure timing
- Planned route
- Storm trajectory
No cruise line wants to cancel ports — but no port call is worth risking passenger or crew safety.
What Guests Should Expect
If you’re sailing from:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Florida
- Or heading toward the Bahamas
Stay alert for:
- Email updates
- App notifications
- Text alerts
- Onboard announcements
Weather-related itinerary changes are not uncommon during winter storm season — especially when major systems like this impact both northern and southern routes at the same time.
Rough Seas, But Cruises Continue
Despite delays and cancellations:
- No full sailings have been canceled.
- Most itineraries are being reshuffled rather than scrapped.
- Safety protocols are working as designed.
Cruise ships are built to handle heavy weather — but ports and docking operations require far more precision.
For thousands of guests this week, the cruise may look slightly different from what was planned — but the vacation continues.
And in the world of cruising, flexibility is often the key to smooth sailing.
