Island Swap for Royal Caribbean Ship Due to Berthing Conflict
Guests sailing an outstanding “Discover the Canaries” itinerary aboard Independence of the Seas won’t actually be visiting both Canary Islands destinations they’d planned to see on their vacation.
Due to scheduling conflicts in Gran Canaria, the cruise line has reached out to notify booked guests of a simple itinerary change and a swap to a different island for the May 12, 2025 departure, a 12-night sailing.
“Before your European vacation begins, we wanted to inform you about some changes to our itinerary,” the notification explained. “Due to a berthing conflict in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, we’ll now enjoy a visit to the captivating and serene island of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, instead.”
The two islands are roughly 115 miles apart, with Lanzarote being the easternmost of the Canary Islands.
No further details of the “berthing conflict” have been disclosed. It is curious, however, that on May 18, the day Independence of the Seas was to have visited, no other ships are currently scheduled for Gran Canaria.
It is possible that some of the scheduling is still fluctuating, or that dock repairs or maintenance have made it necessary for the cruise port to adjust its availability. These types of itinerary changes often have a knock-on effect that may impact several ships and different ports.
While in Lanzarote from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Independence of the Seas will be joined by P&O Cruises’ Ventura, unless further scheduling changes are made for other cruise lines.
The full day’s visit will give guests plenty of time to enjoy the gorgeous natural beauty of the island and its volcanic landscape. Vineyard tours, camel rides, and other great tour options will be made available.
In the meantime, any pre-paid shore tours purchased through Royal Caribbean for Gran Canaria will be automatically cancelled and refunded; guests do not need to take any action. If travelers have booked independent tours, however, they will need to contact their tour operators for options.
At this time, there are no further changes to the overall itinerary. Independence of the Seas will depart Southampton, UK on Monday, May 12 and spend the first day at sea.
Bilbao will be the first port visit on Wednesday, May 14, followed by another sea day before visiting Lisbon on Friday, May 16. Yet another day at sea will bring the ship to Lanzarote on Sunday, May 18, followed by Tenerife and Madeira on Monday and Tuesday.
Guests will enjoy another day at sea en route to La Coruna for a visit on Thursday, May 22, and a final day at sea will bring the ship back to Southampton on Saturday, May 24.
European Sailings Aboard Independence of the Seas
This impacted sailing is Independence of the Seas‘ first European sailing of the season, following her transatlantic cruise that will depart Miami, Florida on April 28 and arrive in Southampton on May 12.
The ship will remain homeported in Southampton through mid-October, offering a diverse mix of both short and long sailings.
Shorter cruises include 2-, 3-, and 5-night itineraries to ports such as Zeebrugge, Hamburg, and Rotterdam, depending on the sailing date.
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Of special interest will be both the 7-night Norwegian fjords cruises, as northern itineraries are always a popular summer option for cool breezes and stunning scenery.
Additionally, itineraries for Spain, Portugal, and northern cities range from 8 to 9 nights and include visits to iconic destinations such as Oslo, Copenhagen, Cadiz, Vigo, Paris, and more.
Independence of the Seas is offering a westbound transatlantic cruise from Southampton back to Miami departing on October 16, with visits to Spain, Portugal, the Azores, and Nassau along the way.
Once back in the Sunshine State, the ship will offer alternating Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean sailings, nearly all of which visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, through mid-April 2026.
The 155,889-gross ton ship, the youngest of Royal Caribbean’s Freedom class, can welcome 3,634 guests at double occupancy, or up to 4,375 travelers when fully booked.
Island Swap for Royal Caribbean Ship Due to Berthing Conflict