Bayonne, NJ – A Royal Caribbean cruise with nearly 9,000 passengers and crew is sidelined at Cape Liberty, with Symphony of the Seas held in port until Tuesday morning because of a nor’easter.
The voyage was scheduled to depart Sunday for the Bahamas but never left the New Jersey coast.
Royal Caribbean told guests the ship would sail only when safe, citing a developing coastal low forecast to impact Cape Liberty beginning Sunday.
Weather forces two day delay
The company initially asked Sunday’s guests to arrive two hours early in case an earlier window opened to clear the harbor.
By Sunday, operations paused and the vessel remained alongside as conditions deteriorated.
The nor’easter brought strong winds and rough seas to the region, limiting safe transits for large vessels.
Royal Caribbean has updated guests that Symphony will not depart before Tuesday morning.
The delay will require itinerary changes, with details to be communicated directly to passengers.
Ship previously rerouted for hurricane
The same vessel recently altered plans to avoid Hurricane Imelda, diverting north and delivering one port day in Nova Scotia while converting the remainder to sea days.
Royal Caribbean reiterated that safety governs departure decisions and said monitoring of the storm continues.
