Royal Caribbean changed its deployment plans for NYC's Port Cape Liberty (NJ USA). Instead of Rhapsody of the Seas, the cruise line will homeport Vision of the Seas at Bayonne (New Jersey). Both are Vision-class, but Vision is a year newer than Rhapsody.
As a result of the switch, the previously scheduled sailings of Rhapsody of the Seas from Cape Liberty have been canceled. The vessel will still boast a full schedule of roundtrip cruises from Tampa in fall 2016 and winter 2017 as planned, but after that Rhapsody will reposition to Venice, Italy (rather than Cape Liberty) for her summer season of Mediterranean cruises, beginning May 2017 through October. The ship will return to Tampa in November 2017.
Vision of the Seas voyages will be also canceled, as the ship will have to shorten its 2017 European season to move to Cape Liberty. Vision will offer 4 fall foliage sailings out of Cape Liberty starting September 2017, after completing her 16-night transatlantic cruise to New Jersey from Copenhagen. The New England/Canada cruises, which will depart Cape Liberty September 20, October 1 and 11 will replace previously planned sailings of Rhapsody. The canceled cruises include those departing out of Venice from August 22 through November 17, 2017.
Passengers on the canceled sailings receive a full refund of their fare, as well as an onboard credit if they wish to re-book on another Royal Caribbean ship. A full refund will also receive those who purchased airfare through the line. Those who purchased airfare independently will receive a refund of their airline change fees.