Two RCI-Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, have both experienced propulsion system issues, resulting in reduced max speed.
Passengers scheduled to sail on Anthem OTS were emailed by Royal Caribbean, notifying them of itinerary changes due to the need for the ship to travel at a slower speed. The email explained that maintenance was required for one of the ship's four engines, affecting its speed. Consequently, certain scheduled stops in Port Canaveral Florida, or Nassau Bahamas, had to be removed from the itinerary. The October 30th and November 5th voyages (both roundtrips from NYC/Cape Liberty Bayonne, New Jersey) were confirmed to have altered itineraries. Affected bookings reportedly received a 1-day cruise refund in OBC/onboard credit, as compensation.
Anthem OTS was sailing from Southampton UK, concluding its 2023 European season.
Meanwhile, passengers on Oasis OTS were informed of an issue with one of the ship's Azipods/thrusters through a letter in their cabins. The ship's Captain also made an announcement to clarify the situation, mentioning the need to replace an electrical component in one of the three electric motors. Although most of the ship's functions were unaffected, the precautionary reduction in speed resulted in a slight delay in arrival at Port Canaveral.
Both incidents prompted apologies from RCI to the affected passengers, emphasizing their commitment to safety and comfort. Oasis OTS is currently homeported in NYC/Cape Liberty NJ.
For other incidents and accidents see the ships' CruiseMinus pages - Oasis OTS and Anthem OTS.