Royal Caribbean Ship Delayed Two Days for Urgent Maintenance
Guests booked aboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas are facing a two-day delay after the cruise line determined the ship requires urgent maintenance in Vancouver.
The 90,090 gross-ton ship was originally meant to depart on a 7-night Alaska voyage from Vancouver on August 30, 2026. However, Royal Caribbean has delayed the cruise by two days due to necessary maintenance requiring additional time in Vancouver.
The new 5-night itinerary departs from Vancouver on September 1, 2026, at 9:00 PM. The shortened itinerary sees the removal of some key destinations, including visits to Sitka, Endicott Arm, Dawes Glacier, and Juneau.
The following table shows the original and new itineraries:
Guests have a few options to choose from. They can continue the sailing with compensation, including onboard credit and future cruise credit, or cancel their cruise for a full refund and a 25% future cruise credit.
Guests who choose to continue on the sailing will receive onboard credit equivalent to two days' cruise fare per guest, as well as an additional future cruise credit equivalent to two days' cruise fare per guest. Prepaid packages and gratuities will get a prorated adjustment.
The cruise line will also reimburse the additional two hotel days or airfare change fees. It will reimburse up to $300 per stateroom, per day for hotels or up to $200 per guest for domestic airfare. For international flight changes, Royal Caribbean will reimburse up to $400.
If guests do not want to change their travel plans, Royal Caribbean will allow guests to board Serenade of the Seas on August 30 or August 31 and use the ship as a hotel while it remains in Vancouver.
However, as the ship will be in port, shops and the onboard casino will be closed. Guests will not be allowed to go ashore after boarding due to immigration regulations. Some bars, lounges, and spa services will remain available, with details provided onboard.
Guests can also cancel this sailing. Those who cancel will receive a full refund as well as a 25% future cruise credit based on cruise fare paid. This future cruise credit can be applied to any Royal Caribbean sailing departing by September 1, 2027.
Prepaid purchases and gratuities will also be fully refunded. Royal Caribbean will reimburse airfare change fees up to $200 for domestic flights and $400 for international flights per guest. Hotel reimbursement is only available for those remaining on the cruise.
The latest unexpected maintenance delay comes a little over a year after Serenade of the Seas experienced technical problems during its 2025 Alaska season.
