PANAMA CITY - The cruise line Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has decided to change a cruise that was originally planned to visit the Panama Canal into a Caribbean cruise that will include Aruba in 2024. 

The additional visits to Aruba and Curaçao were not previously part of the itinerary. This involves the cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas. All travelers who had already booked have been notified. 

The original plan for the Rhapsody was to offer a 7-day cruise through the Panama Canal, starting and ending in Panama. This was a new approach to provide a highly sought-after cruise experience without needing to offer a two-week cruise. 

No specific reason has been given for the cancellation of this idea. An email from the company only states that it is to enhance the tourist experience. 

The itinerary for the cruise starting on March 16, 2024, has been adjusted to a 7-day cruise in the southern part of the Caribbean. The 264-meter-long ship, capable of accommodating 2,500 passengers and 765 crew members, will now sail along Aruba and Curaçao and also make a stop in Cartagena, Colombia. 

Travelers who have booked in advance have until the end of August 2023 to decide whether they will embark on the cruise including Aruba and Curaçao or cancel their entire cruise, as their original desire was to experience the Panama Canal.