Passengers due to sail on a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise were left scrambling after the company abruptly cancelled the voyage, blaming ongoing technical problems with the ship. The seven-night trip aboard Serenade of the Seas, due to depart Vancouver on 30 August, had already been delayed once for maintenance before being called off entirely roughly two days after guests had boarded, leaving many needing to arrange their own flights home.

Royal Caribbean said repairs, first flagged on 22 August, were not finished in time, and the ship ultimately never left port. Affected passengers are being offered a full refund, retained onboard credit, a future cruise credit worth 100% of their fare, and reimbursement of eligible flight-change fees. Serenade of the Seas, which holds around 2,143 guests, has faced repeated technical issues in recent years, including engine trouble in July 2025 and problems in June 2025 that cut short scenic stops. Some passengers vented frustration on Reddit, describing the experience as an "immense disappointment" and a "disaster", while others expressed sympathy or unease about booking future sailings with the line.