BURST
A cruise ship carrying 5,000 passengers that embarked from New Jersey is heading to Nova Scotia, not Nassau as they thought, because of heavy weather at sea.
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas left Cape Liberty, N.J., on Sunday, diverting course from its original itinerary of Florida, then the Bahamas, to sail instead for Halifax, where passengers will spend 24 hours of their seven-day cruise. It’s not clear where the ship will go next, but it’s about a three-day sail to the Bahamas from Nova Scotia and the cruise is due back on Sunday.
“The funny thing is I was on board Vision of the Seas in September, and it was supposed to go to Canada, but it was rerouted to the Caribbean because of a storm and now I have the opposite happening,” passenger Debra DelCamp wrote in a message to the National Post.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal; It’s cruise life. For first-time cruisers, I can understand it being confusing or upsetting, but for regulars it’s just cruising.”
The saddest story she has heard about the itinerary swap was from a family aboard the Oasis of the Seas who had planned to scatter their late father’s ashes while the 362-metre-long cruise ship was in the Bahamas.
“It was to celebrate their father’s last trip on Oasis that actually went to Nassau,” DelCamp said. “So, they were very sad to be releasing ashes in Canada.”
Another passenger, David Hess of Ephrata, Penn., heard about the itinerary swap after boarding Oasis of the Seas.
“We mostly packed summer clothes, tank tops, booty shorts,” Hess wrote on social media. “My question is: is it as warm in Canada as the Bahamas?”
Daisy Mungin from Greenville, S.C., responded: “I’m on the boat with you,” she said. “It’s freezing.”
Passenger Nicole Borowicz-Byler seemed taken aback by the destination swap.
“Instead of the Bahamas it now says we’re going to Canada,” she wrote on social media. “Is this a joke?”
Passenger Mikayla Iverson wrote that she’d driven eight hours to board the ship. “Now I’ve gotta go buy something warm to wear.”
Cruise ships are regular visitors to the Port of Halifax, which saw 184 of them stop in the N.S. capital last year, carrying a total of about 357,000 passengers.
The accidental N.S. tourists, who are slated to land in the province Tuesday evening just before sunset, will have lots on offer once they get to Halifax, according to Giacomo Bruno, director of sales and marketing with Ambassatours Gray Line, which organizes outings for visiting cruise ships.
“We’re offering the Harbour Hopper Tour (#1 boat tour in Halifax); tours to Georges Island National Historic Site, bus tour to Peggy’s Cove, a Waterfront Walking Tour and trips to McNabs Island,” Bruno said in an email.
“If folks didn’t pack for the cold, we have a charming shop on the waterfront where we sell East Coast Lifestyle … Tall Ship Silva hoodies and full zip sweatshirts, and Harbour Hopper Tours sweaters.”
Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore was practically effusive about this week’s unplanned stop for the sun-seeking cruisers aboard Oasis of the Seas.
“To the 5,000 visitors who packed their swimsuits for the Bahamas but woke up headed for Nova Scotia — welcome to Halifax!” Fillmore said in an email to the National Post.
“You may be come-from-aways, but we’re delighted you’re here.”
The ship is slated to arrive Tuesday evening and stay in Halifax for most of Wednesday. The weather forecast calls for cloudy skies both days and highs between 13 C and 15 C while the Oasis of the Seas is in port. Meanwhile, the temperature in sunny Nassau Tuesday was 28 C.
“We can’t promise you tropical temperatures, but we can promise you a warm welcome — with zero chance of sunburn,” Fillmore said.
“So, trade the flip-flops for Blundstones, and the palm trees for pine trees. Grab a toque, find a good bowl of seafood chowder, and explore our wonderful local restaurants, pubs, and shops. And tell them the Mayor sent you! Who knows — you might just discover that the best part of your Caribbean cruise was Canada.”
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