Royal Caribbean International has added another cruise to the list of those affected due to ongoing tensions in the Red Sea. This time it’s a re-routing of a luxury nine-month voyage billed as the “ultimate World Cruise” that had already gone viral even in a crowded “novelty cruise” market: aboard the Serenade of the Seas.
Vote for your “epic adventure”
With the original route through the Suez Canal now considered too risky, Royal Caribbean is making an unusual move by putting the new itinerary to a vote; a decision the cruise line says is “in keeping with the adventurous spirit of our guests.”
Passengers booked onto the Serenade World Cruise will instead be given a say in where the cruise goes instead, with a choice offered between two alternative “epic adventures” to African destinations. They will vote for their preferred route and any price difference will be compensated. What’s more, they will be offered a full refund and onward assistance if they prefer not to accept the new chosen sailing.
Multiple reroutings and cancellations
Essentially a cancellation, the Serenade of the Seas world cruise sinks in the wake of Crystal Cruise’s Symphony – another recently demised cruise that should have sailed Mumbai to Athens over 126-days from March 27. Yet another casualty is Crystal Serenity’s 2024 world cruise which sees multiple segments changed, though its June 8 end date will remain the same.
We greatly appreciate our guests and crew for their understanding and patience during this process.
Crystal Cruise’s Symphony
Mitigating uncertainty and bureaucracy
It’s a process many have been going through, with multiple sailings postponed, cancelled and rerouted by Carnival, MSC Cruises, Silversea, and Virgin, among other operators. Airlines and airports have also been affected.
From creative “vote for your destination” bad news spinning, to expressions of regret, operators are doing their best to mitigate the uncertainty and bureaucracy travellers have been going through amid the Houthi rebel attacks.
Double threat
Targeting commercial and naval vessels, the Houthi action which began after the Hamas-Israel conflict began in October, has seen tactics ranging from drone attacks on ships to hijackings, all said to be in solidarity with Palestine.
The double threat of regional war and unpredictable rebel attacks has taken its toll on the billions of dollars of trade that passes through the Red Sea, and the impact on the region’s travel industry has caused economic ripples far and wide.
