Princess Cruises has announced the last-minute cancellation of the Regal Princess for the October 27 sailing from Galveston, citing unforeseen technical work needed onboard.
This includes 3500 new embarking passengers and 100 guests scheduled for a back-to-back sailing. Guests were told of the cancellation late Friday evening.
Regal Princess Cancellation Letter
A travel agent with guests booked on the October 27 sailing of Regal Princess sent Cruise Radio an email from the cruise line:
We deeply regret to inform you that due to unforeseen technical work needed for Regal Princess, we must cancel your client’s upcoming voyage. All guests will receive a full refund of all money paid to Princess.
They will also receive a Future Cruise Credit of 25% of the base fare paid, which may be used for bookings made by May 31, 2025 and sailing by May 31, 2026.
The scheduled itinerary included a seven-night voyage through the Western Caribbean, with stops in Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatán, Honduras.
Guest Reaction for Cancellation
Two passengers who flew in from Canada on Friday night emailed Cruise Radio to tell us their voyage had been canceled after they had spent 15 hours getting to the port from eastern Canada.
Regal Princess repositioned from Southampton, England, late last month and is set to kick off a winter series of Caribbean cruises from Galveston. The October 27 voyage was set to mark the start of its new season in Texas.
Compensation from Princess Cruises
As stated in the letter, Princess Cruises has offered all impacted guests a full refund and a 25% Future Cruise Credit (FCC), applicable to bookings made by May 31, 2025, and usable on cruises departing through May 31, 2026.
Additionally, the line will cover airfare change fees of up to $200 for guests who booked flights independently, while flights reserved through Princess EZair will be automatically canceled and refunded.
Read More: How to Use a Future Cruise Credit
Although the exact technical issues causing the cancellation have not been detailed, multiple guests told Cruise Radio that Regal Princess experienced a series of issues during its recent transatlantic crossing.
Travel insurance would play a pivotal role in a story like this, considering the cancellation of the cruise and flight changes.
The next Regal Princess cruise, scheduled for November 3, remains on track.
The vessel will continue to sail the Caribbean through early April 2025, when it will reposition back to Southampton for British Isle cruises. The 142,229-gross registered ton ship entered service in May 2014 and last dry docked in 2022.
