Royal Caribbean International has notified guests booked on multiple sailings of Brilliance of the Seas in April and May 2025 about cancellations due to changes in the ship’s dry dock schedule.
The 22-year-old vessel was originally slated for significant updates during this period but will now enter dry dock earlier than anticipated. As a result, several voyages have been canceled to accommodate these adjustments.
One of the most affected voyages was the ship’s transatlantic journey departing from Miami, Florida on April 12, 2025. This 15-night cruise was set to visit the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Azores, Portugal, and Spain, concluding in Portsmouth, UK on April 27 before the ship’s planned removal from service.
In response to the cancellations, Royal Caribbean is offering affected guests several alternatives. Options include rebooking on Brilliance of the Seas’ revised transatlantic voyage departing from Miami on April 7, which is now a 14-night itinerary excluding stops in the Bahamas and Bermuda. The journey will still include Ponta Delgada in the Azores but will conclude in Barcelona instead of Portsmouth.
Alternatively, guests may choose transatlantic sailings from Miami to Barcelona aboard Allure of the Seas (departing February 10) or Explorer of the Seas (departing April 30).
Royal Caribbean is providing flexibility by allowing impacted guests to rebook on any other sailing within their fleet without incurring deposit change fees or penalties. Specific compensation details, such as onboard credit, fare protection, and additional options, vary based on the original booking and stateroom type.
Additional adjustments may be required for the ship’s preceding cruise, a 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary from New Orleans, which was scheduled to return on April 10.
The cruise line has not disclosed specific reasons for advancing Brilliance of the Seas’ dry dock dates, citing routine maintenance and enhancements as the primary motives. Previous propulsion issues in the South Pacific necessitated temporary repairs, and this dry dock period may address more permanent solutions.
Updates regarding the exact enhancements planned for Brilliance of the Seas, which last underwent a major refit in 2013, have not yet been announced. Originally launched in 2002, the ship accommodates up to 2,543 travelers at full capacity and continues to undergo regular maintenance updates.
For more information: Royal Caribbean Ships by Age – Newest to Oldest
