A Royal Caribbean cruise ship en route to warmer destinations has become trapped in a snowstorm off the coast of Canada, according to reports emerging Wednesday.
The vessel, unnamed in initial reports from TVA Nouvelles, was reportedly sailing with passengers expecting a sunny getaway when the unexpected weather system struck. The incident highlights the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns and the challenges faced by the cruise industry as it navigates changing climatic conditions.
The disruption comes amid a series of weather-related incidents impacting Royal Caribbean cruises in recent months. In December 2025, dense fog over Tampa Bay delayed the docking of three ships – Rhapsody of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas – by at least eight hours, impacting both embarking and disembarking passengers. All three delayed vessels are Vision Class ships, built in the mid to late 1990s.
More recently, in February 2026, the Explorer of the Seas experienced severe turbulence near Tenerife, Spain, due to an “unexpected wind gust,” resulting in broken glass and scattered merchandise throughout the ship. One passenger sustained injuries in the incident. Passenger Jonathan Parrish described a “hard right turn” followed by a more intense one, causing chaos in the ship’s main concourse. Winds reportedly jumped from 46 to 86 miles per hour during the event.
In January 2026, Royal Caribbean was forced to delay the return of the Odyssey of the Seas to Bayonne, New Jersey, due to a major snowstorm paralyzing transportation across the United States. The Odyssey of the Seas carries over 4,000 passengers.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Royal Caribbean has not released a statement regarding the current snowstorm incident, nor has it provided details on the affected ship or the anticipated duration of the delay. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
