Some guests on an upcoming sailing on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship received an email their cruise has been cancelled because there aren't enough safe lifeboats on the ship.
Guests booked on the September 15 sailing of Rhapsody of the Seas received an email from the cruise line informing them their cruise has been cancelled.
As first reported by Cruise Industry News, Royal Caribbean sent an email that explains reservations have been cancelled because of damage to a lifeboat.
"On our previous sailing, there was damage to one of our tender boats, which also serves as a lifeboat," the email reads.
"This leaves the ship over capacity for the number of available lifeboat seats in the event of an emergency in our next sailing. Unfortunately, this means we’ll be unable to welcome you onboard."
Rhapsody of the Seas is scheduled to sail a 7-night cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico to the Southern Caribbean.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international convention and requirement that all passengers ships have to abide by. It establishes all passengers know what to do in case of an emergency, and it requires that every soul onboard have a seat on a lifeboat.
Each lifeboat has a finite capacity, and it's a very strict rule. A Captain that tried to sail a passenger vessel out of compliance with SOLAS would likely have their master's license under review as soon as it was discovered.
As a result of the cancellation, guests booked onboard will receive a full refund.
Royal Caribbean will issue a Future Cruise Credit equal to the total amount paid for the canceled cruise, valid until September 13, 2025.
Additionally, they will cover non-refundable transportation costs, such as flights or rental cars, that were impacted by the cancellation. Passengers must submit receipts to receive compensation of up to $200 per guest for domestic travel changes or up to $400 per guest for international changes.
Conflicting information
Guests booked on the September 15 sailing reported in a Facebook group dedicated for the sailing conflicting reports of if the cruise is actually cancelled or not.
Carrie Lanford posted, "Just got off the phone with agent and was told entire cruise ship is cancelled."
But Tina Oliver wrote, "I called and the agent said I'm good to go. Sounds like the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. I guess I'll just find out on Sunday."
Anna Ulmer added, "I am muster 16 and did not receive an email. I contacted Royal and they confirmed my reservation."
Lyndsey Percle also posted she did not receive a cancellation notice, "We are also Muster 15 and haven’t received any cancellation email."
Lifeboat requirements
The regulations related to cruise ship lifeboats are quite clear.
- Ships must have partially or totally enclosed lifeboats, for 50% of the total capacity of people onboard, at each side (total capacity for 100%).
- Rigid or inflatable life craft must make up at least 25% of the ship’s total capacity.
This means a cruise ship must have lifeboats/rafts for at least 125% of the ship’s total capacity, but often that minimum is exceeded.
SOLAS was implanted right after the Titanic disaster of 1912. The sinking of that ship exposed a major problem with the lack of lifeboats.
As a result, in 1914 SOLAS was drafted a result of that incident.
SOLAS requirements have been updated since then, which include the modern rules for lifeboats.
