Royal Caribbean Cancels 20 Cruises After Carnival Axes 11 Sailings
Royal Caribbean has abruptly cancelled more than 20 scheduled sailings aboard its Freedom of the Seas ship for the summer 2027 season, according to reports from unofficial cruise blogs and travel media. This move comes just days after rival Carnival Cruise Line similarly cancelled 11 future voyages, signalling a period of significant disruption for cruise passengers.
Details of the Royal Caribbean Cancellations
The impacted Royal Caribbean departures were originally scheduled between May and September 2027 and included a diverse range of itineraries. These ranged from four-night Bahamas trips to five-night journeys in the Dominican Republic and nine-night cruises calling at Aruba and Curaçao. Royal Caribbean emailed passengers this week to announce that Freedom of the Seas will be redeployed to Southampton, England, for the 2027 season, cancelling its previously scheduled home-port sailings due to what the company described as an "ongoing itinerary planning process."
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson stated, "Deployment planning is dynamic and regularly reviewed based on demand, capacity requirements, and broader fleet considerations. As part of this process, we've made the decision to redeploy Freedom of the Seas to Southampton in 2027. Guests and travel partners are being contacted directly with details about their sailings and available options."
Passenger Frustration and Alternative Options
Some passengers affected by the cancellations have expressed their frustration on social media platforms. One individual commented on a Facebook post, "That frustrates the heck out of me when they do this. I had three ship sailings in a row cancelled two years ago. By the time it was announced in the UK we couldn't rebook on the replacement as it was full. Then they wanted twice the amount to book a similar cruise. RC has become too unreliable for long cruises now." Another added, "Freedom is my favorite ship in the fleet, but this is a bad look for Royal. So many disappointed people."
In response to the changes, Royal Caribbean is reportedly offering impacted guests several alternative options to fulfill their bookings. Those unable to secure space on a different Freedom of the Seas sailing may choose from other ships in the fleet, including Wonder of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, or Jewel of the Seas. Alternatively, passengers can opt for a full refund of their cruise fare as well as reimbursements for any prepaid amenities such as excursions or drink packages if no suitable alternative can be arranged.
Carnival's Earlier Cancellations
Just days before the Royal Caribbean announcement, Carnival confirmed cancellations of 11 voyages aboard its Carnival Firenze ship that were scheduled to depart in the fall of 2026. Carnival told affected guests that the cancellations were due to changes in itinerary plans. The company is offering rebooking with fare protections and onboard credits, in addition to refunds for those who choose not to sail.
A Carnival spokesperson explained, "Due to changes to itinerary plans, we have cancelled sailings aboard Carnival Firenze scheduled between October 12, 2026, and November 16, 2026. Guests booked on the affected sailings, as well as their travel advisors, have been notified directly. We have apologized to our impacted guests and are offering them the option to rebook another Carnival cruise with their cruise fare protected on a comparable sailing in similar accommodations, along with an onboard credit. Guests who choose not to reschedule will receive a full refund of their cruise fare and any pre-purchased items to the original form of payment."
The consecutive cancellations by two major cruise lines highlight the volatile nature of travel planning in the industry, with companies frequently adjusting deployments based on operational needs and market demand. Passengers are advised to stay informed through official communications and consider flexible booking options to mitigate potential disruptions.
