Some passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship were very upset after a last-minute itinerary change was announced for their Alaska cruise.
While sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, a group gathered at Guest Services to complain about the fact their scheduled visit to Hubbard Glacier would be cancelled. The massive tidewater glacier is considered one of the biggest highlights on many Alaska cruise itineraries.
Videos and photos shared on social media show guests gathering outside of Guest Services while chanting, “We want Hubbard!” Some passengers were also seen holding handmade signs expressing frustration over the last-minute itinerary change. According to the post, it resembled a protest.
Ovation of the Seas was sailing a 7-night, one-way Alaska cruise from Vancouver to Seward on the affected itinerary. The itinerary departed Vancouver on May 15, 2026, with stops in Ketchikan, Sitka, and Skagway before the scheduled scenic cruising visit to Hubbard Glacier on May 21, 2026. The voyage was originally expected to end in Seward on May 22, 2026, but the itinerary was rerouted last-minute to disembark in Whittier, Alaska instead.
According to a post shared in a Royal Caribbean Facebook group, the captain announced the cancellation of Hubbard Glacier on the second-to-last day of the cruise.
The guest shared, “JUST REPORTING: Protests currently on Ovation of the Seas at guest services Alaska bound. Chants saying ‘We Want Hubbard’ after the highlight of the trip (Hubbard Glacier) was cancelled at last minute.”
Passengers said the cancellation was tied to Ovation of the Seas finishing the cruise in Whittier instead of Seward following ongoing delays with Seward’s new cruise terminal project.
The post continued, “The captain announced on the second to last day that the glacier had to be cancelled on the itinerary. Originally the ship was suppose to end in Seward, Alaska but on the night before the ship left, it was switched to Whittier, Alaska due to port repairs.”
The same post said guests were told operational constraints and timing requirements into Whittier played a role in the decision.
“The captain now announced there is too much traffic in Whittier because the passage is so narrow and the ship would now have to arrive there at 1am. Some passengers claim crew members told them that they knew in advance that Hubbard Glacier [would be canceled]…adding to frustration. That claim was not confirmed by the captain or any [Royal Caribbean] spokesperson however.”
Hubbard Glacier is a major highlight for many Alaska cruisers
The backlash from passengers onboard Ovation of the Seas undoubtedly reflects how significant Hubbard Glacier is for many Alaska travelers. In fact, Hubbard Glacier is one of Alaska’s most iconic cruise destinations, and for many guests, glacier viewing days are among the biggest highlights of taking an Alaska cruise.
Located within Disenchantment Bay near Yakutat, the massive tidewater glacier stretches roughly 76 miles from its source. Hubbard Glacier is known for having dramatic ice calving events, where large chunks of ice break away and crash into the water below.
Unlike a traditional port stop, Hubbard Glacier is a scenic cruising destination where ships slowly sail into Disenchantment Bay. Most cruise ships will typically spend several hours scenic cruising near the glacier, which gives passengers time to watch wildlife, photograph the glacier, and enjoy close-up views from open decks and balconies.
Passengers onboard Ovation of the Seas echoed this disappointment online, with several people describing the missed glacier visit as one of the most frustrating aspects of the sailing.
Additionally, most of Royal Caribbean's Alaska itineraries that include Hubbard Glacier operate as one-way sailings between Vancouver and Seward. This means travelers often pay more for multi-city airfare and land tours compared to traditional round-trip sailings from Vancouver.
“Incredibly frustrating. Myself and thousands of other passengers paid significant premiums to fly home from Anchorage vs a round-trip to Vancouver. The compensation doesn’t come even close to addressing this and the crew seems powerless to make things right. A future cruise discount would go a long way to making this a win-win for both passengers and RCL who would get significant future business,” shared one passenger on Reddit.
Others noted the sailing had already experienced disruptions earlier in the voyage, including delays related to immigration processing and operational requirements after the ship repositioned from Asia.
“Onboard now as well, a bit of a bummer, but fortunately on the B2B which doesn’t seem to be impacted yet. This sailing has had a few hiccups - the ship came from Tokyo to Vancouver, and the crew did not clear immigration until they reached Ketchikan + had a coast guard drill - which is why we were delayed leaving by almost 2.5hrs.”
