Royal Caribbean sailings face delays and itinerary changes
Suspended pilot operations affected Independence and Oasis of the Seas at Cape Liberty, while Vision of the Seas received a revised route from Baltimore.
Guests boarded Independence of the Seas on Saturday but were told the ship would not depart that day. With pilot operations suspended until Sunday, the vessel was set to remain overnight at Cape Liberty, New Jersey.
The revised plan called for Independence of the Seas to leave Sunday and reach Bermuda on Tuesday, one day later than scheduled. Its planned overnight visit was reduced to a day call.
Oasis of the Seas was also expected to return late to Cape Liberty because pilot operations had been suspended and ships already in the harbor would leave first. Royal Caribbean said disembarkation would begin shortly after the ship arrived Sunday.
The cruise line offered passengers without an internet package one free hour of access to arrange transportation. Royal Caribbean also offered reimbursement of travel fees up to $200 for domestic flights and $400 for international flights, along with hotel costs of up to $200 per stateroom when passengers could not obtain a flight on September 27.
Boarding for the next Oasis voyage was delayed Sunday. The ship was set to skip Port Canaveral on September 29, spend the day at sea and reach Nassau earlier than planned. Vision of the Seas, meanwhile, spent an extra day in Baltimore following a delayed return. Its Canada and New England itinerary was replaced with visits to The Bahamas and Port Canaveral, Florida.
