Guests booked on select upcoming Alaska cruises received emails today informing them of a modification to their itinerary that will expedite their return.
The change was emailed to guests booked on select sailings. One such one is the June 22 sailing of Serenade of the Seas that sails roundtrip from Vancouver.
"To prevent any potential delays and ensure a timely arrival to Vancouver, British Columbia, we'll sail directly to Vancouver instead of having a second scenic cruising day," the email reads.
The phrase "scenic cruising day" refers to the Inside Passage, which is a stretch of land that offers guests the opportunity to sail within view of land. That potentially provides more sightings of animals, mountains, and flora.
Essentially, the ship will now sail directly to Vancouver, British Columbia, rather than spend a second day through the famed Inside Passage.
Read more: Alaska cruise guide
In addition to skipping the Inside Passage, the schedule has been modified in Ketchikan. The new arrival time is 11:30 a.m. with departure at 6:00 p.m., giving passengers a slightly shorter window to explore the port.
The letter to guests apologizes for the last-minute change but assures them that there's still ample time to enjoy the destination.
On Facebook, other cruisers shared they received similar emails.
"I just got a message about our cruise the week after - they are changing the arrival time to 9am and departure time to 5pm (also Ketchikan)," wrote one person.
Another added, "this was the update we got for June 8's sailing too."
In fact, here's a copy of the same email for the June 8th sailing and it will also do the same change.
Another person commented they got an email like this, but for a sailing in August, "I just got the same letter sent to me and we’re not going until August."
Why is the change happening
Royal Caribbean did not specify in any of the letters sent to guests why they are making the change specifically.
The email says it's about ensuring an on time arrival back in Vancouver.
There's no mention of a problem with the ship's propulsion, congestion in ports, or tight turnaround times back in Vancouver.
Skipping the Inside Passage means the ship can traverse less distance than going along the Inside Passage.
However, one advantage of the Inside Advantage over open ocean is sea conditions tend to be calmer near the coast.
The Inside Passage tends to be extremely calm, as these waters are protected and sheltered from the higher waves in the open Pacific waters.
Sailing the Inside Passage
The Alaska Inside Passage is a series of coastal waterways that weave through the Southeastern panhandle of Alaska.
It's one of the most common routes cruise ships take when they depart from Seattle or Vancouver, as it provides stops along Alaska's panhandle.
It spans 500 miles, and includes all of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia.
It's a lovely way to take in the views directly from the ship, including wildlife and landscape.
