When passengers boarded Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas on Sunday, they were ready for a week of sunshine, ocean views, and adventures in three Caribbean destinations. But instead of setting sail from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, as planned, their vacation started with growing uncertainty about whether the ship would ever leave port.
Over the weekend, a Nor’easter slammed the East Coast, bringing strong winds and rough seas along with it. As weather alerts spread through the tri-state area, guests on board Symphony of the Seas learned that their week-long voyage would unfold much differently than planned as a result of the storm. Here’s what happened, and what frustrated passengers said about the changes.
Nor’easter Storm Left Passengers Stranded Aboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony Of The Seas In New York Harbor
On Sunday, October 12, a passenger aboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, one of the world’s largest ships that costs $1 million a day to run, shared on Facebook that an onboard announcement confirmed the ship would not be departing on schedule. According to the passenger, the Sandy Hook Pilots Association—responsible for guiding vessels in and out of the Port of New York and New Jersey—had suspended operations due to a powerful Nor’easter moving up the East Coast.
Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the SeasCredit: Shutterstock
The passenger also shared a message reportedly sent to guests on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, which faced similar delays because of the same storm:
“The Sandy Hook Pilots are not currently operating due to a temporary closure of the Port of New York and New Jersey until 11:00 AM on October 14, 2025. This is a planned operational halt, likely related to a recent notice from the pilots themselves. The closure is temporary and does not indicate a permanent problem with the pilots or their operations.”
According to a report by PBS News, the Nor’easter caused major coastal flooding from Virginia to New Jersey, as well as low-lying areas in New York City. The storm also brought wind gusts exceeding 55 mph in New Jersey, Long Island, and southern New England.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul followed with an emergency declaration for eight southern counties, advising residents to avoid travel and stay alert.
Royal Caribbean Issued A Revised Itinerary
In response to the dangerous Nor’easter conditions, Royal Caribbean released a revised itinerary for the Symphony of the Seas. Instead of departing Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on Sunday, October 12, the ship was rescheduled to leave on Tuesday, October 14, at 11 a.m.
Symphony Of The Seas Updated Itinerary
Day
Port of Call
Arrive
Depart
Sunday
Cape Liberty, New Jersey
Monday
Cape Liberty, New Jersey
Tuesday
Cape Liberty, New Jersey
11 a.m.
Wednesday
Cruising
Thursday
Perfect Day at CocoCay
11:30 a.m.
7 p.m.
Friday
Cruising
Saturday
Cruising
Sunday
Cape Liberty, New Jersey
6 a.m.
Two ports of call were also removed from the itinerary: Port Canaveral, Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas. The ship is now expected to sail directly to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private Bahamas island, arriving on Thursday, before returning to Cape Liberty for debarkation on October 19.
Furious Passengers Vented Their Frustrations Over The Nor’easter Delay Online
Cruisegoers walking in between two Royal Caribbean cruise shipsCredit: via Shutterstock
While many passengers on Facebook expressed understanding of the delay, saying “better safe than sorry,” others voiced frustration over the unexpected turn of events. What was originally planned as a week-long, three-destination cruise quickly became what some described as a “cruise to nowhere.”
They wrote:
“So basically in port for 3 days. No shopping. No gambling. And pretending your view is [better].”
“Sounds like RC has a lot of explaining to do. They [knew] before we boarded that there was an issue, yet let us board so we [could] sit in Jersey for 2 days??”
“Unacceptable, pilots are not even needed anymore. USCG should step up and make sure the ships get out. How did RC not know about this?”
“After being on the cruise to nowhere two weeks ago (September 28), I [would] love to see what compensation they give to these passengers.”
Fortunately, the Symphony of the Seas was able to stick to the revised itinerary, avoiding any additional delays or cancellations once conditions improved.
A Passenger On Board Confirmed The Ship Set Sail Early This Morning
Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay in the BahamasCredit: Unsplash
In a Facebook update, a passenger aboard the Symphony of the Seas confirmed that the ship departed earlier than expected, setting sail at 5 a.m. this morning. Despite the disruption caused by the Nor’easter, the passenger remained optimistic and expressed gratitude towards the crew.
“We pulled away from the pier at 0500 this morning. Many thanks to the Port Pilots and the entire crew of the Symphony. Now let’s all have an amazing cruise to CocoCay,” wrote the passenger.
Even with the positive update, with two ports removed from the itinerary and days lost due to the delay, many commenters questioned what Royal Caribbean planned to do to compensate guests—if anything.
How Royal Caribbean Is Handling Guest Compensation After The Nor’easter Delay
A close-up view of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line crown logo on the side of the shipCredit: via Shutterstock
According to a member of the Symphony of the Seas unofficial Facebook group, a memo sent to guests outlined Royal Caribbean’s compensation policy following the Nor’easter-related delay. The cruise line offered 50% off all drinks for passengers, along with a $35 non-refundable onboard credit for those who had already purchased drink packages. Guests were also allowed to leave and reboard the ship to explore New Jersey and Manhattan, as long as they returned by midnight each night.
Shore excursions originally scheduled for Port Canaveral and Nassau were automatically refunded as onboard credit, with funds expected to return to passengers’ cards within 14 business days after disembarkation. In addition, Royal Caribbean provided a Future Cruise Credit equal to the value of two days’ cruise fare, redeemable toward any sailing departing on or before October 12, 2026.
While the situation aboard the Symphony of the Seas was far from ideal, Royal Caribbean did step up to address the disruption. Do you think passengers were compensated fairly for the inconvenience?