Royal Caribbean App Mishap Bombards Cruise Fans

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Royal Caribbean cruise passengers received a surprising barrage of test notifications on 29th May 2025, when the cruise line’s mobile app began sending out repeated, unexplained alerts – none of which were tied to cruise updates or itinerary changes.

Royal App Glitches

The push notifications, which simply read variations of “test segment,” began early in the day and continued at frequent intervals, leaving app users both confused and amused.

Reports quickly surfaced on Reddit and other forums, with users tracking how many notifications they had received.

“I’m up to 26 so far,” wrote one user. “Let’s take a bet – how high will the numbers go?” another chimed in.

Some passengers reported receiving between 15 and 40 notifications by midday, with no clarity at first whether the barrage was an internal error or some kind of cryptic app test.

One poster summed it up: “Someone’s getting fired.”

Royal Caribbean Responds

By late afternoon, Royal Caribbean acknowledged the mishap via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating:

“Our IT teams are aware of a series of test notifications inadvertently sent out through the RCI mobile app, and they are working to resolve the issue. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.”

The cruise line’s iOS app update version 1.66.3, launched the same morning, was quickly suspected to be the cause. The update ironically promised “bug fixes and performance improvements”, making the glitch all the more awkward.

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, later shared an update on social media:

While some passengers expressed mild annoyance, the vast majority responded with tongue-in-cheek humour.

“Royal Caribbean just sent more push notifications in one hour than my spouse has texts in a week,” joked another.

“Introducing Royal Caribbean’s Push Club – get 50 notifications and earn free WiFi.”

A few even demanded compensation – half seriously, half playfully – suggesting drink package discounts or branded merchandise.

No System Outages, Just an Embarrassing Glitch

Despite the flood of alerts, no functionality issues were reported with the Royal App. Platforms like Downdetector did not show an increase in service disruptions, indicating the app remained operational throughout.

Despite the mishap, the Royal App remains a critical tool for cruise travellers. It enables passengers to:

  • Check in pre-cruise
  • View itineraries and port information
  • Reserve dining, excursions, and onboard activities
  • Monitor expenses during their sailing

With nearly 2 million downloads and ratings of 4.6 (Google Play) and 4.8 (App Store), the app continues to be one of the most highly-rated in the cruise industry.

While a series of rogue notifications is hardly ideal, the incident was relatively harmless – and judging by the online response, Royal Caribbean’s guests were more amused than angry.

Still, it serves as a reminder that even the smoothest digital platforms can have the occasional hiccup.

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