Due to continued conflict in the Red Sea, Royal Caribbean International is changing the itinerary of the third segment of its 274-night Ultimate World Cruise aboard Serenade of the Seas and in an unprecedented move by a cruise line, guests are being given the opportunity to vote on the changes to their itinerary and ports of call.
The changes to the itinerary are affecting three sections of the world cruise–the 18-night “Ultimate Jordan, Egypt & Israel” portion from May 9 through May 27, the 11-night “Ultimate Bulgaria, Romania & Turkey” portion from May 27 through June 7, and the 13-night “Ultimate Greece, Turkey & Italy” portion from June 7 through June 20.
In a statement released by the cruise line, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said, “As we’ve continued to monitor what is taking place in and around the Red Sea for the safety of our guests and crew, we have made the decision to adjust plans for Serenade of the Seas’ transit through the Suez Canal this May.”
“In keeping with the adventurous spirit of our guests, we are engaging them for their thoughts and preference between two alternative itineraries that will take them on an epic adventure to Africa. They will receive compensation for the adjustment, and guests who prefer to not sail on the updated itinerary will receive a full refund and support for their travel arrangements.”
Guests are being given two options on which to vote: “Immersive Africa” or “Africa & Greece.” Each itinerary will follow the same route around the southern and western coasts of Africa through the Strait of Gibraltar then into the Mediterranean, but the ports of call and experiences are very different.
“Immersive Africa” features 20 ports of call and 21 days at sea from May 9 through June 20. Guests will visit Dubai, UAE; Victoria and La Digue Island, Seychelles; Diego Suarez, Madagascar; Port Louis, Mauritius; Pointe Des Galets, Reunion Island; Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay and overnight in Cape Town, South Africa; Luderitz and Walvis Bay, Namibia; Luanda, Angola; Takoradi, Ghana; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Dakar, Senegal; Tenerife, the Canary Islands; Gibraltar, United Kingdom; Corfu, Greece; and Bari and Ravenna, Italy. Royal Caribbean is calling this option the “scenic route.”
“Africa & Greece” cruises around Africa much quicker and is being called the “highway.” This itinerary begins the same with an embarkation from Dubai, UAE followed by 4 seas days before arriving in Victoria, Seychelles. Here is where the itineraries begin to differ. After 6 sea days, guests will enjoy an overnight stay in Cape Town, South Africa, followed by 9 more sea days before stopping in the Canary Islands. 5 more sea days brings guests to Istanbul, Turkey; an overnight stay in Alexandria, Egypt; Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Chania, Olympia and Corfu, Greece; and Bari and Ravenna, Italy. This itinerary has 26 sea days in total.
Guest onboard the Ultimate World Cruise are able to submit questions through Tuesday, February 20th and join in on a webinar with the corporate office on Wednesday, February 21st. All passengers then have six days to vote with the winning itinerary to be announced on Tuesday, February 27th.