Two medical evacuations delay Oasis of the Seas return to New Jersey
The disruption postponed embarkation for the ship’s next Bahamas cruise and led Royal Caribbean to cancel a scheduled Port Canaveral call.
Two medical emergencies occurred aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas as the ship returned to New Jersey following a Bahamas itinerary.
In a recorded announcement, the captain said the first emergency involved a critically ill child who required immediate hospitalization. Oasis of the Seas reversed course toward Nassau, described as the nearest location with hospital care. During the return toward Nassau, another passenger was reported critically ill and required a second evacuation.
Port Authority and Coast Guard personnel transported both guests ashore in Nassau for hospital treatment. Royal Caribbean had not disclosed the nature of either illness or provided updates on the patients’ conditions. There was no indication that the two emergencies were connected.
After the evacuations, the ship was expected to reach Cape Liberty at approximately 2 p.m. on September 20, with disembarkation starting around 2:30 p.m. Embarkation for the next seven-night Bahamas sailing was delayed by about seven to eight hours, and Royal Caribbean canceled its planned Port Canaveral visit.
The company said affected guests would receive limited complimentary internet to make travel arrangements. Royal Caribbean also said eligible fees for independently booked flight changes would be reimbursed up to $200 per person for domestic travel and $400 per person for international travel, subject to receipt and documentation review. Flights booked through the cruise line were to be adjusted automatically.
