Royal Caribbean drops another popular port from multiple cruises
You might not expect to see this sought-after cruise port bypassed by Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
Ports of call can get removed from cruise itineraries for a number of reasons — from severe weather conditions to port scheduling conflicts or a change in a cruise line’s operational plans.
When an itinerary change must be made, cruise lines will typically swap the canceled port for another one, if possible. But even when a port gets replaced on a cruise itinerary, passengers are often disappointed to miss the chance to visit one of their planned destinations.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line ship pivots to avoid Hurricane Barbara
Royal Caribbean passengers booked on certain cruises to Alaska next summer just received that kind of inconvenient news about their sailings.
Although the cruise line is replacing the dropped port with appealing alternatives, and giving passengers plenty of notice, the destination is a staple on Alaska cruise itineraries. With lots of activities and excursions available in this port, it’s a sought-after destination for many travelers exploring the Last Frontier.
With the itinerary changes following shortly after city officials hiked next year’s docking fees for the port, concerns are growing about the future of Royal Caribbean cruises to the popular Alaska cruise destination.
Doug Parker shared details on Royal Caribbean’s growing rift with Alaska’s most-visited cruise port, and other cruise news including how Royal Caribbean honored a crew member for his heroic actions, on the June 11th edition of Cruise News Today.
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Royal Caribbean crew member receives hero award
Transcript:
This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning, here's your cruise news for Wednesday, June 11.
The Royal Caribbean waiter who helped guests move out of the way of fallen glass is now being recognized. As reported yesterday, Nitin Kumar noticed cracks forming in a large window above a lounging area and quickly warned passengers nearby, giving them just seconds to move before the glass shattered.
In recognition for his actions, Kumar received Royal Caribbean's Royal Way Hero Award, signed by Captain Hempstead. The award said in part, “Your courageous actions have made significant impact in the lives of our guests and crew, showcasing a commitment to excellence and integrity.”
Guests have praised Kumar's calm response, calling him a true hero at sea.
Related: Royal Caribbean crew member hailed as hero in scary ship accident
Royal Caribbean drops Juneau, Alaska from some sailings
And tensions between Royal Caribbean and the city of Juneau have escalated, leading to the cancellation of several port stops in Alaska's capital. Royal Caribbean recently dropped Juneau from a couple of upcoming cruises on Ovation of the Seas, impacting nearly 10,000 guests.
Now, though the cruise line cited port availability changes, the move does come just weeks after Juneau raised its docking fees, a long-planned change opposed by the cruise industry.
Related: Cruises to popular port may cost more as city hikes docking fees
Juneau is also trying to squash Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal planned on Douglas Island.
The ship will now call to alternates like Icy Strait Point, Sitka, and Ketchikan. It's unclear if more cancellations will follow this season.
Carnival Cruise Line sees success with food waste reduction plan
And Carnival Corporation says it has cut food waste by 44% in the past five years. The savings comes from its less leftover strategy, which includes smarter meal planning, crew training, using AI, and serving ‘just right’ portions.
Carnival says it has avoided over $250 million in food costs since 2019. The company also repurposes waste creatively, like turning coffee grounds into vegan soap and cooking oil into biofuel for Alaskan tour buses.
Now if they can just figure out how to turn onboard brawls into renewable energy.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line bans more passengers after another brawl
And cruise stocks were up slightly on Tuesday. Carnival Corporation: up 1.25%, 24.51. Royal Caribbean: up 1.5%, 269.70. Norwegian: flat, 19.74 and Viking: also flat, 48.75.
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Sailing in windy and chilly Alaska, heading south now towards Victoria, British Columbia, I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. Have yourself a great Wednesday.
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