Royal Caribbean cancels 20 cruises days after Carnival

Royal Caribbean just threw a curveball at thousands of cruise passengers. The cruise line has canceled more than 20 sailings on Freedom of the Seas for summer 2027.

What Sailings Were Canceled?

The canceled cruises were scheduled between May and September 2027. They included a variety of trips from the United States. Some were quick four-night getaways to the Bahamas. Others were longer nine-night voyages visiting Aruba and Curaçao.

Five-night trips to the Dominican Republic were also cut from the schedule. All these cancellations happened without much warning to booked passengers.

Why Did Royal Caribbean Cancel These Cruises?

Royal Caribbean is moving Freedom of the Seas to Southampton, England for the 2027 season. The cruise line sent emails to affected passengers this week. They cited an “ongoing itinerary planning process” as the reason.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson explained the situation to The Independent. “Deployment planning is dynamic and regularly reviewed based on demand, capacity requirements, and broader fleet considerations,” they said. “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.”

How Are Passengers Reacting?

Many cruisers aren’t happy about the last-minute changes. Social media filled up with frustrated comments from affected passengers.

“That frustrates the heck out of me when they do this,” one person wrote on Facebook. “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 passenger shared their disappointment. “Freedom is my favorite ship in the fleet, but this is a bad look for Royal. So many disappointed people. I would be especially unhappy if I had a nine-nighter to those great ports and now am stuck with only a four or five-nighter to the Bahamas.”

What Options Do Affected Passengers Have?

Royal Caribbean is offering several alternatives to impacted guests. Passengers can try to book a different Freedom of the Seas sailing if space is available.

If that doesn’t work, they can switch to other ships in the fleet. Options include Wonder of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, or Jewel of the Seas.

Passengers who don’t want to rebook can get a full refund. This includes their cruise fare and any prepaid items. The refund covers excursions, drink packages, and other amenities.

Carnival Also Canceled Multiple Sailings

Royal Caribbean isn’t alone in making these changes. Carnival Cruise Line canceled 11 voyages on Carnival Firenze just days earlier. Those cancellations affect fall 2026 sailings.

The Carnival cancellations run from October 12 to November 16, 2026. Carnival blamed “changes to itinerary plans” for the cancellations.

“Guests booked on the affected sailings, as well as their travel advisors, have been notified directly,” a Carnival spokesperson told The Independent. “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.”

What This Means for Future Cruise Planning

These back-to-back cancellations show how cruise lines adjust their plans. Ships get moved around based on demand and business needs. This happens more often than many travelers realize.

If you’re planning a cruise far in advance, keep this in mind. Cruise lines can change their schedules even after you book. Always check if your travel insurance covers cruise cancellations.

Consider booking closer to your sail date if you want more certainty. Or be flexible with your plans in case changes happen.