Ships with Confirmed Delays or Under Watch

Winter Storm Fern is a mess in the making as it’s already moving across the United States and causing cruise ships to adjust schedules.

This major winter storm is expected to impact millions in 40 U.S. states.  Flights are being delayed and cruise ships are not immune to some impacts from this system.

As cruise lines juggle itineraries and make last-minute changes, this article highlights some of the cruise ships that we have confirmed are already facing changes due to the storm or are at least under watch.

Here is the quick rundown.

Carnival Pride (Baltimore)

This is the big one for the weekend and Carnival’s Brand Ambassador John Heald just updated everyone on Facebook tonight about some new changes with Carnival Pride.

Because Baltimore is expecting heavy snow, Carnival has officially postponed and shortened the upcoming sailing.

The ship is now planning to dock around noon on Monday, January 26 instead of the 25th.  This will delay the next cruise, which will be one day shorter than originally planned.

If you’re on this sailing, keep a close eye on your texts. Carnival is asking guests to text CCL1 to 278473 for the most current embarkation times.

Harmony of the Seas (Galveston)

Down in Texas, the concern is more ice than snow, which can cause even more problems, including massive power outages.

Royal Caribbean is bringing Harmony of the Seas back to Galveston a day early to help guests beat the freezing rain and ice in forecast for Sunday.

The ship is now expected to arrive on Saturday, January 24, around 11:00 PM. To make this early arrival possible, the ship had to skip its scheduled stop in Cozumel.

The good news is that you don’t have to get off early if you can’t change your travel plans. Royal Caribbean is letting guests stay on board until Sunday morning, though the shops and casino will be closed.   To be clear, guests will have to disembark and then get back on board to clear Customs and Boarder Protection requirements.

They are also providing a one-day fare refund as onboard credit to make up for the shortened itinerary.

Vision of the Seas (Baltimore)

This ship is also based in Baltimore and has a current departure scheduled for Saturday, January 24. It is currently on high alert and there hasn’t been an official decision from Royal Caribbean just yet.

But because Baltimore’s cruise port is expecting to get at least 8-12 inches of snow, it could make travel to and from the port a bit messy.

Royal Caribbean is warning guests about potential boarding delays and terminal issues, but if the cruise line decides to make a change to the schedule as well we will update this information.

Odyssey of the Seas (New Jersey)

Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas is scheduled to leave Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on Monday, January 26.

The cruise line is monitoring the situation closely, and since the storm will be moving toward the Northeast by Monday conditions could be a problem.

There haven’t been official schedule changes for this ship yet, but with the storm timing, a delay in boarding wouldn’t be all that shocking. Make sure to check your email for any last-minute updates before you head to the terminal.

MSC Meraviglia (Brooklyn)

MSC Meraviglia is scheduled to arrive back in Brooklyn on Sunday, January 25.  MSC Cruises has not officially postponed or changed the schedule yet either, but heavy snow and wind in New York harbor could delay docking.  Passengers scheduled to sail on this ship should keep an eye out for any information from the cruise line.