Royal Caribbean reroutes Vision of the Seas from Bermuda to Saint John

Royal Caribbean has cancelled a planned Bermuda visit for the Vision of the Seas due to poor offshore weather. The five-night cruise, departing Baltimore on October 17, 2026, will now make an overnight call in Saint John, New Brunswick where guests are not permitted to disembark.

The cruise line notified guests of the change less than 24 hours before departure, citing a strong cold front. Winds are forecast to reach up to 50 knots with swells of 13-22 feet. After review, the company diverted the ship north to Saint John. The vessel will arrive at 6:30 p.m. on October 19 and depart at 6:30 a.m. the next day. The passenger notification explicitly states that guests will not be permitted to disembark while the vessel is in port. The email notification said: "Guests will not be able to disembark while in port."

Compensation details for affected guests

Royal Caribbean is offering non-refundable onboard credit as compensation, with amounts varying by cabin category. The credit is offered per stateroom, not per passenger, and increases for additional occupants.

For each additional guest beyond the first two in a stateroom, the credit increases by $25 per person. The credit can be used toward eligible onboard purchases during the sailing. Any unused portion at the end of the voyage will be refunded to the original payment method.

Impact on passenger experience and onboard arrangements

Passengers had booked a Bermuda holiday featuring an overnight stay at Royal Naval Dockyard. They will now remain onboard throughout the Canadian stop. Saint John is a popular autumn foliage destination on Canada and New England cruises, but passengers on this sailing cannot explore it.

Royal Caribbean has not publicly explained the specific reason for the disembarkation restriction. The onboard team is preparing alternative entertainment. Retail operations and the Casino Royale on Deck 5 may not be available during the overnight visit. Cruise lines often arrange additional activities like trivia or comedy shows in such situations.

Context of recent disruptions and operational response

This is the second major weather reroute for Vision of the Seas in less than a month. In late September 2026, the ship was rerouted from a nine-night Canada and New England itinerary to Florida and the Bahamas due to a nor'easter. Its departure from Baltimore was also delayed by a day.

The October change presents a different situation. Rather than replacing ports with explorable destinations, Royal Caribbean arranged a port call without permitting disembarkation. Although such restrictions are unusual, cruise lines may change itineraries when scheduled routes become unsafe. Passengers are generally advised to review their cruise contracts and travel insurance policies, as compensation for weather-related changes can vary.

The ship is scheduled to return to Baltimore on Thursday, October 22, concluding its five-night voyage as originally planned despite the itinerary change.