RCI-Royal Caribbean recently had to make the difficult decision to cancel a scheduled cruise aboard the Vision of the Seas due to the presence of Tropical Storm Ophelia. Weather-related cancellations are a prudent safety measure undertaken by cruise lines when necessary.
Passengers who were originally slated to embark on the Vision OTS on September 23 received notification of the cancellation in advance. The decision to cancel was made by RCI ~7:30 pm EST on September 21, as explained in their official statement:
"Along with our Chief Meteorologist, we’ve been closely monitoring a developing tropical storm bringing forecasted high winds and inclement weather in and around Baltimore, Maryland."
"Unfortunately, the weather will prevent us from safely conducting our upcoming cruise on Vision of the Seas, and we’ll have to cancel our September 23rd, 2023 sailing."
While compensation can never fully alleviate the disappointment of a canceled cruise, it is a gesture of goodwill from the cruise line. Passengers originally booked for the Vision of the Seas voyage will receive a full refund, encompassing taxes and fees, pre-paid packages, gratuities, amenities, shore excursions, and any flights arranged through Royal Caribbean. This refund will be processed to the payment method on file within 14 business days, with the acknowledgment that some banking institutions may require more time.
For those who used a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) to pay for the cruise, Royal Caribbean will reimburse any additional funds paid above the certificate amount and reinstate the original FCC certificate. Additionally, all affected passengers will receive a 50% FCC to be applied toward a future booking, which should be received by September 29, 2023. The new cruise must be booked by December 31, 2023.
The canceled 5-night Bermuda Cruise was originally planned as a roundtrip from Baltimore with an overnight stay in King's Wharf.
Tropical Storm Ophelia's evolving conditions, as reported by the National Hurricane Center on September 22, indicate the likelihood of tropical storm impacts along the southeastern and mid-Atlantic coasts of the United States. Swells generated by the storm will affect the East Coast throughout the weekend, leading to Tropical Storm Warnings for parts of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.
Vision of the Seas had previously experienced a delayed departure due to Hurricane Lee, setting sail on September 15th instead of the originally scheduled September 14th departure from Baltimore.
For more Vision of the Seas incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.