Maintenance Forces Itinerary Change for Independence of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International has altered the itinerary of Independence of the Seas, canceling its planned call to Ålesund, Norway, due to ongoing maintenance work.

The ship, which is currently sailing from Southampton, England, was scheduled to visit Ålesund on July 1, 2025. However, a message sent to passengers confirmed that the change was necessary due to issues with the vessel’s propulsion system.

“Due to speed restrictions from ongoing maintenance onboard, we’ve had to make some adjustments,” Royal Caribbean said.

As a result, Independence of the Seas is now spending that day at sea. The company also noted an adjustment to another port of call: “Additionally, we’ll be arriving in Molde, Norway, one hour earlier than originally planned, so you’ll have extra time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer.”

The current voyage is a seven-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords, which began on June 29. The original itinerary included stops in Ålesund, Molde, Olden, and Haugesund, along with two sea days.

Royal Caribbean acknowledged the disruption and reassured guests that safety remains the top priority. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience. Please know that all maintenance work is being conducted with the utmost safety,” the cruise line stated.

Passengers received onboard credit as a goodwill gesture for the unexpected schedule change.

This is not the first itinerary adjustment linked to maintenance. Earlier in June, Independence of the Seas also experienced a delay in arriving at Rotterdam by two hours during an eight-night Northern Europe and Scandinavia cruise.

Built in 2007 at the Aker Yards in Turku, Finland, Independence of the Seas is the third vessel in Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class series. The ship accommodates up to 3,864 guests and is currently offering summer sailings from Southampton. In November, it will reposition to Miami to begin a season of seven-night Caribbean cruises from South Florida.