What happens when winter weather, corporate decisions, and human judgment collide at sea? Last week showed how quickly cruise plans can change. Winter Storm Fern cut cruises short, erased ports, and delayed embarkations from Galveston to New Jersey.

At the same time, Royal Caribbean confirmed a major new ship class while staying unusually quiet on details, signaled that Caribbean pricing is not coming down anytime soon, and faced growing scrutiny over how a Christmas cruise handled a guest with autism. Here is what happened, why it matters, and what cruisers should realistically plan for moving forward.

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