[ad_1]
Royal Caribbean Worldwide has begun reaching out to company booked on Panama Canal cruises aboard Rhapsody of the Seas to tell them that the sailings have been adjusted to an alternate itinerary.
Whereas the ship will nonetheless start from Colon, Panama, no canal transit is a part of what at the moment are Southern Caribbean cruises.
Panama Canal Transits Cancelled
Rhapsody of the Seas will now not be making a collection of shorter Panama Canal sailings throughout the winter 2023-2024 season, distinctive itineraries that attracted many company to this bucket-list expertise of transiting one of many world’s best engineering wonders.
As an alternative, Royal Caribbean has been notifying company that the sailings have been “adjusted” to a brand new itinerary, with no Panama Canal transit in any respect.
The unique 7-night itineraries had been to have begun by setting sail from Colon, Panama and visiting Cartagena, Columbia earlier than cruising the entire transit of the Panama Canal. Two ports in Costa Rica adopted – Puntarenas and Quepos – earlier than the ship reached Panama Metropolis, Panama, for debarkation. Reverse itineraries are additionally impacted by this transformation.
Now, the sailings will probably be roundtrip from Colon, Panama and provided as Southern Caribbean cruises as an alternative. Relying on the crusing date, Rhapsody of the Seas should go to Cartagena, and visits comparable to Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire are a part of totally different itineraries. Actual particulars differ relying on departure date.
Choices to Select From
Company on the impacted cruises have three choices to select from for his or her journey plans. They will choose to remain aboard the adjusted and now Southern Caribbean crusing, which can embody worth safety with a refund to the brand new worth if the adjusted worth is decrease than the unique fare.
Second, company might rebook on some other Royal Caribbean crusing, on any ship, and at any date, and the non-refundable deposit change charges will probably be waived. Vacationers will probably be liable for any improve in worth in addition to taxes, charges, and different bills.
Learn Additionally: 10 Greatest Jap Caribbean Cruise Ports You Ought to Go to
For each choices, Royal Caribbean can even reimburse as much as $200 USD per passenger ($400 for worldwide company) for non-refundable journey bills or change charges, such flights, trains, rental automobiles, or lodges. Extra journey bills will probably be thought of for reimbursement with acceptable receipts and explanations, however aren’t assured.
The third choice is an outright cancellation, and company will obtain a full refund of the cruise fare, deposits, and any pre-paid purchases. The refund will probably be processed again to the unique type of fee. If a future cruise credit score was used, will probably be reinstated on the authentic phrases.
No additional compensation is out there to company who select full cancellation. The cruise line does ask for persistence as rebookings are managed, and notes that it could be essential to quickly place company into “Assure” stateroom standing (GTY) whereas particulars are finalized.
Company are requested to inform the cruise line or their journey agent no later than August 29, 2023 about their choice, or they are going to be saved in a like-for-like stateroom on the brand new adjusted itinerary.
Why Cancel the Canal?
No rationalization has been given for why Rhapsody of the Seas will now not offer any Panama Canal transits as deliberate. The e-mail despatched to booked company does word that the change is “to reinforce your expertise,” however many company are questioning the enhancement.
Transiting the Panama Canal is a once-in-a-lifetime cruise expertise for a lot of vacationers, and these shorter cruises providing a full transit relatively than a partial one had been very talked-about and distinctive.
Hypothesis is that the prices and costs related to transiting the canal have risen sharply, making the shorter voyages much less financially viable for the cruise line.
It’s also potential that situations within the canal, together with water ranges resulting from ongoing drought situations, are limiting some transit visitors, and cruise ships would unlikely have precedence over cargo vessels.
Decrease water ranges might also be limiting what instances ship visitors can transfer by way of the canal, which can not align with the cruise line’s schedule.
Authorities have already restricted canal entry to ships with a draft of 43 toes or much less due to low water ranges. The Imaginative and prescient-class Rhapsody of the Seas has a draft of simply 25 toes, and due to this fact isn’t but immediately impacted by this restriction.
Fewer ships are being permitted by way of the canal every day, nevertheless, and it’s potential that the cruise ship has been lower from the transit checklist by canal directors.
A number of longer, one-way Panama Canal cruises are nonetheless out there for reserving right now. Radiance of the Seas has three transits deliberate, beginning with a 16-night eastbound transit from San Diego to Tampa, departing on October 7, 2023.
In 2024, the ship is providing a 14-night westbound crusing from Tampa to Los Angeles on April 8, 2024, in addition to a 16-night return eastbound voyage on October 5, 2024.
Brilliance of the Seas can even be making one eastward Panama Canal transit by way of a 14-night crusing from Los Angeles to New Orleans, departing September 28, 2024.
[ad_2]