Cruises are often cancelled for reasons beyond the cruise line's control.
It could be due to a mechanical problem or a weather problem. All cruise lines face these types of problems and always make the decision to opt for the safest options for their passengers and their equipment.
At first glance, that's what Royal Caribbean appears to have done when it unexpectedly cancelled a cruise at the last minute.
Guests booked for the September 15 Rhapsody of the Seas cruise received an email from the cruise line informing them that their cruise had been cancelled.
“On our last voyage, one of our tenders, which also serves as a lifeboat, was damaged. This puts the ship over the available capacity for the number of seats available in case of emergency on our next voyage. Regrettably, this means that we will not be able to welcome you on board,” reads the email, which was obtained by Cruise industry news.
Cruise ships must have a lifeboat seat available for each passenger on board.
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Cruise ships face strict regulations
“The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international convention and a requirement that all passenger ships must comply with. It states that all passengers must know what to do in an emergency and requires that all persons on board have a seat in a lifeboat,” according to the Royal Caribbean Blog.
Lifeboats have a specific capacity and a captain who knowingly violates this rule would be putting his license at risk.
“Royal Caribbean will issue a Future Cruise Credit equal to the full amount paid for the cancelled cruise, valid through September 13, 2025. Additionally, it will cover non-refundable transportation costs, such as flights or rental cars, that were affected by the cancellation,” the blog, which is not owned by the cruise line, posted.
While the cruise line has canceled some passengers' reservations, it does not appear to have cancelled the cruise. Instead, it appears to have disembarked enough passengers to comply with lifeboat regulations.
That seems an odd choice when the cruise line could have asked for volunteers and offered incentives to change trips, just as airlines do when flights are overbooked.
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Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Puerto Rico. Some passengers may have gladly accepted a different trip from another port to change course.
For example, Royal Caribbean has Symphony of the Seas, which will sail from New York on the same day (September 15) as Rhapsody. It has several cruises from Florida ports departing on September 15 or 16.
The timing may have made moving passengers to new ships impractical, but the cruise line could certainly have offered volunteers incentives to move to a later cruise. It seems standard practice in the travel industry, even if it's harder for a cruise line than an airline.
According to Royal Caribbean's blog, it's unclear whether or not the Rhapsody of the Seas has sailed, though some passengers said their voyage had been confirmed. The cruise line has not issued any public comment.
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