Royal Caribbean cancels Puerto Rico cruise stop amid protests
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If you are new to cruises, listen up! I have a few pieces of advice I wish someone had told me before boarding. Buzz60’s Maria Mercedes Galuppo has more.
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Royal Caribbean International has canceled a planned call in San Juan, Puerto Rico, amid protests against the embattled governor in the capital of the U.S. territory.
“In light of current unrest in San Juan, Puerto Rico, we have canceled today’s call to San Juan,” Owen Torres, spokesman for Royal Caribbean, said in a statement to USA TODAY. “We continue to monitor the situation closely and will make adjustments as necessary to ensure the safety and security of our guests and crew.”
Empress of the Seas, which was slated to stop in San Juan Tuesday, has been rerouted to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, Torres said, and guests will receive refunds for prepaid shore excursions. Tortola was already on the itinerary as a planned Wednesday stop, according to cruise-tracking site, CruiseMapper.com.
The ship left Miami Saturday on an eight-day Caribbean journey with stops planned for the Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay, in the Bahamas; San Juan; Tortola; and Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Thousands of protesters marched in San Juan to call for Gov. Ricardo Rosselló’s resignation. Police tried to disperse the marchers with pepper spray in front of the Fortaleza governor’s residence, which was protected by barricades.
Nearly two years ago, Hurricane Maria exposed the raw dysfunction of Puerto Rico, collapsing long-neglected infrastructure and leaving several thousand dead on Rosselló’s watch.
Last week, two of his top former officials were arrested by the FBI on corruption charges.
But the scandal that is threatening to buckle the 40-year-old governor centers on a profanity-laced and, at times, misogynistic online chat with nine other male members of his administration. The leak of at least 889 pages of the private chat has sunk Rosselló into the deepest crisis of his career.
Torres noted future stops in San Juan have not been canceled but that Royal Caribbean is “monitoring the situation and will make adjustments if necessary.”
More on the unrest: ’Chatgate’ scandal threatens to doom Puerto Rico’s governor
Contributing: Michael Weissenstein and Joel Colon of The Associated Press
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Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica: Explorers and Kings • There are a number of travel companies that offer cruises to Antarctica, all of them lengthy — about three weeks — and somewhat pricey, generally ranging from $13,000 to $17,000. On the Explorers and Kings tour, travelers experience extraordinary landscapes, from mountains and glaciers to the stark Antarctic environment that locked Ernest Shackleton’s famous expedition in ice. Most spectacular is the wildlife viewing; passengers can expect to see penguins, seals, whales and many species of seabirds, including the legendary albatross.Family cruises • As an alternative to the family road trip, a cruise can be an affordable and memorable vacation, with plenty of things to do and see for both children and adults. Cruise lines compete to offer the most fun experiences for the best prices, well beyond the swimming pools that were the center of entertainment in the early days of cruising. Different cruises advertise activities that include water slides, laser tag, climbing walls, go-karts, mini-golf, children’s “camps” and teen lounges. There is adult entertainment as well, and relaxing downtime while the kids play. Not surprisingly, Disney offers some of the best family cruises, heavily promoting its own characters and movie themes, but other cruise lines also have highly rated — and less expensive — family excursions. Norwegian Cruise Lines is prominent among them. Galapagos • Although visits to the Galapagos islands are restricted to protect its wildlife and wild character, there are dozens of vessels that offer tours of four to 10 days, accommodating up to 100 passengers, the largest allowed. Most are smaller, with fewer than 20 passengers. Although they are all geared toward nature lovers, some boast luxury accommodations, offering high-end linens, gourmet meals and even butler service. In any case, it is an expensive vacation because of the small ships and tight restrictions on tourism but also because the cruises start and end in the Galapagos Islands, requiring passengers to fly there, usually by way of Ecuador.Mediterranean cruise • From ships as immense as those that ply the oceans, to those more closely resembling the riverboats sailing to Europe and Asia’s riverine ports of call, Mediterranean cruise ships carry passengers along portions of the Mediterranan coast to some of Europe’s most spectacular destinations. Some itineraries are based on a particular theme, such as island-hopping or beaches, with many others focused on either the eastern Mediterraean — the east coast of Italy, Croatia, the Greek islands, Turkey and Egypt — or the western Mediterranean — Spain, France and the west coast of Italy. Viking offers a popular Mediterranean voyage for travelers interested in the history of the region, taking passengers on an eight-day trip from Rome to Athens. Dubbed the Journey to Antiquities, it covers Rome’s Coliseum and Athens’ Acropolis but also takes a side trip to Ephesus, Turkey and the imposing ruins of a once-important Mediterrean port.Russia by river • For travelers who are curious about less touristy destinations and perhaps have an interest in geopolitics, three riverboat cruise lines (Scenic, Uniworld, and Viking) offer a European-style river cruise on the Volga River between St. Petersburg and Moscow. Viking hosts a 13-day Waterways of the Tsars tour beginning at $5,449, including air travel. Passengers live on the ship for a four-day stay in Moscow at the beginning of the voyage and for four days in St. Petersburg at the end. City tours include visits to Russian homes, parks, monuments, museums, galleries and historic sites. In between there are a number of excursions to markets, ancient towns and UNESCO World Heritage sites.Cruise the Nile • A hugely popular cruising river, the Nile hosts over 200 cruise boats, from traditional Egyptian sailboats with limited toilet and shower facilities and passengers sleeping on deck, and a Victorian steamship on which Agatha Christie modeled her vessel in “Death on the Nile,” to modern luxury cruise ships with air conditioning and other amenities designed for comfort. Because the climate is hot and lines waiting for locks can be long, it pays to choose luxury for this trip. Fortunately, luxury is a relatively affordable way to view the wonders of ancient Egypt, including the Valley of the Kings and the Karnak Temple. The Sanctuary Sun Boat III offers a four-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor and boasts a stylish design, modern cabins for up to 36 passengers, a pool and sun deck, gourmet dining and a class in Egyptian cooking, beginning at $1,300.
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