Royal Caribbean International is rerouting its nine-month world cruise amid continued attacks in the Red Sea.
The company's Ultimate World Cruise, currently underway on its ship Serenade of the Seas, was scheduled to transit the Suez Canal in May. The ship will now sail on one of two alternative routes and passengers will be given a say.
“Following our guests' sense of adventure, we are asking for their thoughts and preferences on which of two alternative itineraries to take them on an epic adventure to Africa,” a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told USA TODAY in an email. told USA TODAY. “They will receive compensation for the adjustments, and guests who choose not to sail on the updated itinerary will receive a full refund and assistance with travel arrangements.”
A spokesperson did not immediately respond to further questions about how much passengers would be compensated.
The news comes as luxury cruise line Crystal also made similar changes to avoid the Red Sea, canceling its March 27 cruise on Crystal Symphony from Mumbai to Piraeus. The line will also reroute multiple legs of Crystal Serenity's 2024 World Her cruise, but the sailing distance and her June 8 end date will remain the same.
“We are in the process of notifying all affected guests on both ships,” Crystal said in a statement Friday. “We are very grateful to our guests and staff for their understanding and patience during this process.”
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The Iran-backed Houthis have launched repeated attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea during the Israel-Hamas war. Yemen-based militants say they are showing solidarity with the Palestinians, but experts say there is more to their motives than that.
A number of other lines, including Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises and Silversea Cruises, have also recently canceled or rerouted sailings away from the region.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.