Another Overbooking Incident for Royal Caribbean: What You Need to Know
Royal Caribbean has once again faced an overbooking issue. This time, it involves the Radiance of the Seas’ 16-night Panama Canal cruise. Scheduled to set sail from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale on 4th October 2025, the cruise has been oversold. To manage the situation, Royal Caribbean has introduced several enticing offers for affected passengers.
The Cruise in Question
This popular itinerary includes stops at Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlán in Mexico, Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala, Puntarenas in Costa Rica, Colón in Panama, Cartagena in Colombia, and George Town in Grand Cayman. With the cruise oversold, Royal Caribbean has reached out to passengers with four alternative options. Three of these allow guests to still enjoy a cruise, albeit with some changes. The fourth option is for those willing to cancel their booking entirely.
Full Refund Plus Double Future Credit
The most attractive offer is a full refund along with a future cruise credit worth 200% of the fare paid. Additionally, Royal Caribbean promises to reimburse any non-refundable flights or hotel stays already booked for the trip. This offer is significantly more generous than their usual compensation for oversold cruises. Typically, they provide a full refund and a 100% Future Cruise Credit. But a 200% credit, essentially offering two free cruises? That’s hard to resist!
Alternative Sailings
Guests can also opt to transfer to a 13-night Panama Canal cruise on Serenade of the Seas. This cruise departs San Diego on 19th September 2025 and ends in Miami. Although it’s shorter and visits fewer ports – Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puntarenas, and Cartagena – it includes a full refund of the original fare, $300 in onboard credit, and reimbursement for any non-refundable travel expenses.
Downgrades With Perks
For those keen to stay on Radiance of the Seas, two downgrade options are available. Guests in balcony cabins can switch to an ocean view stateroom and receive a 100% refund of their original fare, effectively giving them a free cruise. Alternatively, they can choose an inside cabin, still with a full refund and an extra $300 onboard credit.
Keeping the Original Booking
Passengers who prefer to stick with their original plans can keep their balcony reservations. Royal Caribbean has given guests until 12th September 2025 to decide. Any bookings not altered by 16th September will remain unchanged.
Not the First Time
Royal Caribbean has encountered several overbooking issues recently. Similar offers were made to passengers on Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles in June 2025 and Allure of the Seas from Rome in May 2025. While the reasons for overbooking are not always clear, the cruise line seems committed to compensating affected travellers with appealing packages.
Stay tuned for more updates and new deals!
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