Second Sailing Cancelled for Princess Cruises Ship Due to Technical Difficulties

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The problems keep piling on for Regal Princess. 

The Carnival-owned cruise line has now cancelled a second sailing due to unresolved technical difficulties plaguing the 2014-launched ship.

The cruise that would have been in progress now – which was a 7-night Western Caribbean voyage due to set sail on October 27, 2024 – was cancelled two days before embarkation day due to the unspecified technical issues. 

On October 30, Princess Cruises announced that the next sailing – another 7-night Western Caribbean cruise due to embark from Galveston, Texas, on November 3, 2024 – will also be scrapped for the same reason. 

โ€œWeโ€™re reaching out with an important update regarding your upcoming cruise aboard Regal Princess, which was scheduled to depart on Sunday, November 3, from Galveston, Texas,โ€ begins a letter from the cruise line to impacted guests. 

โ€œUnfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to complete essential technical repairs, and we regret to inform you that this sailing must be cancelled,โ€ continues the update.

The sailing would have called on Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. 

In an effort to soften the blow, Princess is giving all guests a full refund for the cruise fare and excursions booked through the cruise line within 10 business days. 

As a gesture of good will, guests will also be getting a 25% discount on a future cruise booking that is made by May 31, 2025, and sets sail by May 31, 2026. 

โ€œWe know how much effort and anticipation go into planning a vacation, and we are truly sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience this change causes. Your time is valuable, and we understand how frustrating it is to have your plans disrupted,โ€ said Princess Cruises.

The cruise line will also reimburse guests for last minute air change fees with a cap of $200 per person. 

What is Wrong With Regal Princess?

As of the time of publication, Princess Cruises has not revealed the specific technical issue(s) impacting the Royal-class vessel – but it must be pretty serious in order to cancel multiple sailings. 

With the exact problem kept under wraps, itโ€™s unclear how long the fix will really take and if a third sailing might be impacted. 

The 3,560-guest ship is supposed to be operating the same 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary out of the Port of Galveston through mid-January 2025, with the next sailing on the schedule currently set for November 10, 2024.

Regal Princess Cruise Ship
Photo Credit: NAPA / Shutterstock

But while the cruise line has stayed quiet on the specific technical issues at play, the experiences shared by guests of the 141,000-gross ton vesselโ€™s most recent sailing suggest that it might be an issue with the shipโ€™s engine room and/or power system.  

The last sailing before the shipโ€™s last minute departure from service was a 33-night Transatlantic Crossing from Southampton, UK, to Galveston, Texas, which embarked on September 24, 2024.

Shorter segments of the longer voyage were operated simultaneously.  

Read Also: Cruise Hive Discussion Boards: Princess Cruises

Early in the voyage on September 30, guests reported that there was a fire in the shipโ€™s engine room, which thankfully was extinguished quickly. 

Other passengers shared that there were multiple power outages during the voyage – with the most notable loss of power occurring as the Princess ship left George Town, Grand Cayman, on October 24, 2024 โ€“ which was the final port call of the voyage.

While the captain informed guests that the fire occurred, the extent of any possible damage from the incident – and what role it may have played in the power outages or in the current technical difficulties – remains unclear.

GigSky Cruise SIM

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Catie Kovelman
Catie Kovelman
Catie is an award-winning journalist and researcher. By day, she helps market new movies and TV shows as a senior research manager. But by night, she loves writing cruise news. In addition to Cruise Hive, Catie has contributed to a variety of newspapers, magazines, and other online publications, such as The Plaid Horse, Unwritten, YourTango, Fangirl Nation Magazine, Chapman Magazine, the Orange County Register, and Voice of OC.

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