Anthem of the Seas Delayed Returning to Sydney After Issue

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas cruise ship at sea
Oceania Cruise Industry
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Updated Published

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas is heading back to Australia at reduced speed following a technical issue that affected the ship during a cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

The vessel was initially due to arrive in Sydney this morning, but the revised schedule now puts arrival in the late afternoon. In a letter to guests, the cruise line said a technical problem “has impacted the speed,” with the ship now expected to reach Sydney at around 4:00 PM.

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused by this change,” the message said, noting that the captain had already informed guests about the delay.

To minimize disruption for passengers with onward travel plans, Royal Caribbean outlined a range of support measures.

Guests who booked flights through the cruise line’s Air2Sea program were advised that their flights would be rebooked automatically, with updated details sent by email. Passengers who arranged their own flights were encouraged to contact their airlines directly.

For those departing from Sydney Airport, Royal Caribbean recommended rescheduling flights to no earlier than 8:00 PM, based on the ship’s revised arrival time.

The cruise line also detailed reimbursement options for certain travel-related costs:

  • Transportation change fees covered up to $200 USD per person for domestic travel and $400 USD per person for international travel
  • One night of hotel accommodation covered up to $250 USD per stateroom, if required

Guests were instructed to email receipts to RoyalGuestRelations@rccl.com for reimbursement consideration, including their booking number, ship name, and sailing date.

Acknowledging that many passengers may need to contact family members, hotels, or airlines, Royal Caribbean said phones would be available at Guest Services. Guests without an internet package will also receive a voucher for 120 minutes of complimentary internet per stateroom through the ship’s app.

In addition, the cruise line confirmed that beverage and internet packages will remain active until debarkation due to the delayed arrival.

The delay is expected to affect subsequent sailings. Royal Caribbean confirmed that the ship’s next scheduled 10-day cruise to New Zealand has been cancelled.

Anthem of the Seas continues its journey toward Sydney at reduced speed as Royal Caribbean addresses the technical issue and finalizes guest arrangements.