Royal Caribbean International has reached out to guests who have pre-booked certain shore tours while visiting Nassau in the Bahamas to alert them that their selected tours have been cancelled.

The impacted tours involve the Blue Lagoon, as the cruise line has not yet completed its investigation into an incident from November 2023.

Blue Lagoon Tours Continue to Be Cancelled

Cruise travelers hoping to enjoy the different features and activities of the famed Blue Lagoon in the Bahamas will not be able to book shore excursions through Royal Caribbean International for several more weeks.

In light of the boat incident in November 2023, which involved a fatality when a ferry boat sank while heading to the Blue Lagoon, the cruise line is cancelling more tours.

“We continue to work with authorities to evaluate a boat incident that took place during a shore excursion in Nassau, Bahamas late last year,” the email notification explained. “Since our investigation is ongoing, we have decided to cancel all Blue Lagoon tours through March.”

Guests who have already booked tours to the Blue Lagoon through the cruise line will automatically receive a full refund back to their original form of payment. Those refunds will be processed within 14 business days, though different financial institutions may have different processing times.

While not recommended by any cruise line, travelers could still choose to book independent arrangements to visit the Blue Lagoon, as the facility has completely reopened and is offering amazing experiences for visitors.

All cruise lines regularly evaluate the shore tours they offer for convenient onboard booking, considering the diversity of experiences, safety concerns, and other factors before offering the tours for reservations. Each cruise line may offer different tours that they feel are the best options for their guests.

From February 9 through the end of March, more than 70 Royal Caribbean ship calls are scheduled for Nassau, including visits from Allure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and other vessels. While these ships are still planned to visit Nassau, Blue Lagoon tours will not be available for booking through the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean International first suspended tours immediately after the incident, and has extended that suspension several times as their investigation is ongoing.

What Can Guests Do in Nassau?

Additional shore excursions in Nassau are available, including options such as snorkeling, shopping, historic sites, beach breaks, visiting a chocolate factory or rum distillery, foodie tours, and more.

Booked guests can book available tours online or via the Royal Caribbean app before their cruise, or through the app or by visiting the Guest Services desk onboard their ship.

Guests can also debark the ship to explore on their own to visit the famous Straw Market, enjoy the new Junkanoo museum at the revitalized cruise port, climb the Queen’s Staircase, or otherwise enjoy what Nassau offers.

Travelers will want to be alert to their surroundings and stay safe in their explorations, however, in light of the elevated travel advisory for Nassau due to increased levels of crime and other safety concerns. The Level 2 Travel Advisory specifically noted water activities as needing additional caution.

At this time, no cruise lines have suspended calls to Nassau, but all travelers are always urged to be cautious when going ashore in any port of call, regardless of warning levels or other precautionary statements. If guests do not feel comfortable ashore, there are always activities onboard the ship to enjoy during a port day, with the bonus of smaller crowds as other guests are gone on tours.

Royal Caribbean International has announced a series of adjustments to their cruise itineraries, affecting passengers on select Ovation of the Seas voyages. The combination of cancellations and scheduled sailings is part of the cruise line’s revised plans for the 2025 season.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

In an unforeseen shake-up of its 2025 schedule, Royal Caribbean International has cancelled three sailings on Ovation of the Seas, which were set to depart on April 3, April 12, and April 29, 2025.

These changes have been attributed to adjustments in the cruise line’s itinerary planning, resulting in a reshuffling of its cruise offerings.

Aurora Year-Rodriguez, AVP of Guest Experience, communicated Royal Caribbean’s regret in an email to passengers and travel planners, stating, “Due to an adjustment in our itinerary planning, our upcoming Ovation of the Seas has been cancelled. We know how much time and effort go into planning your cruise, and we’re terribly sorry for the inconvenience.” 

Exploring Alternative Itineraries

Royal Caribbean is offering alternative cruises on Quantum of the Seas for passengers affected by the cancellation of the three Ovation of the Seas sailings. Once Quantum of the Seas completes its “7-Night South Pacific Cruise” in Brisbane, Australia, it will set sail on two replacement cruises designed to accommodate passengers from the cancelled Ovation of the Seas trips.

For passengers of the April 12 sailing, the alternative is a 21-Night Transpacific Cruise on Quantum of the Seas leaving April 8, 2025, from Sydney, Australia, to Honolulu, Hawaii, with stops in Picton, Wellington, and Auckland, New Zealand; and Moorea, Papeete, Tahiti, and Raiatea in French Polynesia.

