Royal Caribbean has delayed this weekend’s sailing of Odyssey of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey. The decision comes as a powerful winter storm is expected to bring blizzard conditions, heavy snow, and damaging winds across the Northeast.
Guests booked on the February 22, 2026 departure were notified that the ship will “remain alongside overnight until conditions are safe” due to “high winds and rough seas” in the Bayonne area.
In its message to passengers, the cruise line said the delay is directly tied to the approaching storm system. “Due to the winter storm approaching the Bayonne area, we are expecting high winds and rough seas,” the company wrote.
Royal Caribbean instructed guests to arrive at their originally scheduled check-in time despite the delayed departure, noting that gangways will close in alignment with the revised sailing time.
The cruise line also confirmed that onboard shops and the casino will remain closed until the ship officially departs, citing maritime laws and regulations.
The company told guests it would provide an updated itinerary once a new departure time is finalized and apologized for what it called a “last-minute change caused by the weather.”
At the time of publication, Odyssey of the Seas was approximately 175 nautical miles southeast of Cape Liberty, according to CruiseMapper.com. The vessel is still scheduled to return to New Jersey on February 22, 2026 at 6:00am.
Major nor’easter to bring blizzard conditions
The delay comes as Winter Storm Hernando is forecast to bring widespread impacts from the mid-Atlantic to New England late Saturday through Monday.
Blizzard warnings have been issued from Delaware to Massachusetts, including all five boroughs of New York City for the first time since 2017. Boston is also under a blizzard warning for the first time since January 28, 2022.
Forecasters say a low-pressure system will move off the East Coast on Sunday and rapidly intensify, potentially becoming a bomb cyclone by early Monday. The storm is also expected to meet the criteria of a nor’easter, with strong northeast winds pushing heavy precipitation inland.
Snowfall rates could exceed one inch per hour in some locations, particularly near the coast. Totals are expected to surpass a foot from New Jersey through Massachusetts, with heavy, wet snow capable of weighing down trees and power lines. Wind gusts between 40 and 70 mph are increasingly likely from coastal Virginia to eastern Massachusetts.
Incan addition, coastal flood warnings are in effect, with 1 to 2 feet of inundation possible during high tide Sunday night into early Monday. Major cities including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston are expected to see significant impacts.
Travel conditions are forecast to deteriorate quickly. Flight delays are expected to be extensive, and road travel could become dangerous as snowmelt refreezes, creating black ice. Power outages are also increasingly likely from New Jersey through New England.
Original itinerary for Odyssey of the Seas
The February 22, 2026 sailing is a 7-night round-trip Perfect Day Bahamas cruise from Cape Liberty. The original itinerary includes ports of call in Port Canaveral (Florida), Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas), and Nassau (Bahamas) before returning to Bayonne, New Jersey on March 1, 2026.
At this time, Royal Caribbean has not announced any cancellations or port substitutions. However, depending on how long the storm delays departure and how quickly conditions improve along the East Coast, adjustments to sea days or arrival times in Florida and the Bahamas could be possible.
Odyssey of the Seas faces second weather disruption in weeks
This is the second time in just weeks that Odyssey of the Seas has been forced to adjust its schedule due to severe winter weather impacting the Northeast.
In late January, the ship’s return to Cape Liberty was delayed by a major winter storm that brought heavy snow, strong winds, and hazardous marine conditions to the New York–New Jersey region.
The vessel was originally scheduled to arrive on January 26, 2026, but ultimately docked one day later on January 27 after the captain determined that strong winds and rough seas made it unsafe to maintain the original schedule.
That delay also impacted the ship’s following sailing. The next cruise departed one day late, and two ports of call, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, were removed from the itinerary. Royal Caribbean cited safety concerns and ongoing disruptions to port operations and regional travel.
About Odyssey of the Seas
Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum Ultra Class ship that debuted in 2021. The vessel measures approximately 169,000 gross tons and carries more than 4,000 guests at double occupancy.
The ship features signature Royal Caribbean attractions including the North Star observation capsule, RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, FlowRider surf simulator, and the multi-level Two70 entertainment venue.
Guests can also enjoy SeaPlex, one of the largest indoor activity spaces at sea, along with a mix of balcony cabins and virtual balcony interior staterooms.
