Propulsion Issue Forced a Delayed Dry Dock Completion for Royal Caribbean Ship
One of the biggest cruise ships in the world recently faced delays at the end of its dry dock in Navantia Cádiz, Spain.
The 225,282-gross ton Allure of the Seas was set to depart from the Cádiz shipyard on April 7, 2025, but local reports shared that the vessel was unable to leave on time due to a propulsion issue.
Shipyard technicians quickly figured out that there was a problem with several propellers on three of the ship’s azipods.
This was found as the result of a routine inspection, and the cruise line was informed so they could decide between fixing the propulsion immediately rather than having to dry dock again at a later date.
Allure of the Seas has multiple Azipods, which are electric propulsion systems with electric motors inside pods that drive propellers.
Several of the propellers attached to three of the Azipods were the true issue, and it was recommended that they be repaired.
Royal Caribbean saw it only fitting to have the propellers replaced and to go ahead and fix anything that was not in good condition.
Initially, the repairs and replacements were supposed to take an additional three days to complete, but the cruise line, along with the staff at Cádiz shipyard, managed to move up this timeline to just take a day and a half.
This was good news all around, as the ship is set to take its first cruise after its repairs on April 11, 2025, and any further delays could have potentially caused an itinerary change.
According to Cruise Hive’s Cruise Ship Tracker, the ship ultimately departed today, April 9, 2025, and is now heading to Barcelona for its first cruise since February.
Mega-Ship Gets a Massive Upgrade
In an effort to improve the 15-year-old vessel, the cruise line spent an estimated $100 million during the month-and-a-half-long dry dock.
Having needed additional parts replaced, there will be an estimated $2 to $3 million added to the final bill. Beyond the propulsion system, many other aspects of the 6,789-passenger Allure of the Seas were updated during this massive overhaul.
Guests can expect to have new dining and bar options, such as the Pesky Parrot, which is a tiki bar that originally debuted on Utopia of the Seas.
Other new dining and bar experiences include the Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, which will feature country music and comfort food.
The pool area has an upgraded Solarium, which is an adult-only spot with day beds, in-pool lounges, and the Samba Grill.
Meanwhile, kids and preteens can hang out at the newly improved Splashaway Bay, which will feature whirlpools, drench buckets, pools, and water cannons.
Additionally, for the adrenaline junkies, there is now a 10-story dry slide called the Ultimate Abyss.
If this is not your speed, there is also the option to check out the ship’s new escape room, Apollo 18: Lunar Landing. Here you will find an interactive experience right out of 1973 to help solve clues and land Apollo 18 on the moon before time runs out.
As for accommodations, this vessel will now be offering Ultimate Panoramic Suites located just above the ship’s bridge area.
Clearly, Royal Caribbean spared no expense when it came to upgrading Allure of the Seas!
Read Also: Royal Caribbean Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest (1996-2025)
As mentioned above, the very first voyage this vessel is making after the upgrades is departing in just a few days.
This will be a 4-night round-trip cruise out of Barcelona and will make two stops, including Marseille, France, and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, before returning on April 15, 2025.
Allure of the Seas will be spending the summer season sailing the Mediterranean for the first time since 2015, giving passengers the opportunity to not only explore the new amenities but also go on some epic European itineraries.
Propulsion Issue Forced a Delayed Dry Dock Completion for Royal Caribbean Ship