This Popular Cruise Line Just Canceled Several Upcoming Sailings in the U.S. — Here’s Why
“Guests and travel partners have been contacted directly,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE of the itinerary changes
Credit: Getty
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Royal Caribbean is adjusting 2027 itineraries for Navigator and Ovation of the Seas: canceling U.S. sailings in order to expand in the Asia-Pacific region instead
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Navigator will sail year-round in Asia through October 2027 while Ovation will offer trips from Brisbane, Australia in late 2027
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Guests who had already booked the U.S. trips have been have been given the opportunity to book alternative sailings
Royal Caribbean has canceled a number of sailings to make way for itinerary changes in its 2027 cruise season.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the cruise line confirmed changes have been made to planned sailings on its Navigator and Ovation of the Seas ships for 2027. The "adjustments" are tied to the company's expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, which was announced in an Aug. 12 press release .
"Royal Caribbean is committed to providing the best vacation experiences. This process includes making updates to itineraries, as necessary, to accommodate scheduling, port agreements, and other operational considerations," the statement added.
Royal Caribbean's 'Ovation of the Seas' Credit: James D. Morgan/Getty
The impacted ships were originally supposed to depart from Los Angeles and make stops in Mexico throughout 2027, according to data shared by CruiseMapper for Navigator and Ovation .
As a result of the ships being redeployed to the new region, Royal Caribbean confirms "guests and travel partners" whose booked trips were cancelled "have been contacted directly"."
As outlined in the release, Ovation of the Seas will now be offering voyages from Brisbane, Australia in the 2027-2028 season. These include 4-night getaways to Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday Islands, as well as "3- to 8-night adventures" beginning November 2027.
Meanwhile, Navigator of the Seas will now call Asia home year-round starting October 2026 through October 2027. The ship will host "2- to 5-night getaways" around Southeast Asia, including stops in Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.
Navigator will also offer an "immersive 12-night sailing" from Tokyo to Singapore, according to the release. Bookings for these new sailings on both Navigator and Ovation opened to guests on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Interior shot of Royal Caribbean's 'Navigator of the Seas' Credit: Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty
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In March, Royal Caribbean canceled more than 20 cruises set to depart on the Freedom of the Seas in the summer of 2027 due to the company's "ongoing itinerary planning process," PEOPLE previously reported.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time, Royal Caribbean explained, "Deployment planning is dynamic and regularly reviewed based on demand, capacity requirements, and broader fleet considerations."
The cruise line continued, "As part of this process, we've made the decision to redeploy Freedom of the Seas to Southampton in 2027. Guests and travel partners are being contacted directly with details about their sailings and available options."
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