Royal Caribbean has officially canceled the Bermuda itinerary for Independence of the Seas’ October 24, 2026, sailing, completely rerouting the ship to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada instead.
Why the Change Happened
The sudden route change is due to the severe remnants of Subtropical Storm Josephine. The weather system triggered a massive gale warning along the East Coast, packing powerful winds up to 40 knots and producing rough waves of 7 to 9 feet. To ensure passenger safety and comfort, Royal Caribbean pulled the plug on the planned tropical stop. This would have been the ship’s final scheduled arrival of the season in Bermuda.
Key Details of the Rerouting
The New Plan: The ship is trading its warm-weather Bermuda beaches for an overnight stay in colder Saint John, New Brunswick (Canada).
The Trend: This isn’t an isolated incident. Independence of the Seas is actually the third Royal Caribbean ship to have its warm-weather itinerary drastically flipped to Canada within a single week due to this persistent East Coast weather system. Other affected ships included Vision of the Seas.
Short Notice: Many passengers received less than 48 hours’ notice before embarkation, prompting a wave of surprise as travelers realized they packed for warm weather but are now headed north.