Royal Caribbean has removed Icy Strait Point from the May 9, 2027, itinerary of its Anthem of the Seas Alaska cruise, attributing the last-minute change to speed restrictions in Alaskan waters. The seven-night roundtrip voyage departs Vancouver on May 7, 2027, and now features an additional day at sea while shortening the final port call in Ketchikan by two hours, moving departure from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum-class ship with a passenger capacity of 4,180. The cruise line notified booked passengers of the itinerary adjustment on October 21, 2026, almost six months ahead
of the sailing and over a year after the original itinerary was first announced. The ship’s return to Vancouver on May 14, 2027, and the scheduled calls at Sitka and scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier remain unchanged.
All shore excursions reserved through Royal Caribbean for Icy Strait Point are canceled and subject to full refunds within 14 business days. For excursions booked through the cruise line in Ketchikan, activities may be rescheduled to accommodate the shortened port stay or canceled with refunds issued as appropriate. Passengers who arranged independent tours at either port will need to handle cancellations and refunds
directly with their providers.
The itinerary revision responds to operational challenges presented by Alaska’s Inside Passage, a region requiring strict timing due to narrow waterways, pilot boarding obligations, tidal factors, and vessel coordination. Previous incidents affecting Royal Caribbean include the 2025 omission of Icy Strait Point by Serenade of the Seas due to technical issues limiting the ship’s speed and a June 2026 event where Ovation of the Seas arrived in Seward with a deceased fin whale on its bow. The Center for Biological Diversity had urged voluntary speed reductions after that incident, but no public regulatory mandates have been
specified as causes for this change.
Icy Strait Point is owned and operated by Huna Totem Corporation, an Alaska Native urban corporation affiliated with the Hoonah Indian Association. It is the only Alaska cruise port owned by an Alaska Native corporation. The destination offers distinctive attractions such as the ZipRider zipline and extensive wildlife viewing including opportunities to see humpback whales and brown bears. Its removal reduces culturally unique and wildlife-oriented experiences available to passengers during the Alaska season.
A Royal Caribbean representative said the itinerary update was needed “to comply with speed restrictions and maintain a comfortable sailing experience.”
One passenger who shared the notification on social media expressed frustration with the timing, stating, “I understand that speed restrictions need to be followed, but I would think those factors would have been considered when planning the itinerary in the first place.”