Passengers booked on the cancelled April 3 and April 29 “9-night Hawaii Cruise” sailings are being rebooked onto an 8-night Hawaiian cruise departing from Honolulu on April 28, 2025. This voyage will feature scenic cruising in Kailua Kona and the Napali Coast of Kauai, and will end in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas are part of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class of ships and offer a seamless transition for passengers affected by the cancellations. Both vessels boast a tonnage of 168,666 and the capacity to host 4,905 passengers across 16 decks. 

As for Ovation of the Seas, the exact details of its revised route in place of the cancelled April sailings have not been disclosed by the cruise line. In fact, Ovation of the Seas no longer appears as an option for any April sailings in 2025 on the cruise line’s website.

Understanding Passenger Rights and Compensation

Royal Caribbean has detailed compensation options for those affected by the April 3, April 12, and April 29 cancellations.

Firstly, travelers are offered to be automatically rebooked onto the new sailings on Quantum of the Seas, with the assurance of maintaining their original stateroom category and fare rates. If the new sailing is cheaper for passengers from any cancellation, the difference will be refunded.

Additionally, passengers can opt to rebook any other Royal Caribbean sailing, with the cruise line waiving non-refundable deposit change fees. However, it is important to note that fare differences for a more expensive sailing will apply.

In light if these itinerary changes, passengers are encouraged to consider the role of travel insurance. Policies typically cover cancellations, although they may not cover itinerary changes unless they result in significant trip delays or cancellations.

For those impacted by the rescheduling, reviewing the specific terms of your travel insurance policy is advisable.

The idea of a South Pacific voyage conjures images of crystal-clear waters, white sand beaches, and deep blue skies, but it is not always that way.

Guests booked to depart February 7, 2024 on a South Pacific cruise with Royal Caribbean learned that bad weather has prompted the line to change its itinerary.

Itinerary Changes Came on Departure Day

Even the South Pacific is experiencing unusually stormy weather, guests booked to sail the region on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas were disappointed to find out as they prepared to depart from Brisbane, Australia, on February 7, 2024.

Guests were notified of the adjusted port calls just prior to boarding the ship on embarkation day. In all, three popular port calls were nixed, and replaced with alternate destinations.

“Due to adverse weather, we’ve modified our itinerary to provide you with the most enjoyable sailing. While not the original itinerary planned, we know you’ll have a memorable time,” the line’s statement to guests stated.

“We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather — your safety is our top priority. Please know, being onboard is one of the safest places because we are faster and can move out of the way of any inclement weather,” the statement explained.

Quantum of the Seas’ 8-night South Pacific sailing will skip three exotic port calls in New Caledonia and Vanuatu due to rainy and windy weather. Local forecasts predict thunderstorms with winds up to 30 miles per hour in the region.

Departing from Brisbane, the 5,000-guest ship’s original itinerary included two days at sea, followed by port calls to Noumea, New Caledonia, Mystery Island, and Villa, Vanuatu, and two additional sea days before returning to Brisbane on February 15, 2024.

Read Also: What to Do Onboard a Cruise Ship in Bad Weather

The new itinerary features one day at sea after departure from Brisbane, a port call to Airlie Beach, Queensland, a second day at sea, a port call and overnight in Cairns (Yorkey’s Knob), Australia, scenic cruising around Willis Island, and a final day at sea before returning to Brisbane.

Altered Course Misses Popular, Exotic Destinations

The three missed port calls are quintessential South Pacific paradises. Noumea is the capital of New Caledonia and known for its dramatic beaches and watersports activities.

Vanuatu’s Mystery Island is uninhabited and renowned for its peaceful beaches and clear waters. Vila is Vanuatu’s cultural hub and is popular for its proximity to Male Cascades, a multi-tiered waterfall.

That said, the replacement port calls are not likely to disappoint. Airlie Beach is a top destination for snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, while Yorkey’s Knob, on the Coral Sea, is home to scenic Half Moon Bay and known for great swimming and fishing. Willis Island is an isolated, scenic destination, also in the Coral Sea.

The South Pacific is not typically prone to poor weather, and unusual climate patterns have wreaked havoc in other parts of the cruising world, too. Several ships have been forced to alter ports in recent days as they sailed in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

On February 6, 2024, two Royal Caribbean ships, Freedom of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, had to recall guests from Perfect Day at CocoCay due to high winds and waves. The private island destination was buffeted by strong winds that brought water crashing onto the pier.

Online videos show large crowds of guests returning to their ships, while lifeguards and crew members in rain gear provided a guideline to encourage guests to move along and make sure no one was close to the pier’s edge.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine was impacted by the same storm that day, as she sailed a 5-night Bahamas cruise from Charleston, South Carolina. Weather prevented the ship from calling at Princess Cays, a private island destination on Eleuthera.

Strong winds apparently were generating swells that would have made tender operations difficult and dangerous.