Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas Faces Port Cancellation Due to Delays
Guests planning to embark on Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas have received an update regarding their delayed cruise. The notification confirms that the 5-night voyage will miss a port of call, but details compensation for the inconvenience.
Travelers scheduled to sail on Saturday, July 13, 2024, were previously informed that Mariner of the Seas would be delayed arriving in Galveston due to a medical emergency requiring a significant backtrack towards Cozumel.
New embarkation details have been provided, including adjusted arrival times and itinerary changes.
“Due to a delay in our previous sailing, Mariner of the Seas will be arriving to the pier later than originally planned. We kindly ask that you arrive according to the new adjusted arrival windows,” the email notification confirmed. “Arriving to the terminal earlier than your adjusted time will result in you being turned away until your new time.”
Arrival times have been shifted by 5-7 hours, depending on the original schedule. For example, guests who were to arrive at 10:30 a.m. should now arrive at 5:30 p.m. Those with 2-2:30 p.m. slots should now come at 7:30 p.m. Guests booked in suites, Pinnacle-level loyalty members, and those who have purchased The Key may arrive anytime after 5:30 p.m.
This new schedule allows enough time for disembarking guests and parking turnover, as well as for the ship’s crew to clean and sanitize the vessel before new passengers board.
All guests must be checked in and onboard by 8 p.m. for the ship’s departure at 9 p.m., originally set for 4 p.m.
If guests are flying to Galveston with airfare or airport transfers through Royal Caribbean International, their schedules will be automatically adjusted. Additionally, the cruise line will reimburse travelers up to $200 for domestic travel changes and $400 for international changes if necessary.
Costa Maya Port Now Cancelled
The delay affects more than just the embarkation time. The ship will also miss a scheduled port of call on the 5-night cruise.
“As a result of our delayed departure, we’ll now skip our visit to Costa Maya, Mexico and enjoy a Sea Day instead,” the email explained.
The ship was scheduled to visit Costa Maya on Monday, July 15, but the delay makes it impossible to arrive on time. The visit to Cozumel on Tuesday, July 16, remains unaffected, with the ship docked from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. as originally planned.
Read Also: 20 Best Cozumel Excursions for Your Next Cruise Vacation
Shore tours booked for Costa Maya through Royal Caribbean International will be automatically canceled and refunded to guests’ onboard accounts.
Additionally, the cruise line is providing $50 of onboard credit to each guest, added to their accounts as a gesture of goodwill for the delay.
The 139,863-gross-ton, Voyager-class Mariner of the Seas accommodates 3,114 guests at double occupancy, or up to 3,807 travelers when fully booked. It also has 1,185 international crew members dedicated to ensuring a memorable vacation, despite any challenges.
