Royal Caribbean Updates Itineraries Due to Ongoing Repairs at San Juan Pier 3

RCI-Royal Caribbean International has made changes to various cruise itineraries due to the ongoing repairs at San Juan’s Pier 3. This pier, which has been closed since April 2024 after an incident involving an MSC cruise ship, is the only terminal equipped to handle Royal Caribbean’s OASIS-class vessels.

Efforts to repair Pier 3 have faced delays partly due to a lawsuit, contributing to further uncertainty regarding its reopening.

The following adjustments have been announced for select Royal Caribbean sailings:

  • Icon of the Seas: Some sailings in May, June, and July 2025 will no longer stop in San Juan, instead visiting Port Ponce (Puerto Rico’s second-largest city) or St. Maarten.
  • Symphony of the Seas: April 2025 itineraries will be amended to include Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic or Labadee in Haiti, eliminating the San Juan stop.

Despite a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for Haiti issued by the U.S. Department of State, Royal Caribbean assures passengers of Labadee’s safety. The cruise line states that Labadee is designated as a cruise-exclusive area featuring private security and low crime rates, advising only standard safety measures for visitors.

Passengers with cruises affected by these itinerary changes are encouraged to review their plans and keep up with the latest updates from Royal Caribbean.


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