Royal Princess drops Alaska calls after technical issue limits speed
Princess Cruises outlined refunds and excursion credits after itinerary changes affecting Juneau and Ketchikan.
Royal Princess canceled planned visits to Juneau and Ketchikan after an engine-related technical issue restricted the vessel’s speed. Passengers were informed that the problem did not affect the safety of guests or crew but prevented the ship from maintaining the speed required for its scheduled itinerary.
The ship dropped its September 14 call at Juneau and scheduled a day at sea instead. It was then expected to proceed directly to Skagway for a planned 6 a.m. arrival on September 15. Royal Princess also removed Ketchikan from the itinerary and planned to sail directly to Victoria, British Columbia.
Princess Cruises told affected passengers they would receive a refund equivalent to 50% of their cruise fare. The company said the money would be returned to each guest’s original payment method within 10 to 15 business days.
Passengers who had reserved Princess shore excursions in Juneau or Ketchikan were also due to receive automatic credits to their onboard accounts. According to the company’s notice, guests did not need to visit the shore excursions or guest services desks to obtain those credits.
