Cruise Passengers Divided Over Itinerary Change: ‘Gigantic Win’ vs. Disappointment

Royal Caribbean’s decision to cancel a scheduled stop in Costa Maya, Mexico, for its Icon of the Seas cruise has resulted in mixed reactions among passengers, with some celebrating the change and others expressing disappointment.

The cruise line cited a maintenance issue that caused the ship to depart Miami a day late, leading to the alteration of the Sept. 26 itinerary. The vessel was originally set to sail Saturday but remained in port until Sunday, September 27, according to a notice sent to passengers. Consequently, the planned visit to Costa Maya was replaced with an additional sea day.

Passengers received at least $300 in onboard credit as compensation, with the amount varying based on cabin type. This offer, coupled with the cancellation of the port visit, led many on social media to express satisfaction with the change.

"Just got this. $350 to miss the worst port of the itinerary made my day!" one Reddit user commented. Another added, "Three hundred dollar credit, and you don’t have to go to Costa Maya? That’s a gigantic win."

However, not all passengers were pleased. Some expressed disappointment over missing planned excursions, particularly those focused on visiting the Chacchoben Mayan ruins, an archaeological site located near the port. "My daughter is a bit bummed, as our ruins excursion there was what she was looking forward to the most," one passenger stated. Another echoed the sentiment, "I’m bummed to be missing our Chacchoben ruins tour, but we’ll live."

The controversy over the Costa Maya stop prompted discussions about the port's appeal. Some passengers described it as "run-down," "half empty," and noted issues with seaweed. Others found it to be "underdeveloped and small" with "nothing much to do really right around the port area."