Storms Sent a Bermuda Cruise to Canada—The Real Takeaway for Fall

Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas skipped Bermuda and made an overnight call in Saint John, New Brunswick on October 12, 2025, after a coastal storm and Tropical Storm Jerry complicated Atlantic conditions, according to Cruise Industry News. The line cited passenger safety and meteorological guidance for the pivot from its Cape Liberty (Bayonne, NJ) departure.

“we’ve decided to enjoy an overnight in Saint John in New Brunswick,” the line told guests, per the outlet.

Weather forced a quick pivot

When fall storms tangle with cruise plans, speed matters. Based on the report, Liberty of the Seas swapped a Bermuda call for Canada to steer clear of rough seas around the island and the broader weather envelope tied to Tropical Storm Jerry. The National Hurricane Center tracks Atlantic systems through November 30, and late-season storms can still kick up disruptive swell and wind even when they’re hundreds of miles away. You can monitor official advisories at the NHC site.

Operationally, this is a textbook move: pick a safe, reachable alternative and buy time for the system to move on. Saint John, tucked inside the Bay of Fundy, offers relatively protected water and the infrastructure to handle an overnight call on short notice—useful when the original plan is no longer tenable.

Quick snapshot

Itinerary change: October 12, 2025
Ship: Liberty of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Original plan: Bermuda from Cape Liberty (Bayonne, NJ)
New stop: Saint John, New Brunswick (overnight)
Why it changed: Coastal storm and Tropical Storm Jerry in the Atlantic

Source: Cruise Industry News

Why Canada, and why now

Bermuda is a single-port play for many short sailings. If that window slams shut, the ship needs a Plan B with available berth space, workable weather, and reasonable fuel/time costs. Canada’s Atlantic ports check those boxes in shoulder season. Saint John is accustomed to last-minute schedule shifts and has reliable shore options—walkable uptown, historic sites, and day trips to the Reversing Falls—without the long ocean exposure Bermuda requires.

The bigger pattern: September remains the climatological peak of Atlantic activity, and October often brings tricky hybrid systems along the Eastern Seaboard. That combo means Bermuda runs—especially 5- to 6-night itineraries—face elevated reroute risk into late fall. The NHC’s climatology page shows why lines keep their options open well past summer.

The fine print: what cruise lines owe you (and don’t)

Most cruise contracts give the line broad latitude to adjust routes for safety, port closures, weather, or “acts of God.” Royal Caribbean’s terms and conditions state that itineraries can change at the company’s discretion in such cases; it’s standard across the industry. You can review the company’s policy pages at royalcaribbean.com.

What that means in practice:

Don’t count on compensation for a weather diversion. Lines may offer goodwill gestures (like onboard credit) at their discretion, but they’re not obligated when safety is the driver.
Shore excursions booked through the line for canceled ports are typically refunded automatically. Independent tours depend on the operator’s policy.
Travel insurance may reimburse some out-of-pocket costs tied to delays or missed ports—but read the policy closely; “itinerary change” coverage varies widely.

The fall tradeoff: shorter trips, narrower weather windows

Bermuda sits far into the Atlantic. Even in calm conditions, a quick Cape Liberty roundtrip means two ocean transits plus a short call. Add a storm or a front sweeping off the coast, and the math gets tight. Swapping to Canada preserves port time and reduces exposure to open-ocean chop.

There’s also a customer-experience angle: ships can ride out rough seas, but a smoother route and more time ashore beats a white-knuckle passage to a port that might close anyway. According to Cruise Industry News, Liberty’s overnight in Saint John delivered exactly that—a reset that kept the cruise intact without testing every stomach aboard.

Pros and cons of the pivot

Pros:

Safety-first routing away from deteriorating conditions
An unexpected overnight that adds evening ashore time
High odds of open attractions and tours in Saint John

Cons:

Missed Bermuda beaches and on-island plans
Scramble to adjust excursions and expectations
Cooler, potentially rainy Canadian weather compared to Bermuda

Stats that matter right now

Atlantic hurricane season: June 1–November 30 (NOAA/NHC)
Peak activity: September; elevated risk extends into October
Common late-season alternates from Cape Liberty: Canada/New England ports
Contract reality: Itineraries may change without compensation when safety is involved

Check advisories: nhc.noaa.gov

How to plan around weather reroutes

Book flexible plans: Prefer refundable or “cancel for any reason” excursion options, especially on fall Bermuda sailings.
Carry a passport: If a Canada call replaces Bermuda, having a passport makes going ashore and any emergency logistics easier. Check requirements with your line and official border agencies before you sail.
Pack for both: A lightweight rain shell, layers, and sturdy shoes cover Canadian fall and windy sea days.
Download the apps: The ship’s app, a reliable weather app, and offline maps keep you nimble when plans change.
Watch the forecast, not the forum: Follow official NHC advisories and the line’s updates. Social chatter can lag facts by hours.

The takeaway for cruisers—and for the industry

Weather reroutes like this are a feature, not a bug, of fall sailing. The surprise isn’t that Liberty of the Seas skipped Bermuda; it’s that the line moved decisively and kept the trip port-rich. That’s the playbook we’ll see more of through late October: shorter ocean hops, sheltered harbors, and overnights where space allows. If you’re booking shoulder-season Bermuda, that’s fine—just pack a little Canada, too.

Summary

Liberty of the Seas diverted from Bermuda to Saint John on October 12 for safety, per Cruise Industry News.
Coastal weather and Tropical Storm Jerry made conditions around Bermuda unfavorable.
Cruise contracts allow weather-based itinerary changes without guaranteed compensation.
Fall Bermuda sailings face higher reroute risk; Canada ports are common alternates.
Pack flexibility—logistically and mentally—and you’ll still have a great trip.