Key Aspects:
- Two cruise ships have been severely impacted by Winter Storm Fern with itinerary adjustments and delays.
- Three additional ships have been on alert for possible changes due to inclement weather.
- Flight cancellations and hazardous driving conditions can cause travel problems for thousands of cruise guests.
Winter Storm Fern is ravaging much of the US with bitterly cold temperatures, heavy snowfall, ice accumulation, freezing rain and sleet, and further south, strong thunderstorms that may produce tornadoes.
The National Weather Service is noting heavy snowfall as high as 18 inches from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, as well as “catastrophic ice accumulation” in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
While many of these impacts are far from cruise ports, several cruise ships and US homeports have still been impacted with delays or itinerary changes, while others remain on alert in case further adjustments are necessary.
Cruise Hive will continue to keep this list updated with the latest:
Harmony of the Seas
Returning from what was to have been a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary that originally departed on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas opted to speed up her return to Galveston ahead of the storm.
The ship arrived in port on Saturday afternoon instead of Sunday morning, giving guests onboard the opportunity to debark early if they wished to start home more quickly. This permitted many travelers to make their way home before the worst of the storm’s impact in Texas.
Guests were not required to debark early, however, and could have remained onboard the Oasis-class ship to enjoy the last night of their cruise with modified activities. Because of local regulations, retail shops and the ship’s casino were closed once Harmony of the Seas approached the port.
The ship’s next sailing, another 7-night Western Caribbean cruise to Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, is not impacted and should depart Galveston as planned on Sunday, January 25.
Carnival Pride
Carnival Pride has done the opposite of Harmony of the Seas and has remained at sea on Sunday, January 25 instead of returning to her Baltimore homeport as planned at the end of her 14-night Caribbean and Panama itinerary that departed on Sunday, January 11.
Instead, the ship will be back to Maryland on Monday in the late morning or early afternoon. The next sailing, a 7-night Bahamas cruise, is now shortened by one day and will be unable to visit Bimini as originally scheduled.
Both private island port visits – Princess Cays on Thursday, January 29 and Celebration Key on Friday, January 30 – should remain as planned, but further operational updates may be necessary once the ship sets sail.
Guests on the now-shortened cruise are receiving a one-day, pro-rated refund of their cruise fare and of any pre-purchased packages such as drink packages, internet service, or pre-paid gratuities.
Carnival Jubilee
Sailing from Galveston, Carnival Jubilee was on alert for her Saturday, January 24 embarkation and departure in case changes were necessary. Carnival Cruise Line reached out to guests and urged them to sign up for text alerts and stay in close communication in case of further updates.
Fortunately, the Excel-class ship was able to depart as planned for her 7-night sailing, with visits planned to Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.
At this time, there are no changes for Carnival Jubilee and she should enjoy smooth sailing and an on-time return to the Lone Star State on Saturday, January 31.
Carnival Sunshine
On the east coast, Carnival Sunshine was also on a weather-related alert for her Saturday, January 24 departure from Norfolk, Virginia, with guests urged to sign up for text alerts in case of last-minute changes.
Fortunately, the storm’s impact on the Old Dominion State was minimal ahead of the ship’s departure, and she was able to set sail as planned for her 8-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary to Celebration Key, Princess Cays, and Grand Turk.
The ship is underway as planned and no changes are expected either to her itinerary or her return to Virginia on Sunday, February 1.
MSC Meraviglia
While parts of New York are expected to receive up to 12 inches of snow, MSC Meraviglia has arrived as planned at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on Sunday, January 25.
The ship is due to depart on a 7-night Bahamas itinerary with visits to Port Canaveral, MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, and Nassau before returning to the Big Apple on Sunday, February 1.
Because of winter weather conditions in the region, guests have been urged by MSC Cruises to take extra precautions to ensure their timely arrival to the cruise terminal. The ship is expected to depart on schedule and delayed guests may be unable to board if they miss the cutoff time for final boarding.
Other Travel Impacts
According to FlightAware, more than 27,000 flights across the US have been cancelled or delayed due to the storm, causing incredible congestion and travel challenges for cruise guests trying to reach their homeports or return home after their sailings.
This unfortunate situation emphasizes how critical it is for cruisers to be flexible with their travel plans as they head for a cruise and to have alternative options in place in case of travel disruptions.
Even if cruise ships are not directly affected, cruise guests should always be mindful of weather that could impact how they reach their ships so they can be sure to set sail smoothly and safely.
