Full-Ship Charter Bumps Royal Caribbean Guests Off Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean cruisers looking forward to a Spring sailing aboard Allure of the Seas are now having to change plans. The entire 7-day cruise has been cancelled, having been booked for a private charter instead.

Originally set to depart from Miami on March 7, 2027, the 225,282 gross ton ship was scheduled to visit Nassau, Falmouth, and Royal Caribbean’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, before returning to Miami on March 14.

“We’re reaching out to let you know that, regrettably, we must cancel our March 7, 2027, Allure of the Seas sailing, as it has been chartered,” Royal Caribbean wrote in an email to guests.

“We understand that this is not an ideal situation, and we’re truly sorry for the impact it has on your vacation plans.”

The cruise line did not reveal who had chartered the cruise, or if they will follow the same itinerary. However, Cruise Hive has been made aware of a group on Facebook indicating it may have been Atlantis Events, a company specializing in LGBT cruises and events.

Royal Caribbean has partnered with Atlantis Events several times before. That being said, the cruise is not currently listed on the official Atlantis events website.

Options for Impacted Guests

While this development is certainly disappointing to those booked on the cruise, Royal Caribbean has presented several options to make it right.

Guests with a little flexibility who wish to avoid the rebooking hassle can simply do nothing and be automatically rebooked on another sailing.

This would be an identical itinerary aboard Allure of the Seas, in the same stateroom category, departing on March 21, 2027. 

Those who choose this option will also receive onboard credit: $100 USD for Interior, Ocean View, and Balcony staterooms and $200 USD for Suites. Parties of three or more people will also receive an additional $50 onboard credit for each additional third or more person.

If that sailing doesn’t fit their schedule, guests can also rebook on any other Royal Caribbean sailing, however they will be responsible for any difference in price. 

In either case, the cruise line will also reimburse travel costs, up to $200 per guest for domestic travel, and up to $400 for international.

Guests are weighing their options, with one guest posting on Reddit to help decide between switching to a sailing aboard Allure of the Seas’ 226,963 gross ton Oasis class sister ship Harmony of the Seas or one of the bigger, newer Icon-class ships like 2025’s Best New Cruise Ship, Star of the Seas.

Harmony of the Seas is slightly newer than Allure of the Seas, having entered service in 2016, but is generally comparable in size and capacity, allowing up to 5,479 guests. Star of the Seas, meanwhile, is a state of the art floating city, at 248,663 gross tons and allowing up to 5,610 guests.

Full Refunds Also Available

Sometimes, schedules don’t have much flexibility, and rebooking isn’t an option. In that case, guests can also cancel for a full refund.

If a guest purchased the cruise using Royal Caribbean Future Cruise Credit, a refund will be issued in the amount paid in cash, and the future cruise credit will be returned to their account. Future Cruise Credit will not be paid out in cash.

Guests must inform Royal Caribbean Guest Relations of their decision by June 3, 2026 or they will be automatically booked on the March 21 sailing.

This is far from the first time a full ship charter has axed a Royal Caribbean cruise. For instance, in 2024, a 5-night Japanese sailing aboard Spectrum of the Seas was similarly cancelled for a charter.

Cancellations due to full charters are a relatively common occurrence in the cruise industry. While they may be frustrating at times (especially for those who plan their year around a vacation at sea), they also allow for some of the most unique and entertaining experiences at sea.