Unexpected Course Change: Bahamas Cruise Takes a Detour to Canada and New England
Unexpected weather conditions forced MSC Meraviglia's Bahamas cruise to be redirected to the charming regions of New England and Canada, offering passengers an alternative yet equally captivating getaway
Passengers aboard the cruise ship MSC Meraviglia were surprised with a change in their itinerary. Instead of sailing to the Bahamas as planned, the ship docked in New England and Canada due to unexpected and increasingly severe weather conditions. According to Field Sutton, director of communications for MSC Cruises USA, the decision was made to ensure the safety of passengers as it would have been risky to attempt to reach the southern Atlantic Ocean from New York City.
Guests were offered the option to either cancel their trip for a future cruise credit or to proceed with the new itinerary, the statement explained. Cancelling the cruise completely would have been the only other alternative, but this would have disrupted the vacations of thousands of people. Due to the challenges of arranging last-minute berths and provisioning the ship along a new route, sailing to Canada and New England was the most practical choice.
Cruise ships often choose to bypass or alter their planned ports of call, and they have the authority to do so according to their carriage contracts. MSCs states, "The Carrier cannot guarantee that the Cruise Ship will visit every advertised port or adhere to a specific route or schedule."
Itinerary changes frequently occur within the same area and typically involve detours due to weather systems.
According to a social media post from Port Saint John, the MSC Meraviglia will be making a stop in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada on Thursday, following visits to Boston and Portland.
The weather forecast there calls for a high of 27 degrees F (-3 C) and a low of 12 F (-11 C) on Thursday.
CNNs Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.
