Originally published January 28, 2009 at 11:35 AM | Page modified January 28, 2009 at 11:59 AM

Royal Caribbean to drop some Alaska cruises

Royal Caribbean will shift its Serenade of the Seas ship from its Vancouver-Alaska cruises

Seattle Times Travel staff

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Royal Caribbean Cruises is shifting one of its ships, the Serenade of the Seas, out of the Alaska cruise market next year.

The ship was to be based in Vancouver, B.C., with about 20 Alaska cruises per year. It can carry about 2,500 passengers.

John Binkley, president of the Alaska Cruise Association, said the redeployment of the Serenade of the Seas will mean a substantial loss in revenue and visitors for Alaska. It will also economically hurt Vancouver, B.C., which for the first time last year was surpassed by Seattle in passenger numbers for Alaska cruises.

Royal Caribbean this year offers week-long round trips from Seattle to Southeast Alaska aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas as well as sailings from Vancouver, B.C., aboard the Serenade (which will be redeployed in 2010) and the Radiance of the Seas.

Some material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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