Royal Caribbean announced this afternoon that it is cancelling seven additional sailings of Empress of the Seas due to unforeseen issues that were discovered during the ship’s revitalization. Empress of the Seas is in the process of returning to Royal Caribbean’s fleet after spending several years at its sister line, Pulmantur. The sailings most recently impacted are April 25, 30, May 5, 9, 14, 19 and 23. Several earlier sailings were already cancelled due to issues discovered during dry dock.
According to Royal Caribbean, “as work has progressed, we learned that more significant infrastructure and physical improvements across the ship’s multiple galleys and provisioning areas were needed to meet our high standards. We decided that instead of simply repairing the five galleys, we would completely rebuild them, starting from scratch with entirely new infrastructure and all new equipment, at a cost of $10 million.”
Passengers who originally booked the previously cancelled cruises on the March 30, April 4, April 7, April 11, April 16 and April 21 sailings and rebooked onto one of the sailings impacted by the latest round of cancellations will receive a full refund and a future cruise credit of 100 percent. Those passengers scheduled to sail within 14 days of departure on the cancelled April 25 or April 30 sailing, who do not rebook, will receive a full refund and a future cruise credit of 50 percent of the fare paid.
Passengers planning to sail on the May 5th – May 23rd sail dates will be provided an onboard credit if they rebook to another Royal Caribbean sailing. Refunds will be provided to all guests who cannot be accommodated on another itinerary. Passengers who booked air arrangements through Royal Caribbean will be provided new flights at now cost. Royal Caribbean will also reimburse customary airline change fees if you did not book air arrangements with them.
Bottom Line
If you are impacted by one of these cancellations you should contact Royal Caribbean or your travel agent immediately to make arrangements for another cruise or a refund. The 100 percent future cruise credit is an acceptable gesture, but keep in mind that it only applies to those passengers booked on the April 25 and April 30 sailings, just days away. Passengers on the May sailings only receive a $100 onboard credit if they rebook another Royal Caribbean itinerary. This is hugely inconvenient for passengers who have strict vacation planning requirements, not to mention the hassle of rebooking or attempting to refund flights. In situations like this, having travel insurance can be a big help.
Interesting…when I along with all shipmates were BUSSED from Duqm Oman to DuBai after our WINDSTAR ship suffered a power plant breakdown from tainted fuel obtained in Egypt…
We received compensation for the cost of the cruise…..on a recent ‘grounding’ of the same vessel, participants in a much less dangerous event were offered reimbursement as well as a future sailing, at no cost.
Where is the fairness of Windstar ?
I am still demanding fair compensation from tripmate, which this ‘insurer’ is refusing to do…
We were scheduled for Apr. 11 on this ship and they cancelled us a few weeks early before the departure. We could get $100 off a future cruise. Not much consolation for us to now cancel hotels, flights, transfers, etc. I thought we were safe because I think we were going to be the 6th cruise. Not so. I would be fired if I missed startup dates like they have done in the business I am in. This is just mind blowing to know they are just this inept.
@John,
I empathize. I was on the 5/19 sailing. A perfect Key West and Coco Cay long weekend. Had to take the refund and move on. Did not want to just hit Nassau and Coco Cay on Enchantment….at least not this time. I do wonder just how much can be wrong with a ship for them to cancel so many cruises.