Passengers speculate mechanical issues may have played a role
In addition to frustration surrounding the cancellation of Hubbard Glacier, some passengers mentioned that Ovation of the Seas seems to be sailing at a reduced speed, which could have contributed to the itinerary change.
It's important to note that Royal Caribbean has not confirmed any propulsion issues, and the cruise line has not linked mechanical concerns to the itinerary change. However, one passenger onboard claimed the captain previously mentioned speed restrictions earlier in the sailing.
“The other issue - and the main reason we’re missing the Hubbard Glacier - is because the ship is down 1 or 2 engines (I know the captain mentioned at least 1 on the first day). As such, the ship is still safe and functional, but (from my understanding) can’t reach its full speed - making it difficult to reach the glacier in time,” shared the guest.
“Because of logistics, they want to dock in Whittier around 1am, to ensure luggage and supplies are offloaded/loaded for the turnaround, which gives them even less time. This also subsequently caused the delay into Sitka combined with leaving Ketchikan late,” the post continued.
Other passengers aboard Ovation of the Seas referenced other maintenance issues onboard, including elevators being reportedly out of service during the voyage. However, at this point, any engine-related explanation remains passenger speculation.
Guest Services reportedly remained packed after announcement
As news spread across the ship about Hubbard Glacier being canceled, passengers reported large crowds of angry guests outside of Guest Services. One passenger wrote, “I briefly heard a ‘WE WANT HUBBARD’ chant after dinner, line at guest services was packed.”
Others described long lines continuing throughout the evening as guests sought clarification and asked whether additional compensation would be offered. One guest shared on Reddit, “I heard [the chant] as well! Seems like the line at guest services has been packed non-stop. I’m curious to see if they go beyond the onboard credit they automatically issued to everyone today."
Cruisers said that Royal Caribbean automatically issued onboard credit compensation following the cancellation. According to detailed shared online, compensation reportedly included:
Inside and ocean view staterooms: $150 onboard credit
Balcony cabins: $200 onboard credit
Suites: $400 onboard credit
Third and fourth guests: $25 each
Guests indicated the credits appeared automatically without requiring visits to Guest Services. Despite the automatic credit, many guests still reportedly visited Guest Services to voice their frustrations and ask for additional compensation.
Seward construction delays continue impacting Alaska sailings
The Hubbard Glacier cancellation comes as multiple Alaska sailings adjust to disruptions caused by delays at Seward’s new cruise terminal project.
Seward’s highly anticipated “Port of Tomorrow” redevelopment was originally expected to welcome cruise passengers beginning May 14, 2026. However, officials later delayed the opening until May 22, 2026 after inspections identified remaining pile clusters that needed to be removed before larger ships could safely use the facilities.
As a result of the delay, affected ships temporarily shifted operations from Seward to nearby Whittier. Although the two ports are less than 90 miles apart by road, the change still created transportation challenges for passengers with independent plans.
Because many Alaska cruise passengers extend their vacations with land tours before or after sailing, the last-minute swap created a logistical headache for thousands of passengers. For instance, many travelers had already arranged Alaska Railroad tickets departing and post-cruise hotel stays.
Royal Caribbean previously stated guests booked on cruise tours would continue seamlessly, with train service and transfers automatically adjusted where applicable. Shore excursions and cruise-line transportation were also updated to reflect the temporary move to Whittier.
However, travelers who booked independently faced a more complicated situation.
For example, one passenger previously shared that they had already reserved Alaska Railroad tickets from Seward to Anchorage, booked hotels in Seward, and arranged private excursions before learning their cruise would now end in Whittier instead.
Ovation of the Seas was not the only ship impacted
Ovation of the Seas was one of several ships impacted by the temporary Seward closure and subsequent move to Whittier, alongside Silver Moon, Celebrity Summit, and Viking Venus. The Quantum Class vessel is scheduled to operate one-way Alaska itineraries between Vancouver and Seward throughout the summer.
The disruption stems from Seward’s massive $137 million redevelopment project, which aims to modernize the city’s aging cruise infrastructure and prepare for larger vessels in future Alaska seasons.
The project includes a new floating double-berth pier, upgraded transportation areas, expanded bus operations, and a new 41,500-square-foot cruise terminal designed to handle increasing passenger volume.
Royal Caribbean Group has been one of the project’s key partners and is expected to receive preferential berthing access once the facility opens, although the terminal will continue serving multiple cruise lines.
