Royal Caribbean International Suspends Sailings Through End of November

Royal Caribbean International just announced the suspension of sailings through the end of November 2020. Below is a sample email guest who were booked through November 30, 2020 will be receiving.

Dear Guest,

We hope that this email finds you healthy and safe and that with each passing day, we’re closer to getting back to a more regular day-to-day. While this is like nothing any of us have ever experienced, we continue to evaluate how it impacts our upcoming sailings.

As you know, this pandemic has been, and still is, quite fluid. Our most recent plan was to resume operation on October 31^st, 2020. However, to ensure we have ample time to focus on our healthy return to service initiatives, our global suspension has been extended through November 30^th, 2020, with a plan to resume operation on December 1^st, 2020. As a result, your sailing will unfortunately be cancelled.

We’re terribly sorry for the impact to your vacation. Despite the current circumstances, our primary goal continues to be a seamless healthy return to service. We’re so focused on welcoming our guests back, we’ve teamed up with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., and assembled the “Healthy Sail Panel” – a multifaceted team of globally recognized experts. The panel will work alongside our new Public Health & Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Calvin Johnson, and with their help our vision is to pioneer innovative ways to guide the cruise industry’s way forward in response to the pandemic. It goes without saying, we’re all in this together.

While we all wish we were cruising, we do have some options for you, including an option that has been very well received by our guests, as it provides a little something extra to use once we all start cruising again! Here are your options:

• 125% Future Cruise Credit: We’re providing you with a 125% Future Cruise Credit to book a new cruise by December 31, 2021 for sailings on or before April 30^th, 2022.
  • This amount is based on your total cruise fare paid. And, we’re giving you a little extra, knowing that this is such a unique circumstance.
  • We’ll automatically send your Future Cruise Credit via email by November 4^th, 2020. So, there’s nothing for you to do!
  • Taxes & fees and any RoyalUp upgrades will be automatically refunded. Current refund processing is around 45 days. We are working as quickly as possible, and we appreciate your patience.
  • Please note:
    • If you opted into the Cruise with Confidence 100% Future Cruise Credit, this offer does not apply.
    • And, if you previously used a Future Cruise Credit (including previous Global Suspension FCCs), you’ll receive a new Future Cruise Credit. This will be for 125% of any new monies paid on this sailing, plus the value of your original credit at 100% of its value, with an expiration date of December 31, 2021 and a sail by date of April 30, 2022.
    • If you were already impacted by a sailing that was previously cancelled due to a global suspension and paid additional monies on a new booking within this extended suspension period, you are still able to opt in to refund one or both cancelled bookings via the process below.
• Lift and Shift: If you prefer to move your existing booking to a sailing next year – we’re happy to move you! We will price protect the original pricing and/or promotion on the same itinerary, length, product, and stateroom category as your original sailing within 4 weeks (before or after) of the original sail date the following year. For example, if you are moving from a November 30, 2020 sailing, you can move to a sailing that is the same itinerary, length, product, and stateroom category, and the sail date between October 30, 2021 – December 30, 2021.
  • Please know, price protection covers your cruise fare/promotion on an applicable sailing only and excludes taxes and fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items, as these may change.
  • You must decide to move to a new sailing by October 16^th, 2020. If not, we will automatically issue you a Future Cruise Credit.
  • Complimentary Casino offers are not eligible for Lift & Shift.
• 100% Refund: Or, if you prefer a full refund, which is a lower value than the future cruise credit offer above, we’re happy to process this for you. Given how fluid this situation is, and the opportunity to use the extra credit being offered, you have until December 31, 2020 to request a refund and deactivate your certificate.
  • Please contact us to start the refund process, forfeiting the higher value of your 125% Future Cruise Credit.
    • To avoid waiting on the phone to cancel, click here and we will get the refund process started for you. Note: Please know, once we receive your refund request, we unfortunately won’t be able to accept an FCC request if you change your mind.
  • We’ll then deactivate your Future Cruise Credit and process your refund to your original form(s) of payment, which will include any non-refundable deposits.
  • You can expect to receive your refund 45 days after you submit your refund request.
  • Please note: If you used a Cruise with Confidence certificate on this sailing, and you request a refund instead, we’ll refund any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount, and we’ll reinstate your original Cruise with Confidence certificate.

And, a special option for those that also purchased Cruise Planner Items…

• You can opt-in to receive an Onboard Credit in the value of 125% of the total Cruise Planner purchases on your reservation.
  • Click here by October 16^th, 2020 to request your higher value credit and we’ll email you your credit by November 4^th, 2020.
• If we don’t hear from you on or before October 16^th, 2020, your Cruise Planner purchases will be automatically refunded. You’ll receive your refund within 45 days of your booking’s cancellation. We are working as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience during these unprecedented times.
• Also, if you opt for a cruise fare refund or for Lift and Shift, you are not be eligible for this Cruise Planner Onboard Credit offer.
• Questions about how the Cruise Planner credit works? Click here for more details.

Guests with air or hotel booked…

• Refundable air or hotel accommodations purchased through Royal Caribbean will be automatically refunded to you within 45 days after we process the cancellation.
• If you booked non-refundable air through Royal Caribbean or booked on your own, please contact the service provider directly for your options with them.

If you have any questions, please contact your Travel Advisor immediately or contact us at:

• 1 800 754 500 in Australia
• 0344 493 4005 in the U.K.
• 1 866 562 7625 in the U.S. or Canada
• All other countries, please visit http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contactusfor your local Royal Caribbean International office phone number.

We appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued loyalty. We will all come out of this stronger than ever. Stay healthy and safe. We miss our guests and we’ll be ready to welcome you back soon.

Sincerely,

Michael Bayley

President & CEO

Royal Caribbean International