RCI-Royal Caribbean has confirmed the resumption of sailings for the Radiance of the Seas ship after experiencing propulsion problems that led to the cancellation of two last-minute Alaskan voyages.
The cruise line recently informed guests booked for the September 15th sailing of the positive development, stating that their Marine technical team has given the green light for Radiance OTS to return to service, beginning with the September 15th sailing. They mentioned that repairs are wrapping up, and sea trial preparations are underway, confirming their ability to sail as intended.
Furthermore, RCI aimed to address any concerns about the ship's seaworthiness, explaining that seaworthiness was never in question; the propulsion issue only affected the ship's speed and its ability to reach ports on time.
The difficulties for the Radiance OTS began when the cruise line canceled the September 1st sailing after encountering propulsion problems, likely arising on the last night of the August 25th voyage in Seward Alaska. This ship employs two Azipods, multidirectional propulsion pods with 360-degree rotation capabilities, which have been the standard propulsion system for most of RCI's ships.
Affected customers of the September 1st and September 8th sailings are being provided with a full refund along with a future cruise credit applicable to sailings within a year. For the September 8th cancellation, Royal Caribbean is also offering reimbursement of non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, train tickets, or rental cars, up to $250 per guest for domestic travel or up to $500 per guest for international travel. The September 1st cancellation, unfortunately, occurred on the same day as the scheduled departure, causing inconvenience to many passengers who had already traveled to the port of departure.