Royal Caribbean continues to cancel popular shore excursions. What is the reason?
Cruise travelers hoping to enjoy the various features and activities of the famous Blue Lagoon in the Bahamas will not be able to book shore excursions through Royal Caribbean International for several more weeks. The reason is that the cruise line has not yet completed the investigation into the incident that occurred in November 2023.
It's about the case of a ferry sinking on its way to the Blue Lagoon. That's why the cruise line is canceling even more tours," the Cruisehive website reports.
"We continue to work with authorities to assess the boat incident that occurred during a shore excursion in Nassau, Bahamas, late last year," the email explains. - "As our investigation continues, we have decided to cancel all Blue Lagoon tours through March.
Guests who have already booked Blue Lagoon tours through a cruise line will automatically receive a full refund in the form of their original form of payment. These refunds will be processed within 14 business days, although different financial institutions may have different processing times.
Although no cruise line recommends visiting the Blue Lagoon, travelers can still organize a trip on their own as the facility has fully opened and offers visitors an amazing experience.
All cruise lines regularly evaluate the shore tours they offer for easy onboard booking, taking into account the variety of experiences, safety considerations, and other factors before offering tours for booking. Each cruise line may offer different tours that they believe are the best options for their guests.
From February 9 to the end of March, more than 70 Royal Caribbean ships are scheduled to call on Nassau, including visits from Allure of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and other ships. While these ships are still scheduled to visit Nassau, tours to the Blue Lagoon will not be available for booking through the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean International first suspended tours immediately after the incident and extended this suspension several times while the investigation continues.
What can guests do in Nassau?
Optional shore excursions in Nassau are available, including options such as snorkeling, shopping, visiting historical sites, beach breaks, visiting a chocolate factory or rum distillery, gastronomic tours, and much more.
Guests can book available excursions online or through the Royal Caribbean app prior to the cruise, as well as through the app or by contacting the guest services desk on board their ship.
Guests can also get off the ship to explore the city on their own, visit the famous Straw Market, enjoy the new Junkanoo Museum in the renovated cruise port, climb the Royal Staircase, or otherwise enjoy what Nassau has to offer.
However, travelers should be aware of their surroundings and stay safe during their explorations, given the heightened level of danger for travel to Nassau due to increased crime and other security concerns. The Level 2 travel advisory specifically notes that water activities require extra caution.
No cruise lines have suspended sailings to Nassau at this time, but all travelers are always advised to exercise caution when going ashore at any port of call, regardless of the level of warning or other cautionary statements. If guests don't feel comfortable ashore, there are always activities on board the ship to enjoy during a port day, with the bonus of smaller crowds as other guests have gone on excursions.
