Royal Caribbean: Icon 5 Order, Labadee Closure, and Dramatic Storm-Reroute Rescue
Royal Caribbean made headlines in Sept 2025: Enchantment of the Seas rescued castaways, the Icon Class expanded to a 5th ship, and Labadee calls were suspended through April 2026.
Selina Smith
The final weekend of September often marks a tense period in the Caribbean, where the peak of the hurricane season dictates the movements of massive cruise liners. This year was no exception, as the dual threat of Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda forced one of the industry's giants, Royal Caribbean International, to completely overhaul its itineraries. Yet, in a twist of fate that reads like a cinematic drama, a necessary reroute transformed one ship's journey into an unexpected mission of mercy, highlighting the profound role cruise vessels play as mandated first responders on the high seas.
The vessel at the center of the story is the 2,446-passenger Enchantment of the Seas. Originally scheduled for a Bahamas sailing, the ship, which had departed from Tampa, Florida, was swiftly repositioned to the Western Caribbean to safely skirt the rough weather stirred up by the intensifying Hurricane Humberto and the developing Tropical Storm Imelda. It was on the evening of Sunday, September 28th, while en route to Costa Maya, Mexico, that this change of direction proved providential.
A Dramatic Mid-Sea Rescue
As the sun sank over the Caribbean Sea, the crew of Enchantment of the Seas spotted a small, makeshift vessel in the darkness—a raft visibly struggling against the moderate swells. Under the international law of the sea, which mandates that all vessels must render aid to any ship or person in distress, the mammoth cruise ship immediately diverted from its course to investigate.
The situation was dire. Reports from guests, later confirmed by the ship’s crew, indicated the raft was heavily overcrowded and structurally failing. On board the tiny, unstable craft were 11 individuals, described by authorities as refugees attempting a perilous sea crossing.
The rescue operation was a textbook example of professional maritime response. Crew members quickly lowered one of the ship’s rescue craft, carefully navigating the choppy waters to reach the stranded group. The entire process was observed by hundreds of passengers, some of whom captured video footage showing the desperate state of the raft alongside the massive hull of the Royal Caribbean liner. The sight, described by one passenger as "emotional," underscored the vulnerability of the rescued individuals who were reportedly suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.
Once safely aboard the Enchantment of the Seas, the 11 people received urgent humanitarian support, including water, food, clothing, and medical attention from the ship's dedicated medical team. The cruise line maintained its protocol, ensuring the rescued individuals were safe, cared for, and would be formally transferred to the appropriate local authorities upon arrival at the next port of call in Costa Maya, Mexico. The fact that the cruise ship was in that specific patch of water, en route to Mexico rather than the Bahamas, was undoubtedly the factor that prevented a catastrophic outcome for the group.
The incident is a stark reminder of the increasing frequency of these desperate sea crossings in the Caribbean and the critical, albeit unplanned, role commercial vessels like those operated by Royal Caribbean play as unexpected lifelines in the region.
Royal Caribbean Navigates Hurricane Season Disruption
The lifesaving detour aboard Enchantment of the Seas was a direct consequence of the widespread itinerary adjustments made by Royal Caribbean and other lines to ensure passenger safety during a dynamic hurricane season. The threat from Hurricane Humberto, which intensified to a Category 4 storm, and Tropical Storm Imelda forced a large-scale shuffle of ships.
In the same week, multiple Royal Caribbean vessels—including the new Star of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and Freedom of the Seas—saw their planned Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas sailings replaced with Western Caribbean or Atlantic Canada routes. For example, the Star of the Seas, which had just begun its maiden season, swapped its Eastern Caribbean calls for ports like Costa Maya, Roatán, and Cozumel to avoid the worst of the weather. While passengers are generally disappointed by missed ports like the popular private island Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s commitment, guided by its Chief Meteorologist, is consistently to safety above all else. The company issued statements to guests reminding them that "being onboard is one of the safest places because our ship can quickly move out of the way of any inclement weather."
Royal Caribbean Group’s Strategic Future
While navigating immediate weather crises, Royal Caribbean Group is also focused on aggressive strategic expansion and adapting to new operational norms across the industry.
The cruise line continues its build-out of the revolutionary Icon Class, the largest cruise ships in the world. Just last week, the company unveiled plans to build a fifth Icon-class mega cruise ship, scheduled for delivery in 2028, with an option for two more. This development, spearheaded by Royal Caribbean Group President Jason Liberty, solidifies the company’s decade-long partnership with Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and underscores its commitment to the next generation of energy-efficient, LNG-powered vessels. The fourth ship in the class, currently referred to as Icon 4, is set for a 2027 launch, following the successful introductions of Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
In a separate move reflecting broader industry trends, Royal Caribbean recently implemented a fee for guests who make specialty dining reservations but fail to show up. This new policy, effective since September 1st, 2025, aims to curb food waste and preserve limited seating for guests who are eager to dine, aligning with similar recent adjustments by competitors like Norwegian Cruise Line, which has also added a $10 no-show fee at its specialty restaurants, and a $5 charge for a second main dining room entrée.
In other itinerary news, Royal Caribbean Group is also proactively addressing global security concerns. Out of an "abundance of caution," the company suspended all calls at its private destination, Labadee, on the coast of Haiti, through April 2026. This decision was made in light of the U.S. State Department’s Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Haiti, citing escalating gang violence, despite the destination being located far from the capital and protected by a private security force. Alternate ports are being substituted for the affected itineraries.
The final weeks of September demonstrated the varied, complex operational landscape of the cruise industry: one of high-stakes rescues, multi-million-dollar ship investments, and the continuous effort to deliver vacation experiences while prioritizing safety and responding to global conditions. For the 11 individuals saved by the Enchantment of the Seas, the vessel was not just a means of leisure, but a harbinger of hope, thanks to a rerouting that put Royal Caribbean's commitment to safety and maritime law into dramatic, lifesaving action.
