Key Aspects:
- Anthem of the Seas has developed technical issues and will late returning to Sydney on Tuesday, January 27.
- The next cruise has already been cancelled so full repairs can be made.
- Royal Caribbean is offering compensation to guests on both sailings to assist with change fees and travel plans.
Anthem of the Seas‘ January 19, 2026 departure was to have returned to Sydney, Australia for a typical morning debarkation on Tuesday, January 27, but a technical issue has now forced a delay and the ship will not be returning until late Tuesday afternoon.
The South Pacific cruise visited ports in New Caledonia and Vanuatu, and satellite tracking now shows Anthem of the Seas heading back to Australia at just 14 knots (16 miles per hour). The top speed for the Quantum-class ship is 22 knots (25 mph).
Guests onboard have been notified of the difficulties, as well as reimbursement options regarding onward travel after debarkation.
“As previously announced by our Captain, we experienced a technical issue that has impacted our speed,” the letter delivered to guests confirmed. “As a result, our arrival into Sydney will be delayed and we’ll now arrive at approximately 4:00 PM on the 27th.”
The original arrival time for the vessel was no later than 6:30 a.m., so this is a significant delay that will likely impact many guests’ travel plans after the cruise.
To help guests adjust those plans, Royal Caribbean is permitting phone calls from Guest Services at no charge, and guests without an internet package will receive a voucher for 120 minutes of complementary internet access (per stateroom).
All onboard packages for drinks and internet service will automatically be extended until debarkation at no extra charge.
When Anthem of the Seas arrives in Sydney and is cleared for debarkation, guests are urged to stick to their assigned departure groups and keep their travel documents in hand to ensure a smooth, efficient debarkation for the more than 4,000 travelers onboard.
Reimbursement for Flight Changes
Guests who have flights booked after their sailing will have those flights automatically adjusted if they made the arrangements through Royal Caribbean. Email confirmations will be provided once flight changes are confirmed.
Anyone who is making independent flight arrangements is urged not to reschedule flights before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27. Furthermore, Royal Caribbean is offering reimbursement for flight changes as follows (all figures in USD):
- Up to $200 per person for domestic flight change fees
- Up to $400 per person for international flight change fees
- Up to $250 per stateroom for one hotel night if necessary
Guests must upload receipts to Royal Caribbean’s Guest Relations team for reimbursement consideration.
Next Anthem of the Seas Cruise Cancelled
Due to the nature of the technical issue, Royal Caribbean has already elected to completely cancel the next sailing for Anthem of the Seas, a 10-night voyage around New Zealand.
Guests booked on that cruise have been notified of the unfortunate cancellation and offered options.
“Anthem of the Seas experienced a technical issue on its last sailing, and we’re returning to begin required maintenance,” the email notification explained. “Unfortunately, we will not be able to complete the needed repairs in time for our 27 January sailing. As a result, we are canceling our Anthem of the Seas cruise.”
All guests on the now-cancelled cruise will receive a 100% refund that includes not only the cruise fare, but all associated costs such as taxes, fees, pre-paid packages, gratuities, and shore excursions purchased through the cruise line.
Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment within 14 business days. The exact time for processing will depend on individual financial institutions.
All guests will also receive a 25% future cruise credit (FCC) to use toward booking a future Royal Caribbean cruise that departs within the next 12 months. Those credits will be available by February 9, 2026.
Read Also: How Fast is a Knot and What Does It Mean?
Additionally, guests will be reimbursed up to $200 (USD) for domestic flight changes, up to $400 for international flight changes, up to $250 for two nights of hotel accommodations, and $100 per person, per day for incidental charges. Guests must email receipts for reimbursement consideration.
“Thank you for your cooperation and understanding,” the email concludes. “And again, we apologize for this cancellation and the inconvenience caused by this.”
What Is the Technical Issue?
The nature of the technical issue impacting Anthem of the Seas has not been disclosed, but it is likely related to the ship’s propulsion system.
The 168,666-gross-ton cruise ship uses two diesel-electric Azipod engines, and a failure in either one would dramatically impact the vessel’s speed. This creates challenges for following a planned itinerary, particularly for reaching New Zealand, which is more than 1,300 miles from Sydney.
The onboard engineers will undoubtedly be working on the issue as best they can while the ship is underway, but it is necessary for the ship to be stationary for full repairs to be made. There is no indication as yet whether Anthem of the Seas will need to enter dry dock to complete repairs.
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Furthermore, there is no difficulty with the ship’s navigational or safety systems, and all onboard operations are proceeding as planned.
This is not the first time Anthem of the Seas has had propulsion difficulties. In March 2023, a “mechanical limitation” forced some itinerary changes, but no cruises were cancelled at that time.
Hopefully, complete repairs can be made during the 10 days of the cancelled sailing and Anthem of the Seas will be ready to welcome guests again for her February 6 departure. Guests booked on that 7-night cruise will want to say in close contact with Royal Caribbean in case further delays or cancellations may be necessary.
