Royal Caribbean Shuffles the Rulebook as Explora Steers Clear of the Red Sea

Royal Caribbean's September 13 news round-up carries two reversals worth relaying before your next quote. The line has reinstated the Deluxe Beverage Package exemption for a non-drinking adult sharing a cabin with a package purchaser — a benefit pulled about a year ago — but approval is now stricter, and the line warns of major penalties for misuse, so document the request rather than assume blanket eligibility. Separately, Royal Caribbean has revived Double Crown & Anchor Society points on new bookings, worth flagging to loyalty-driven repeat clients chasing tier status. The line notes two changes to this promotion's rules versus its prior run, so confirm current terms — booking windows and eligible sailings — before promising points to anyone holding out for tier credit.

• Beverage package exemption reinstated for non-drinking adults sharing a cabin — approval now stricter, penalties for misuse
• Double Points promotion revived on new bookings — verify updated rules before quoting

Royal Caribbean is cancelling and refunding Port Day Casita reservations booked at glitched prices across all three Icon-class ships — Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and Legend of the Seas — rather than honoring them. Affected guests reportedly booked casitas as low as $120 that the line has since rebooked at $384. This is a fleet-wide correction, not a single-ship error, so any client holding a suspiciously low casita confirmation on an Icon-class sailing should expect a cancellation and refund rather than an honored rate. Use this as a reminder to clients that unusually low onboard add-on pricing is far more likely a system glitch than a genuine sale, and that a confirmation email doesn't guarantee the price holds. Be ready to help affected clients rebook at current rates or pivot to an alternative onboard experience.

Explora Journeys is pulling both Explora I and Explora V entirely out of previously sold Middle East and Red Sea itineraries for the 2027-28 season, redeploying the pair into South America and Mediterranean programs instead. The move is driven by the ongoing regional conflict, not a routine scheduling tweak, and it touches sailings clients may have booked more than a year in advance. Advisors with clients holding Middle East or Red Sea reservations on either ship should reach out now — the line isn't adjusting a few ports of call, it's replacing the entire regional program. Given the long lead time, this is a chance to proactively rebook affected clients into the new South America or Mediterranean itineraries, which should appeal to the same luxury clientele, rather than waiting for a cancellation notice to force a reactive scramble later.

Carnival Miracle's September 17 departure from Seattle is its last Alaska sailing of the season, and the line is telling guests not to show up early: Pier 91 is sharing terminal space with another line's ship that day, plus a Coast Guard inspection, so early arrivals will simply wait outside. Guests should stick to their assigned check-in appointment. The advisory follows a broader 2026 itinerary change — Tracy Arm fjord was dropped fleet-wide this season after last year's landslide — so scenic-cruising expectations should already be reset for Alaska clients generally, not just Miracle's finale sailing. Pass the arrival-time warning directly to clients on this sailing, and if you're still selling 2026 Alaska itineraries, confirm Tracy Arm's absence before promising glacier or fjord scenery that isn't currently on the map.

A federal lawsuit against Virgin Voyages and onboard spa concessionaire One Spa World alleges a spa crewmember used the internal booking system to arrange unauthorized after-hours massage appointments and sexually assaulted a passenger during a June sailing to Alaska on Brilliant Lady. The claims center on crew supervision and access controls around guest booking systems — exposure that isn't unique to this line, since any supplier running a leased spa concession faces similar risk. Expect clients to ask about this, particularly those with spa bookings or general Virgin Voyages plans, and be prepared to speak to it rather than wave it off. No commercial policy has changed as a result, but reputational questions from cautious clients are a reasonable bet over the next few weeks.