Royal Caribbean to pull ship from Southampton
Royal Caribbean has pulled Independence of the Seas out of the UK for summer 2020 but has denied it was due to lack of demand.
Instead the cruise line is claiming its decision to reposition the 4,560-passenger ship to Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean sailings is due to ‘phenomenal demand’ from North America.
Independence of the Seas was due to sail from Southampton to Europe from May next year, alongside Anthem of the Seas.
Agents said they were shocked by the decision but were relieved Anthem was staying.
Royal Caribbean refused to disclose how many bookings it had taken for the ex-UK sailings.
Customers affected are being offered full refunds and future cruise credits for alternative sailings valued at 25% of what they had paid.
Those booked on transatlantic sailings will be offered an alternative sailing on Anthem of the Seas, along with onboard credit based on their category of cabin and the length of their cruise.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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