Tropical Storm Erin Cruise Updates: Reroutes Begin

Published on Aug 15, 2025, 12:53 pm CDT

6 min read

Royal Caribbean is the first major line to adjust an itinerary as Tropical Storm Erin intensifies over the Atlantic. Vision of the Seas, scheduled for an overnight in Bermuda on August 16 to 17, will instead call at Port Canaveral and Nassau as the system sends long-period swell toward the western North Atlantic. Forecast guidance from the National Hurricane Center indicates Erin could reach hurricane strength on August 15, then grow stronger into early next week. Other large brands are monitoring the track and holding plans until conditions are clearer.

Key Points

Why it matters: Early swell and rising winds can close piers, forcing cruise itinerary changes with little notice.
Travel impact: Royal Caribbean has skipped Bermuda on one sailing; other lines have not announced broad changes.
What's next: Erin could reach major hurricane status by late weekend, raising risks for Bermuda and nearby routes.
Forecast cone keeps Erin offshore of the U.S., but dangerous surf and rip currents are likely along the East Coast.
Shore-tour refunds are issued for canceled calls, with more adjustments possible inside 24 to 48 hours.

Snapshot

Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, departing Baltimore on August 14, has dropped its planned overnight at Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, replacing it with a day in Port Canaveral on Sunday, August 17, plus calls in Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The change follows NHC guidance that Erin will strengthen and push hazardous swell toward Bermuda during the weekend window. Carnival says it will make decisions closer to port days, a normal practice during hurricane season, and has not announced route changes related to Erin. Forecasts show Erin tracking near or north of the northern Leewards this weekend, then turning northwest, which keeps the mainland U.S. largely out of the direct path but leaves Bermuda exposed to hazardous seas. See our earlier coverage, Tropical Storm Erin Forecast: Insurance Clock, Swell Risks.

Background

Erin was named on August 11 and has steadily intensified over very warm water with relatively low shear. The storm sits several hundred miles east of the northern Leeward Islands, with watches posted for parts of the northeastern Caribbean as of August 15. Cruise ports are sensitive not only to wind, but also to long-period swell, which can halt berthing or tendering long before a storm is close. Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard is particularly vulnerable to cross-winds and swell alignment, which is why lines often rework Bermuda runs early in the forecast cycle. For travelers, hurricane season travel brings flexible days and last-minute pivots; lines typically refund canceled shore excursions automatically, and they may offer small onboard credits when itinerary changes are significant. We previously reported the first reroute here, Vision of the Seas Rerouted as Erin Stirs Atlantic Swell.

Latest Developments

Royal Caribbean shifts Bermuda call to Florida and Bahamas

Royal Caribbean confirmed an itinerary change for Vision of the Seas, departing August 14 from Baltimore. The ship will skip its Bermuda overnight on August 16 to 17, visit Port Canaveral on August 17, and adjust timing at Nassau, with Perfect Day at CocoCay remaining on the plan. The line cited safety and Erin's expected swell near Bermuda. Guests were notified directly, and prepaid Bermuda tours are being refunded. Royal Caribbean's marine operations team, working with its chief meteorologist, continues to track Erin for other potential impacts. No fleet-wide program changes have been announced as of August 15.

Other lines monitor Erin, hold changes until closer to port days

Carnival Cruise Line says it will avoid early, speculative switches, a typical stance that prevents unnecessary disruptions when storm tracks wobble. Norwegian Cruise Line has not posted Erin-related Caribbean changes as of press time, though it recently adjusted a Greenland call due to unrelated weather. Expect more decisions inside 24 to 48 hours of scheduled calls if Erin's seas or winds threaten safe operations. Travelers should enable app notifications, watch for revised meet-times, and keep backup plans for privately booked tours.

Forecast track favors swell, not U.S. landfall, with Bermuda risks

NHC guidance on August 15 indicates Erin will become a hurricane, then likely intensify further over the next 48 to 72 hours. The consensus track passes north of the northern Leewards, brushes near the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas with building swell, and may bring strong winds and heavy seas to Bermuda midweek. Along the U.S. East Coast, the primary hazard is surf and rip currents. For cruise planning, that pattern argues for selective Bermuda skips and timing tweaks in the Bahamas, rather than widespread cancellations.

Analysis

This is a textbook swell-driven disruption. The headline risk for cruise ships is not a direct hit, it is pier safety and tender reliability when long-period swell and cross-winds hit threshold levels. Royal Caribbean's early call on Bermuda reduces exposure to a volatile weekend window and preserves guest experience with a substitute day in Port Canaveral and additional time at Nassau. That strategy fits the industry's hurricane season playbook, which prioritizes route flexibility over mass cancellations. Carnival's stated approach of waiting for higher-confidence forecasts is also standard, since premature switches can create avoidable operational and guest-service costs if the track bends away. The forecast envelope still includes room for intensity surprises, which argues for rolling updates over the next three to five days. If Erin rapidly strengthens and the turn north delays, more Bermuda calls will likely be dropped, and some Bahamas timings could shift. If the turn occurs sooner, disruptions may remain limited to a handful of Bermuda-focused itineraries. Either way, travelers should expect short-notice notifications, automatic refunds on canceled shore tours, and minor re-timings at private islands where shelter and orientation reduce swell exposure.

Final Thoughts

Erin's current track suggests targeted adjustments, not a widespread shutdown. Expect Bermuda calls to see the most pressure through midweek, with Bahamas calls timed to miss peak swell. Your best move is to keep the cruise line app alerts on, review any independent tour cancellation windows, and stay flexible about port sequences. We will keep tracking tropical guidance and line advisories as more Tropical Storm Erin cruise updates emerge.