Over the weekend, passengers aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas were informed that their anticipated Alaska cruise would not proceed as planned. Originally set to embark from Vancouver on Friday, the voyage was initially delayed and then cancelled due to propulsion issues that arose after guests had already boarded.
Passengers, including Charlene Chong and her family, were aboard the ship when they received the disappointing news on Saturday afternoon. Chong, a 34-year-old teacher from Vancouver, shared that this trip was especially significant as it was their first with Royal Caribbean, and her parents had long anticipated visiting Alaska.
Prior to boarding, passengers were notified of a “technical issue with its propulsion system” via email. The cruise line attempted to extend the departure by two days to address these repairs. However, further complications led to the ultimate cancellation of the weeklong itinerary.
Royal Caribbean took several steps to mitigate the impact on its guests. The cruise line offered onboard credit equivalent to two days of their fare, matched with a future cruise credit, complimentary drinks, and other forms of compensation. Despite these efforts, the cancellation left many scrambling to rearrange travel plans. The cruise line committed to covering additional costs related to changes in travel plans, including up to $250 for domestic travel adjustments and $400 for international guests, along with potential reimbursements for hotel and transportation expenses.
The company issued a formal apology, recognizing the disruption caused to passengers’ vacation plans and expressing their regret over the incident. “Due to a technical issue, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the April 26 sailing,” stated a Royal Caribbean spokesperson. “Guests will receive a full refund and 100% future cruise credit, and have been notified directly.”
For Chong and her family, the experience led them to book a different vacation to Mexico, opting out of using their future cruise credit for the time being. “I would like to go to Alaska,” Chong mentioned, reflecting on the possibility of trying again with a different company.
The Radiance of the Seas is scheduled to resume its service with a sailing on May 3, as Royal Caribbean works to ensure all issues are thoroughly addressed to prevent future disruptions.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, usatoday.com
