November 10, 2026 — Update: Okaloosa County, Florida, has moved the sinking of the 1952 ocean liner SS United States forward by one day, to Wednesday, November 11, because forecasts call for heavy winds and unsafe conditions on the original date of November 12. The ship is being deployed off Destin as what the county calls the world’s largest artificial reef.
What changed
| Item | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Sinking date | Thursday, Nov 12 | Wednesday, Nov 11; deployment operations begin 1 p.m. CST |
| Sendoff ceremony | Nov 11, 1:30 p.m. | Cancelled |
| Public viewing | — | Live viewing party at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar, Destin, from noon; live feed linked on destinfwb.com |
“Safety is always a top priority in Okaloosa County,” said county board chairman Trey Goodwin. Exact reef coordinates: TBA.
What it means for airline travelers
- If you planned to fly in on November 11 or 12 to watch, you now need to be in Destin by midday on November 11; Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) and Pensacola (PNS) are the nearest airports.
- Non-revs: standby to VPS on the morning of the 11th leaves no margin; aim to arrive on the 10th.
- If you cannot make it, the live feed lets you watch from home.
Sources
- Cruise Industry News: SS United States Sinking Moved Up Over Weather Concerns
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