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RCI-Royal Caribbean International has cancelled the August 30th, 2026 departure of Serenade of the Seas from Vancouver after technical repairs could not be completed in time for the ship to safely begin its planned Alaska voyage.
Passengers aboard the vessel have been instructed to disembark by 11:59 p.m. on September 2nd, bringing an end to the possibility of operating even a shortened version of the 7-night cruise.
Serenade of the Seas was scheduled to depart Vancouver on August 30th for a 7-night roundtrip Alaska voyage. Royal Caribbean had previously advised passengers that maintenance work in Vancouver would require additional time and that the sailing would initially be delayed until September 1st. The cruise was subsequently expected to operate as a reduced 5-night itinerary, with calls at Ketchikan and Prince Rupert replacing the original programme.
Despite continued work by technical teams, the repairs extended beyond the revised departure date. Royal Caribbean subsequently informed passengers that the technical issue could not be resolved sufficiently to allow the ship to leave Vancouver safely, resulting in cancellation of the entire sailing.
The prolonged delay left ~2,143 passengers aboard the stationary vessel for several days while the repair programme continued. The uncertainty also affected passengers' ability to make alternative travel arrangements and adjust flights and other transportation plans.
Royal Caribbean is providing affected passengers with a full refund of their cruise fare as well as a future cruise credit equivalent to 100% of the original fare paid. The credit can be used on another Royal Caribbean sailing and is valid for one year from the date of issue.
The company is also reimbursing flight-change fees associated with the cancellation, up to US$200 per person for domestic flights and US$400 for international flights. Complimentary Wi-Fi has been made available to passengers to assist with making new travel arrangements while they remain aboard the ship.
Following the cancellation of the August 30th sailing, 3 departures remain scheduled for September 6th, 13th and 20th. Royal Caribbean has so far confirmed that there is no change to the September 6th departure, although passengers have been advised to monitor further communications while repairs continue.
The cruise line has not disclosed the nature of the technical problem affecting Serenade of the Seas. The prolonged inability to leave port indicates that the issue involves equipment critical to safe navigation, although the specific system has not been confirmed publicly.
The vessel has experienced operational disruptions in previous Alaska seasons. During 2025, several calls were adjusted or cancelled in June and July because of reduced operating speed and propulsion-related repairs.
