Winter Storm Still Impacting Flights, Cruises in Northeast

by Laurie Baratti
Last updated: 7:55 AM ET, Tue February 24, 2026

Update: February 24, 2026, at 7:55 a.m. ET

While many areas have already returned to regular operations following the weekend’s massive storm in the northeast, flights and cruises were still being impacted in cities hit hardest by the snow.

According to FlightAware.com, there have been 2,029 total cancellations within, into, or out of the United States on Monday, as of 7:55 a.m. ET, as well as over 700 delays. Monday saw 5,718 flights canceled and another 4,081 delayed.

Much of the cruise industry was unscathed by the winter storm, but two ships sailing out of New York City, Odyssey of the Seas and MSC Meraviglia, remained at port until Monday night before returning to the sea with altered itineraries, according to CNYNews.com.

Original Text

A powerful nor’easter threatening the Northeast is snarling travel plans across the region, with airlines canceling thousands of flights and cruise lines rerouting itineraries to avoid dangerous conditions at sea.

The National Weather Service's update shared that the nor'easter is "intensifying" off the coastline of Delaware and New Jersey. The NWS is warning travelers and residents alike to take precautions, as the storm will provide 2-3 inches of heavy snowfall per hour, along with gusty winds ranging from 40 mph to 70 mph into the Northeast and New England. "The very high snowfall rates and potentially damaging wind gusts will travel nearly impossible from the DelMarVa Peninsula into southeastern New England.

By tomorrow, February 24, areas near the coastline and the Canadian Maritimes could see one to two feet of nighttime accumulation. After that, a clipper system heading from the Upper Great Lakes could bring additional snowfall over parts of the Northeast following this system.

Impact on Flights

As a result, over 5,600 flights into, out of or within the U.S. were canceled by the morning of Monday, February 23, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. Over 800 additional flights are also delayed this morning. The most impacted airports include major hubs like John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Boston Logan, Newark and Philadelphia.

Many major U.S. airlines have issued travel waivers across the Northeast as they prepare for additional disruptions that threats to linger for a few days even after the storm passes. According to a report by USA Today, these include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and more.

Those who are planning to fly during the beginning of this week should monitor their airline communications and weather reports to receive the most relevant information for them.

Cruises Affected

Cruise operations are also being affected. Royal Caribbean has already adjusted sailings for at least two ships to avoid unsafe conditions at sea and in port.

According to the unofficial Royal Caribbean Blog, Sunday’s Star of the Seas sailing will skip a planned stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. “Due to a weather system expected to bring unfavorable conditions and rough seas to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Monday, February 23, we will be skipping our visit and enjoy a Sea Day instead.” Because of the change, the ship will arrive in St. Thomas earlier than scheduled. Guests were told, “We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather — your safety is our top priority.”

Meanwhile, Odyssey of the Seas is expected to return to New Jersey’s Cape Liberty on Sunday, but rather than departing again the same day, may remain docked overnight due. A letter sent to guests on the sailing attributed the potential delay to “high winds and rough seas.” One passenger shared on Reddit, “We’re due to sail out of NJ tomorrow on the Odyssey and just heard from RC that we won’t be leaving at the original 2pm departure time, that we’ll likely be docked overnight, meaning we wouldn’t leave til Monday morning.”

Odyssey of the Seas is reportedly scheduled to stop in Florida’s Port Canaveral on Tuesday, Nassau, Bahamas on Wednesday and Perfect Day at Coco Cay on Thursday, but that entire itinerary may have to be reshuffled if the ship doesn’t depart on Sunday as originally scheduled.

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