Cruise line suspends all active volcano tours following White Island tragedy

Cruise line suspends all active volcano tours following White Island tragedy

Royal Caribbean has suspended all tours visiting active volcanos after last week’s White Island tragedy.

The volcano on White Island, or Whakaari, erupted on Monday last week while the cruise line’s Ovation of the Seas was leading an excursion on the island.

The death toll climbed to 16 earlier this week, including 10 Australians.

At the time, Royal Caribbean told Travel Weekly that it was heartbroken by the details emerging from the island.

“We are communicating with our guests and their families. We’re making sure they are taken care of in terms of medical help, counselling, accommodations, and transport,” the spokesperson said.

“Our hearts go out to them, and we want to be as supportive as we can.

“We are grateful for the work of all the first responders and medical personnel. We also thank the prime minister and her team, the local authorities and everyone who has reached out to help with their kind thoughts and prayers.”

This morning, the cruise line confirmed it would be suspending all tours visiting active volcanoes but declined to comment further on the matter.

Royal Caribbean spokesperson Melissa Charbonneau told Cruise Critic “Several dozen” existing bookings would be impacted

Passengers onboard the Ovation of the Seas have expressed their disapproval with the way the cruise line handled the tragic event, with one father slamming the line’s lack of information and mental health support.

He said they were left completely in the dark and referred to the experience as a “prison ship“.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]