Royal Caribbean has introduced a two-day delay for the November 24 Journey of the Seas crusing following flooding at its dry dock in Spain. The cruise operator additionally revealed a drastic discount in its port of calls.
The letter to friends reads, “Because of opposed climate impacting our means to finish our present drydock operations, Journey of the Seas will likely be arriving in Barcelona two (2) days later than we initially deliberate. In consequence, we are going to now depart Barcelona on Tuesday, November twenty sixth as an alternative of Sunday, November twenty fourth.”
The 11-night repositioning voyage from Spain to the US now solely options one port of name as an alternative of the unique 4.
“Moreover, our new itinerary will bypass Valencia, Malaga, and Seville, Spain,” the e-mail knowledgeable passengers. “As an alternative, we’ll take pleasure in two sea days earlier than our scheduled go to to Madeira (Funchal), Portugal on Friday, November twenty ninth, with up to date arrival and departure instances.”
Royal Caribbean Compensates Friends
The e-mail assured passengers they’d be reimbursed for any shore excursions booked at its former locations. The worth of two days’ cruise fare, corresponding pay as you go gratuities, and day by day packages will even be refunded as onboard credit.
In the meantime, passengers with affected flights can declare compensation for charges paid resulting from flight modifications—$200 for home and $400 for worldwide journey. Alternatively, they will go for as much as two nights of lodging at $250 per night time, per stateroom.
Learn Extra: The way to Use a Future Cruise Credit score
The cruise line has additionally agreed to award friends Crown and Anchor Society loyalty factors primarily based on the complete 13-night crusing as an alternative of the shortened schedule.
A number of passengers discovered the compensation insufficient and shared their dissatisfaction on-line. A number of have been in a position to cancel their cruise by phoning their brokers. One message board consumer said that the choice to cancel ought to have been highlighted within the letter.
“While not specified within the letter, which in itself appears devious, it’s obvious that refunds are being issued to those who telephone to cancel. Think about how many individuals might select this selection, if they really knew about it,” remarked one netizen.
Flooding in Spain
One other Royal Caribbean vessel, Voyager of the Seas, was equally affected with a one-day delay due to the identical climate situations. Its scheduled cease at Valencia was ultimately changed with Palma de Mallorca. Lethal floodwaters ravaged town on October 29, forcing a number of cruise traces to alter the itineraries of their ships.
A 12 months’s value of rainwater reportedly entered town in eight hours. Whereas Valencia bore the brunt of the storm, close by areas—together with Barcelona, Girona, and Cádiz, house of the cruise line’s affected dry dock—additionally skilled vital flooding.
