Due to unplanned maintenance, Royal Caribbean International has announced the cancellation of the September 28, 2024, sailing of Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship.

(Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean)

Guests were notified of the cancellation days before the cruise was set to sail from PortMiami on a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary.

In a statement to impacted guests, Royal Caribbean said, “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.”

Though the cruise line has not provided specific details on the repairs needed, such cancellations are typically reserved for significant issues, such as propulsion or safety system failures.

 

Compensation for Affected Guests

Royal Caribbean is offering full refunds to all impacted passengers, including taxes, fees, and any pre-paid packages such as shore excursions, gratuities, and amenities.

For guests who booked using Future Cruise Credits (FCC), a new FCC will be issued, along with a refund for any additional payments made beyond previously applied credits.

Additionally, as a gesture of goodwill, Royal Caribbean is offering a 100% FCC equivalent to the fare paid, which can be used for future sailing. Guests who booked flights directly through the cruise line will receive automatic refunds.

Those with independently booked travel are eligible for reimbursement of up to $200 for domestic flights and $400 for international flights to cover any cancellation or change fees.

 

Impact on Current Sailing and Future Itineraries

The unplanned maintenance also impacted Icon of the Seas‘ ongoing September 21, 2024 cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. The vessel departed from Miami and will skip its scheduled stop in St. Thomas due to the need to sail at a reduced speed.

Passengers were instead treated to an additional sea day, and Royal Caribbean compensated them with onboard credit equivalent to one day’s cruise fare. The ship’s remaining stops, including St. Maarten and Perfect Day at CocoCay, are expected to proceed as planned.

Despite the disruption, Royal Caribbean assured passengers that the ship was “safe and seaworthy,” although it would remain in Miami for maintenance. The cruise line also stated that the vessel is expected to resume its regular schedule by the October 5 sailing.

Concerns Over Future Icon Cruises

While the cruise line has confirmed that the repairs should be completed in time for the next scheduled cruise, guests booked on future sailings are understandably concerned about the possibility of further cancellations. Royal Caribbean has encouraged passengers to stay updated on the ship’s status as the maintenance progresses.

Icon of the Seas is the first vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, launched into service from PortMiami this past January.