Thousands booked tropical Bahamas cruise and ended up in freezing Canada instead

A cruise that was supposed to take passengers to the warm Bahamas this week ended up heading to the cold shores of Canada instead. More than 5,000 individuals boarded Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas in New Jersey on October 18, anticipating a seven-day voyage that included stops in Florida and the Bahamas. However, due to forecasts predicting severe weather along the East Coast, the cruise line opted to change the ship's route, redirecting it to Halifax, Nova Scotia, as reported.

The ship docked in Halifax for approximately 24 hours, allowing passengers the opportunity to explore the city, shop, and enjoy harbor excursions. After departing on Wednesday evening, the ship is expected to return to New Jersey on Sunday following three days at sea.

The announcement regarding the altered itinerary was made the night before the ship's departure, which left passengers with minimal time to make adjustments to their plans. New Jersey resident Marie Durning recounted her surprise, saying, "My husband said to me, 'This is a joke, right?'" She noted that while she had brought her winter hat and earmuffs, she had forgotten her scarf, leading to a last-minute repacking effort.

Weather reports indicated that daytime temperatures in Halifax were in the upper 40s to low 50s, with nighttime lows dropping into the 30s. For some passengers, the unexpected change of destination provided an opportunity to discover a new city. Jim Matthews, who resides near Paterson, New Jersey, expressed a positive outlook, stating, "I’m grateful and I’m going to make the best of it. And I have found out that Halifax is a beautiful city."

Not all passengers shared his enthusiasm, however. Nicholas Meli, who made a seven-hour drive from Toronto to New Jersey with his family to board the cruise, expressed his disappointment, saying, "I am already from Canada, and I wanted to go to the Bahamas."

On social media, comments from users in a Reddit thread dedicated to Canada showed a mix of sympathy for the passengers and affection for Halifax. One commenter described Halifax as their favorite Canadian city to visit but acknowledged they would be "bummed" to find themselves there instead of enjoying a beach vacation in the Bahamas. Another user bluntly noted, "Halifax is gorgeous, but it is not the Bahamas."

According to PEOPLE, passengers were offered a 50% travel voucher in addition to refunds for any shore excursions they had booked. Royal Caribbean's website indicates that the company may change or substitute ports due to weather and other factors, and it is not always obligated to issue refunds or provide compensation in such cases.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Royal Caribbean for further comments regarding the situation.