Pier Problems and Hurricanes Force Further Royal C...

Key Facets: 

• Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas has had a second itinerary change associated to Humberto and Imelda, each of that are at present Class 1 hurricanes.
• After changing the unique Bahamas itinerary with a cruise to Canada, Sydney, Nova Scotia, has now been faraway from the schedule as a result of a pier reassignment and unsafe climate circumstances.
• Just one port of name stays on the beforehand port-filled itinerary, which is on Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 3.

Due to Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas is actually working a cruise to (virtually) nowhere.

When the Oasis-class ship embarked in Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on September 28, 2025, she was imagined to be setting sail on a 7-night voyage to Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Good Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s personal island.

However with the dual storms heading for the Bahamas, the cruise line decided it was better to sail in the opposite direction.

Thus, the unique Bahamas itinerary was changed with an in a single day name in Sydney, Nova Scotia (September 30 to October 1) and a name to Halifax, Nova Scotia (October 3).

However as a result of a pier mix-up and the duel hurricanes bringing harmful maritime circumstances to the US East Coast and Canada’s East Coast, the decision to Sydney will now additionally must be cancelled.

“As beforehand introduced by our Captain, in the course of the itinerary planning for this cruise we secured approval to dock at a pier in Sydney, Nova Scotia,” Royal Caribbean wrote to the as much as 5,518-guests onboard.

“Nonetheless, after additional coordination with the pilots who information ships into port, the Port of Sydney reassigned our ship to a distinct pier that our marine specialists and security crew deemed unsafe for a ship of this class,” the letter continued.

At 1,184 ft lengthy and 228,081 gross tons, Symphony of the Seas would have been the most important cruise ship to ever dock in Sydney.

As winds and big swells can already make docking unsafe, the change in pier assignments could have merely been the straw that broke the camel’s again.

“Our groups have explored each obtainable possibility, together with working intently with our business companions, to discover a protected and viable different,” Royal Caribbean said.

“Along with your trip expertise and security in thoughts, not one of the choices met the requirements to make sure your security and luxury whereas onboard with us,” the cruise line defined.

The one port name remaining on the itinerary now could be Halifax, dropping from three cruise ports to only one.

Compensation Elevated 

Though Royal Caribbean can not management the climate, the cruise line already compensated company for the last-minute change the primary time the itinerary was altered as a gesture of goodwill.

Company had been supplied with non-refundable onboard credit based on their stateroom category at a double occupancy fee, in addition to a future cruise credit score within the quantity of someday’s price of the cruise fare.

Inside cabins obtained a $75 credit score, outdoors and balcony staterooms obtained a $100 credit score, and suites received a $200 credit score.

A further $25 per individual was added to the credit score for the third or extra company staying in the cruise cabin.

In gentle of the second itinerary change, the long run cruise credit score will now be improved to be price two days of the cruise fare that company paid as an alternative of only one.

Moreover, any Royal Caribbean excursions booked for the entire cancelled ports of name – now together with Sydney – shall be mechanically cancelled and refunded as onboard credit.

On the finish of the crusing, any unused onboard credit from the reimbursed excursions shall be refunded to the unique type of cost.

Learn Additionally: Cruising During Hurricane Season: What You Must Know!

And personally, I wouldn’t want any compensation to be grateful to the cruise line for protecting me and all onboard protected and cozy.

Hurricane Humberto has been downgraded to a Class 1 storm (from a Class 4) by the National Hurricane Center (NOAA) as of the night of September 30, however remains to be harmful with winds reaching 80 miles per hour.

In the meantime, Imelda has been upgraded from a tropical storm to a full fledged Class 1 hurricane, with sustained winds reaching 85 miles per hour.

Each storms will produce harmful marine circumstances and doubtlessly deadly rip currents alongside the US East Coast and elements of Canada’s East Coast over the following a number of days.