Four sailings aboard Regal Princess have been adjusted allowing for engine repairs. As a result, the December 8, January 5, January 12, and January 19 departures have been modified. The Western Caribbean voyages from Galveston, Texas, vary in length—the shortest being the two 7-night sailings on Jan. 5 and 12.
Changes include canceled ports of call and overnight stays. Princess Cruises alerted passengers just days before the first impacted cruise was scheduled to depart.
“This adjustment will allow us the necessary time in port to complete critical preventative maintenance while ensuring the continued smooth operation of the ship," read an email sent to confirmed passengers.
Instead of calling at Costa Maya, Mexico, Princess informed guests the scheduled visit on the Dec. 8, Jan. 5, and Jan. 12 sailings has been canceled. The 142,714-gross registered ton Regal Princess will remain in Roatán, Honduras overnight.
Similarly, the 10-night Jan. 19 cruise will no longer visit Montego Bay, Jamaica. The port is being replaced by an overnight stay in Honduras.
According to Princess Cruises, the extra time in port will allow for necessary maintenance to be completed.
At this time, the December 16, 22, and 29 departures have not been altered.
Compensation
Booked passengers have been given the option to receive a full refund, including pre-purchased tours and air travel arranged through Princess.
Those who sail will receive a 20% future cruise credit that can be used for a future sailing on any Princess ship from any homeport, meaning they don't have to return to Texas for a Caribbean cruise.
Plus, Princess has decided to keep the casino open while docked in Roatán, rather than close it as is customary when in port.
“To enhance the extended visit in Roatán, the onboard casino will remain open during the overnight stay, offering guests gaming fun while docked,” Princess Cruises explained, “Guests can enjoy the thrill of the casino even as the ship rests in port, adding to the excitement of their vacation.”
Engine fire
The new itinerary adjustments follow a string of canceled cruises resulting from a small engine fire that occurred in late September. The subsequent power generator problems required the 10-year-old vessel to be removed from service to undergo repairs.
As such, the Oct. 27, Nov. 3, and Nov. 10 cruises were canceled. Though Princess seemed confident the ship was ready to resume service following two weeks of maintenance, additional problems meant the Nov. 10 voyage was also canceled. The Royal Class cruise ship welcomed passengers back onboard on November 17.
"We're reaching out with an important update about your upcoming Regal Princess cruise departing from Galveston on Sunday, November 17. We're pleased to share that essential repairs on the ship have been successfully completed, and we are ready to welcome you aboard for your voyage...[R]est assured that Regal Princess is now fully operational, and we are ready to sail," said Princess Cruises in a statement emailed to booked guests.
Regal Princess is scheduled to remain in Texas through April 2025. Following a 14-day transatlantic cruise, she'll offer sailings out of Southampton, England, to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and France, before returning to Texas in October.
The 3,560-passenger vessel won't return to Europe in 2026. Instead, she'll be repositioned to Fort Lauderdale.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
