Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas has returned to Vancouver just two hours after setting sail on what was supposed to be a 7-night Alaska cruise, with guests still onboard and uncertainty clouding the rest of the voyage.
The ship had departed Sunday evening for a scenic Inside Passage itinerary but was back at the dock within hours.
Passengers noted engine-related trouble, though onboard systems unrelated to propulsion remain fully operational.
No injuries or safety concerns have been reported, and guests have not been permitted to leave the vessel.
This marks the second consecutive sailing where Serenade of the Seas has faced propulsion problems.
On its previous cruise, technical limitations forced the cancellation of both a scheduled port call at Icy Strait Point and a day of scenic cruising.
While the cruise line acknowledged “speed restrictions from a technical issue” at the time, no specific mechanical details were disclosed.
Impact on Itinerary Now Confirmed
The ship had been scheduled to call in Sitka, Alaska, on Tuesday 8th July.
However the ship only managed to start sailing at around 6.30 pm local time on Monday 7th July, meaning that the Sitka port visit had to be cancelled.
The rest of the itinerary remains intact, although with some timing adjustments. The visit to Juneau on 9th July has been extended to 9 pm, while the Ketchikan visit on 10th July has been shortened by an hour – arriving 30 minutes later than planned at 3pm, and departing 30 minutes earlier, now at 9.30pm.
The same change has been made to the call at Prince Rupert on 11th July, with the ship now arriving at 7.30 am and leaving at 4.30 pm.
While unexpected problems can happen, this latest setback has sparked comparisons to past incidents aboard Radiance of the Seas, a sister ship that suffered repeated engine issues in 2024, culminating in a last-minute cruise cancellation after passengers had already boarded.
At just over 90,000 gross tons, Serenade of the Seas is one of the smaller ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, accommodating around 2,500 passengers.
The vessel has spent much of the year tied to the line’s ambitious Ultimate World Cruise, but is also deployed for seasonal Alaska itineraries during the summer months.
As of Monday afternoon, the ship remains docked in Vancouver. It is unclear whether the sailing will proceed on a revised schedule or face further disruption.
Guests booked on upcoming cruises will be watching closely to see if the issue proves persistent or is resolved in short order.
More updates will follow once Royal Caribbean confirms the next steps for the voyage.
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