Royal Princess Drops Two Alaska Ports After Engine Issue Disrupts Cruise

Princess Cruises has cancelled calls to Juneau and Ketchikan from Royal Princess’ current seven-night Alaska cruise after an engine problem reduced the ship’s operating speed.

The 3,560-guest ship departed Seattle on Saturday, 12th September 2026, but passengers were informed the following day that the technical issue meant the original itinerary could no longer be maintained.

Juneau, which Royal Princess had been due to visit on Monday, 14th September, was removed from the schedule and replaced with a day at sea. The ship continued towards Skagway, where it was scheduled to arrive at 6am on Tuesday, 15th September.

Ketchikan has also been dropped from the itinerary. Royal Princess had been scheduled to call there on Thursday, 17th September, but will instead proceed towards Victoria, Canada.

The changes leave Skagway and Victoria as the two remaining port calls on the voyage. The ship is scheduled to remain in Skagway until 8.15pm on Tuesday before visiting Victoria from 9pm until midnight on Friday, 18th September.

Princess Cruises told passengers that the engine issue was limiting the vessel’s speed but did not affect the safety of guests or crew.

“We are currently experiencing a technical issue with our engines that does not affect the safety of our guests or crew but does restrict our ability to proceed at the required speed to maintain our itinerary as planned,” the cruise line said in its letter to passengers.

“Due to these circumstances, we will no longer call to Juneau, Alaska tomorrow, September 14. Instead we will spend the day at sea and head directly toward Skagway, Alaska, for our call at 6:00 AM on Tuesday, September 15 as planned. Additionally, as a result of our reduced operational speed, we will no longer be able to call to Ketchikan, Alaska, on Thursday, September 17, and will proceed directly to Victoria, Canada.”

Compensation Offered Following Itinerary Changes

Passengers will receive a 50% refund of their cruise fare following the loss of the two Alaska ports.

Princess Cruises said the refund would be returned to the original form of payment and could take between 10 and 15 business days to process.

A striking view of Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, set against a dramatic natural backdrop. Nestled at the water's edge, the city's buildings are modest in height, reflecting the small-scale urban development typical of this remote area. Behind the city, a lush, green mountain rises steeply, shrouded partially by low-hanging clouds that add a mystic quality to the landscape. The calm, greenish waters in the foreground reflect the tranquility of this picturesque setting, emphasizing Juneau's unique blend of urban life and wild, natural beauty. This view highlights the city's isolated and scenic location, surrounded by the vast wilderness that is characteristic of Alaska.

Shore excursions purchased through Princess Cruises for Juneau and Ketchikan are also being automatically cancelled. The cost of those tours will be credited to passengers’ onboard accounts, with guests not required to visit the ship’s Shore Excursions or Guest Services desks to arrange the cancellations.

The cruise line has provided limited information about the precise nature of the engine problem or how long repairs could take.

“Our technical teams are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible,” Princess Cruises said.

There was no confirmation in the information provided to passengers that the problem would be resolved before Royal Princess completes the cruise on Saturday, 19th September.

Royal Princess is nevertheless expected to return to Seattle as scheduled, and no change has been announced for its following voyage. The ship is due to operate a 14-night one-way itinerary from Seattle to Tokyo that combines Alaska calls with a Pacific crossing.

Glacier Bay Visit Remains Unclear

Another significant part of the current itinerary is a scheduled scenic-cruising visit to Glacier Bay on Wednesday, 16th September.

Princess Cruises had not confirmed whether the engine-related speed restriction would affect that portion of the voyage. Unlike Juneau and Ketchikan, Glacier Bay had not been announced as cancelled in the itinerary changes communicated to passengers.

The disruption comes during the closing weeks of the 2026 Alaska cruise season and follows another recent technical problem involving a cruise ship operating in the region.

Royal Caribbean International cancelled Serenade of the Seas’ planned 30th August departure from Vancouver after the ship required urgent repairs and remained in port.

Princess Cruises has also previously dealt with propulsion-related itinerary disruption in Alaska. In July 2025, Ruby Princess experienced propulsion problems that resulted in changes to several port calls and the loss of scheduled scenic cruising.

For passengers currently aboard Royal Princess, the immediate impact is the loss of two of the cruise’s scheduled Alaska ports, with the vessel operating at a reduced speed while technical teams work on the engine issue.