Royal Caribbean International’s Jewel of the Seas had to dock at a different homeport on August 10, 2024 due to protests.
According to a statement sent to guests, the 2,100-guest vessel was unable to pass through the locks to Amsterdam because of a port disruption.
“Due to a port disruption that made it unsafe to pass the locks to Amsterdam, the Jewel of the Seas will now debark its current sailing in IJmuiden,” Royal Caribbean said.
Spending the summer in Northern Europe, the vessel was finishing a 12-night cruise to Iceland and Ireland that was originally set to sail roundtrip from Amsterdam.
The Jewel was then scheduled to depart from the Dutch port for a 12-night voyage to Norway and the Arctic Circle.
Located nearly 40 kilometers away from Amsterdam, IJmuiden also served as the starting point for the August 10 departure.
“Check-in for your sailing will still take place in Amsterdam as planned, and we’ll provide complimentary shuttles to the Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden where you’ll embark on the ship,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement to guests.
According to the company, transfers between Amsterdam and IJmuiden took approximately “30 to 45 minutes.”
In a report on its website, the activist group Extinction Rebellion claimed to have blocked the locks at IJmuiden to prevent the operations of the Jewel of the Seas.
Seven rebels took part in the act, which, according to the group, was as a direct protest against pollution caused by cruise ships.
The Jewel of the Seas is expected to return to Amsterdam on August 22, 2024. After completing its current cruise, the ship departs on a repositioning voyage to Boston.
Set to be followed by a fall foliage season in Canada and New England, the 16-night trans-Atlantic cruise features visits to Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
In November, the Jewel of the Seas repositions to Galveston for a winter season offering longer cruises to the Western and Southern Caribbean.