Royal Caribbean Finalizes Plans for Delayed Tampa-Based Ship

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Royal Caribbeanโ€™s Grandeur of the Seas canโ€™t catch a break. 

After departing for a 5-night cruise from Tampa on October 7, 2024, the 73,817-gross-ton ship had to alter its course from Mexico to the Bahamas to avoid what was then-Tropical Storm Milton, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico on October 5.

As Milton gained strength and, at several points, reached Category 5 status, it headed straight for Tampa with a vengeance, forcing Port Tampa Bay to close.

The ship, fearful of damage to the port, made a contingency plan to return its passengers to shore on October 12 from either Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale or PortMiami, bussing guests back to Tampa.

However, now that Milton has passed, Royal Caribbean will instead return to Tampa a day later than expected and has altered the shipโ€™s itinerary yet again by adding an additional day in Nassau, Bahamas, on October 11 and spending another day at sea on October 12.

As a result,ย Grandeur of the Seasย will be delayed in returning to Tampa in time for its upcoming October 12, 2024, sailing. While passengers on the current voyage get an extra day, the following 5-night roundtrip Western Caribbean cruise to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, will be cut short a day.

The 2,440-passenger ship will now set sail on Sunday, October 13, 2024, skipping its call in Costa Maya. It will cruise directly to Cozumel as its only port of call before returning to Tampa, as scheduled, on October 17, 2024.

โ€œAlong with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we have been tracking the aftermath of Hurricane Miltonโ€™s impact to Port Tampa Bay. As a result, our previous sailing will be delayed,โ€ Royal Caribbean wrote in a letter to passengers.

โ€œWeโ€™re terribly sorry for this last-minute change caused by the weather,โ€ it continued.

The cruise line also noted its return to port is fluid and that times are not yet finalized, although the letter suggested the ship aims to arrive in Tampa by 7 a.m., and anticipates a 4 p.m. departure.

October 14 and 16 will be days at sea, and October 15th’s call in Cozumel will extend from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., as originally scheduled.

Compensation and Refunds

With the shortened duration, Royal Caribbean is offering refunds to passengers on the affected voyage. Guests will receive a refund equivalent to one day of their cruise fare, credited back as an onboard credit.

Additionally, the cruise line announced passengers will receive a prorated refund for any pre-purchased packages, including beverage plans, dining, VOOM Internet access, and pre-paid gratuities, as a way โ€œto give us another opportunity to make it up to you.โ€

Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas (Photo Credit: Michael L Brown)

โ€œAll Onboard Credits can be used anywhere onboard, and any remaining refundable amounts at the end of our sailing will be refunded to the card on file up to 14 business days from final disembarkation,โ€ wrote Royal Caribbean.

Read Also: Tampa Cruise Port: Terminals, Transportation, Whatโ€™s Nearby

Any excursions booked through the cruise line in Costa Maya will also be refunded. Passengers who booked independent excursions will need to contact their providers to cancel and receive refunds.

As Cozumelโ€™s schedule remains intact, pre-booked excursions remain unchanged.

Guests facing any out-of-pocket expenses, such as hotel expenses needed for the additional day in Tampa, can use the cruise lineโ€™s letter for insurance purposes.

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Lissa Poirot
Lissa Poirot
Lissa Poirot has been covering travel for more than a decade, including sites such as TripAdvisor, CruiseCritic, The Points Guy, Family Vacation Critic, and Family Traveller. Her love of travel has led Lissa to visit more than 43 countries and has her on a mission to see every state in the U.S. (only 4 states to go!). When she's not traveling, she's exploring new attractions and events on the weekends, be it in New York City or Philadelphia, as Lissa lives between both fabulous cities.

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