Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean has notified guests that Anthem of the Seas‘ RipCord by iFly is closed for the September 19 sailing.
- The feature is not being removed, but is due for maintenance. The exact nature of the maintenance has not been detailed.
- Any pre-booked, pre-paid reservations for RipCord by iFly are being automatically cancelled and full refunds processed.
While a cruise itinerary and ports of call are definitely a highlight of any cruise vacation, the fun features guests can enjoy onboard their ship are equally important for making those cruise memories.
Guests setting sail on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas later this week, however, will have one less opportunity for exciting thrills and cruise memories.
The cruise line has reached out to booked guests to alert them that one prominent feature will not be available during their sailing.
“Just like in your home, our ships need some tender loving care too!” the notification letter explained. “We’ll be conducting necessary maintenance on the RipCord by iFly, and as a result, it will be unavailable during your sailing.”
The impacted cruise is Anthem of the Seas‘ September 19, 2025 departure, a 7-night Alaska Experience itinerary roundtrip from Seattle. The voyage will be visiting Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, and Victoria, but without the unique onboard skydiving fun.
Guests who had already booked a reservation for RipCord by iFly have had those plans automatically cancelled and fully refunded to the original form of payment. Refund processing may take up to 14 business days, depending on the policies of individual financial institutions.
While this will be disappointing for guests who were excited about the unique and thrilling experience, there are still plenty of other activities onboard Anthem of the Seas to enjoy.
The 169,000-gross-ton, Quantum class cruise ship still offers the FlowRider surf simulator, the classic rock climbing wall, laser tag, the North Star observation pod, the relaxing Solarium, the SeaPlex sports court with bumper cars, and so much more.
There is no indication that Royal Caribbean is removing the RipCord by iFly simulator, only that the feature is undergoing regular maintenance.
The nature of that maintenance has not been disclosed, but could be related to any number of upgrades, safety updates, technical alterations, or even cosmetic changes to enhance the experience.
Anthem of the Seas is not the only ship with RipCord by iFly, nor is it the only ship that does not have the feature at the moment.
The exciting feature is part of all the cruise line’s Quantum and Quantum Ultra class ships: Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum, and Odyssey.
Unfortunately, RipCord by iFly is temporarily unavailable onboard Quantum of the Seas, according to a posted notice on the Royal Caribbean website:
“RipCord by iFLY onboard Quantum of the Seas is currently not available.”
Why the feature is not currently available or when it might return is not noted.
Unavailable Features Not Unusual
While it may be disappointing for guests who want to try certain features onboard to learn that those attractions won’t be operating during their cruise, this is not actually unusual.
Depending on their budget and vacation plans, guests might only spend a few days onboard a particular ship each year, but these ships do operate 24/7. Because of that, there can be significant wear and tear on highly technical features, even those that may have more limited operating hours.
It is then necessary for the feature to be removed from service, whether it is a closed hot tub, a shuttered restaurant, or an action amenity that isn’t available.
For example, in February 2023, the exclusive Diamond Lounge on Harmony of the Seas was unavailable for several sailings due to renovations.
More From Cruise Hive
Updates and construction aren’t the only reasons why venues might not be available.
More recently, the Solarium Bistro onboard Allure of the Seas was closed for the August 21, 2025 sailing so it could be used for kosher food preparation for a significant group booking.
These types of closures are not limited to Royal Caribbean ships either. Onboard Norwegian Bliss in October 2022, the Vibe Beach Club was closed to guests after it was chartered for a specific group onboard.
Venues are also occasionally closed during sailings for ongoing renovations or to fix accidental damage, such as the closure of the Frightening Bolt waterslide onboard both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas following glass breakage that injured a guest.
