Anthem of the Seas Resumes Sydney Sailings After 10-Day Repairs

Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas resumed guest operations from Sydney on Friday after spending about 10 days out of service for maintenance tied to a technical issue that forced the cancellation of a late-January 2026 cruise.

The 2015-built Quantum-class ship returned to sailing following repair work in Eden, Australia, restarting its winter season in the region. Anthem of the Seas is one of the line’s larger vessels, commonly cited at just over 4,200 passengers at double occupancy and up to about 4,900 at maximum capacity, and listed at 168,666 gross tons and about 1,141 feet in length.

Maintenance stop in Eden followed a propulsion-related disruption

The disruption traces back to an issue that emerged during Anthem of the Seas’ mid-January 2026 voyage to New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Guests were told the technical problem affected the ship’s speed, and the sailing ultimately returned to Australia for maintenance.

Royal Caribbean did not publicly provide a detailed technical explanation in the available guest communications summarized in reports, describing the situation as a technical issue requiring required maintenance. Passengers shared accounts suggesting the problem was propulsion-related, with some indicating they were told it involved a propulsion unit, including azipods.

January 27 New Zealand cruise cancelled as repairs missed the departure window

The technical issue prompted Royal Caribbean to cancel Anthem of the Seas’ next scheduled sailing, a 10-night roundtrip cruise to New Zealand departing Sydney on January 27, 2026. The itinerary was set to visit Picton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and include a scenic cruising day in Fiordland National Park.

In a statement shared by the cruise line, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said, “Anthem of the Seas experienced a technical issue on its last sailing, and we’re returning to begin required maintenance. Unfortunately, we will not be able to complete the needed repairs in time for our January 27 sailing.”

Royal Caribbean also told booked guests, “We’re truly sorry for this disappointing news.” The cancellation affected over 4,000 guests booked for the New Zealand itinerary.

Refunds, future cruise credit, and travel reimbursement details

Royal Caribbean offered impacted guests a full refund of cruise costs paid through the cruise line, including cruise fare, taxes, fees, prepaid packages, and excursions purchased through Royal Caribbean. The company also offered a 25% Future Cruise Credit to be used toward a new sailing departing within one year.

Some passengers, including those traveling internationally, said the one-year limit created logistical challenges, and a few guests reported receiving inconsistent guidance on whether the booking window was one year or two years.

For certain travel impacts tied to the disruption, Royal Caribbean outlined reimbursement options and a documentation-based claim process. The categories described to guests included:

• Flight change fees: Up to $200 per person for domestic flight changes and up to $400 per person for international flight adjustments (USD), depending on itinerary and eligibility.
• Hotel accommodations: Up to $250 per stateroom, with communications describing coverage for up to two nights in some cases.
• Incidentals: Up to $100 per person, per day (USD), aimed at offsetting added costs during the disruption.

Royal Caribbean also said it would reimburse certain non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses, such as flights, hotels, train tickets, and rental cars, subject to its claim process and documentation requirements.

Delayed return to Sydney and onboard accommodations

The cancellation followed a prior sailing that experienced speed impacts and a delayed arrival back to Sydney. Guests were informed that the issue pushed arrival from the originally expected morning schedule to late afternoon on January 27.

In a letter delivered onboard, Royal Caribbean told guests, “We experienced a technical issue that has impacted our speed.” The company also provided onboard accommodations intended to help passengers adjust onward travel, including no-charge calls through Guest Services and 120 minutes of complimentary internet access per stateroom for guests without an internet package. Royal Caribbean also indicated that onboard drink and internet packages would be extended through the later debarkation time at no added cost.

Some passengers described the situation as particularly difficult given the timing and complexity of travel plans. One passenger, Janet Lindner, said: “There were Americans on that ship too who were at airports ready to travel to SYD over 20 hrs and finding out their cruise was cancelled.” Another guest called for clearer communication, saying, “I would like to receive an empathetic formal apology from RCL about the cancellation and forward to everyone the same message as to what we exactly receive.”

Back to sailing in Australia, then Alaska in mid-2026

With repairs completed, Anthem of the Seas resumed its Australia program with a seven-night sailing to Queensland that includes an overnight call in Airlie Beach and multiple sea days cruising the South Pacific. More broadly, the ship’s Sydney-based season includes itineraries ranging from short cruises to longer sailings that can include Tasmania, South Pacific island calls, and New Zealand.

The current Australia winter season is set to continue until mid-April, when the ship is scheduled to reposition for a summer 2026 season in Alaska. Anthem of the Seas is slated to operate seven-night Alaska cruises from Seattle alongside Ovation of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas, before returning to Sydney in November 2026 for another Australian season.

While the cruise line has not provided a detailed public explanation of the component involved, cruise industry experts have noted that dockside repairs for propulsion systems can be labor-intensive but are typically completed within days, allowing ships to return to service and maintain forward schedules.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which Anthem of the Seas cruise was cancelled?

Royal Caribbean cancelled the Anthem of the Seas sailing scheduled to depart Sydney on January 27, 2026, which was planned as a 10-night roundtrip cruise to New Zealand.

What compensation did Royal Caribbean offer for the cancelled cruise?

Booked guests were offered a full refund of cruise costs paid through Royal Caribbean, including cruise fare, taxes, fees, and prepaid purchases made through the cruise line. Royal Caribbean also offered a 25% Future Cruise Credit for a new booking departing within one year, plus reimbursement options for certain non-refundable travel expenses subject to documentation.

Where did Anthem of the Seas go for maintenance after the technical issue?

AIS tracking data showed the ship in Eden, Australia, during a roughly 10-day period out of service for maintenance before it resumed sailing from Sydney.

What did Royal Caribbean say about what caused the issue?

Royal Caribbean characterized the situation as a technical issue that required maintenance, but did not publicly specify the exact component involved in the available guest communications summarized in reports. Passengers shared accounts suggesting the problem was propulsion-related.

What is Anthem of the Seas scheduled to do after its Australia season?

After completing its winter operations in Australia, Anthem of the Seas is scheduled to reposition in mid-April for a summer 2026 Alaska season, operating seven-night cruises from Seattle, and is then set to return to Australia in November 2026 for another Sydney-based season.