A cruise ship bound for Bermuda changed its itinerary at the eleventh hour owing to forecasts of poor weather.

Valiant Lady, the Virgin Voyages vessel, was expected to drop anchor at Dockyard on Wednesday for a day after setting sail from New York.

However, the cruise line told passengers three days before its intended departure tomorrow that the ship will instead head for Saint John in Canada.

An e-mail from Virgin Voyages said: “Due to forecasted weather, it’s become necessary to adjust our itinerary to keep things smooth, safe and comfortable.

“Instead of Bermuda, we’ll now be heading to Saint John, New Brunswick.”

The five-day cruise will now dock at Saint John on Wednesday at about 6am and leave at 4am the next day.

The Bermuda Weather Service has predicted rain showers and sustained winds of up to 35mph with stronger gusts that would start developing on Tuesday and continue until at least Thursday.

The Wednesday forecast said the weather would be occasionally overcast with rain and blustery showers.

Winds were predicted to be north-northeasterly increasing to 27mph before gaining more strength to 35mph with stronger gusts later in the day and into the evening.