Royal Caribbean Cancels Icon of the Seas Cruise for Repairs

Royal Caribbean International has canceled the upcoming sailing of Icon of the Seas due to the need for unexpected repairs on the 2023-built ship.

"We are currently conducting unplanned maintenance onboard Icon of the Seas. While our crew is working hard to address this as quickly as possible, there is still some work that needs to be done over a few days while the ship is docked," Royal Caribbean stated in a message sent to affected passengers.

The cruise, originally scheduled to depart from PortMiami on September 28, 2024, was set to visit popular destinations in the Western Caribbean, including Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatán, and the private destination Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

"We understand the disappointment this news may bring and we’re truly sorry for the impact on your vacation plans," the company added.

In light of the cancellation, Royal Caribbean is offering full refunds to passengers, covering all expenses such as taxes, fees, pre-paid packages, gratuities, amenities, and shore excursions. For guests who used Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) for the booking, a new credit certificate will be issued along with a refund for any additional payments.

“Additionally, we want you to come back and sail with us, so we’re providing you with an FCC in the value of 100 percent of your cruise fare paid to be used towards another sailing,” the statement continued.

Travel arrangements made directly through Royal Caribbean will also be refunded automatically. Guests who booked flights independently are eligible for reimbursements, with the cruise line covering travel change fees up to $200 for domestic flights and $400 for international flights.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean has updated the itinerary for the current voyage of Icon of the Seas, which left Miami for the Eastern Caribbean on September 21, 2024.

"The ship is currently undergoing maintenance and will sail at a reduced speed. Unplanned maintenance happens, and our teams are hard at work to quickly address it,” the company informed passengers aboard.

As a result of the reduced speed, the ship had to skip its stop in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, replacing it with an additional sea day. To compensate, passengers will receive onboard credit equivalent to one day of their cruise fare. 

The remainder of the itinerary, including stops in St. Maarten and Perfect Day at CocoCay, remains unaffected, according to Royal Caribbean.