Royal Caribbean has confirmed a brief pause on a headline activity for one sailing, yet the week still stacks up with glacier views, lively sea days, and classic Southeast Alaska calls. If you are booked on Anthem of the Seas on 19 September 2025, here is what is changing, how refunds work, and simple swaps to keep your cruise feeling effortless and fun.
On the seven-night Alaska cruise departing 19 September 2025 from Seattle, the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator is closed for scheduled maintenance. All Royal Caribbean’s prebooked sessions are cancelled with full refunds to the original form of payment, which can take up to 14 business days. The itinerary remains Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, and an evening call in Victoria, BC, with the ship’s wider programme operating as normal.
A single venue will be offline for routine care, everything else runs to plan. Royal Caribbean’s note to guests confirms the closure applies only to the wind tunnel during this one voyage, so you can rework a couple of sea-day slots and still enjoy a full palette of experiences. Treat it like a small retune, not a rewrite.
Anthem sails a balanced route that pairs scenic cruising with well-serviced ports, which helps the week stay smooth even when one activity is unavailable. The rest of the Quantum-class playbook, from shows to sports, remains in your hands.
The maintenance window covers the 19 September sailing only. You still have the round-trip from Seattle with port days in Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka, plus an evening in Victoria, BC. Shore tours, scenic segments, and entertainment continue as scheduled.
If your plan hinged on the tunnel, slot in an alternative for the same time block, and you will keep your rhythm. Sea days are flexible on Anthem, which makes this kind of adjustment straightforward. The key is to book backups early and keep one or two options in your pocket.
Royal Caribbean will cancel existing tunnel reservations automatically and issue full refunds to the original payment method. The line advises that credits may take up to 14 business days to appear. Screenshot your original booking, set a calendar reminder, and check your statement after two weeks.
If you used onboard credit, it should be returned for use during the same cruise. If anything looks off, visit Guest Services with your reference in hand. Having the details ready speeds up resolution.
A vertical wind tunnel at sea is precision equipment. Scheduled maintenance keeps sessions safe and performance consistent, so when the attraction reopens, the airflow feels even and the experience matches the hype.
A short pause during a busy season is a smart trade if it means fewer hiccups later. If this was your headline thrill, you can still aim for motion, height, and friendly challenge elsewhere on the ship without losing momentum.
Anthem was built to spread guests across many venues, so there is always something that matches your mood. Think in themes, then choose a few go-tos for sea days. Motion can be FlowRider or pickleball, height might be North Star or the climbing wall, and evening energy comes from Music Hall or the main theatre. A little planning with the app each morning goes a long way. Popular sessions fill fast, yet cancellations often pop up later.
SeaPlex is the ship’s kinetic heart. Depending on the timetable, you will see bumper cars, pickleball, or casual sports that let everyone jump in. Add the climbing wall for a vertical test that rewards patience and delivers a quiet sense of achievement. Group fitness or dance classes double as a social hour with a light workout wrapped inside. These options are easy to slot between meals and keep the day feeling lively without pressure.
North Star lifts you above the ship for Inside Passage panoramas. Book a slot that aligns with scenic periods and keep your camera ready. FlowRider scratches the adrenaline itch with coaching that gets first-timers standing sooner than they expect. Evenings fold into Music Hall sets or a main-theatre production, ideal after a chilly day outdoors. Pair one high-energy hour with one slow hour, and you will finish the day refreshed.
With one less scheduled activity, you can lean into dining to shape your day. Plan a long lunch after a busy morning or pick one specialty dinner to turn into an occasion. Alaska rewards a gentle pace, so build in a short reset in your stateroom between activities.
A warm drink, a balcony view, and a quick plan for the evening can be as restorative as any headline attraction. Small adjustments like this keep sea days balanced, which is exactly what most guests want by midweek.
This is a classic Southeast Alaska route, complete with glacier encounters, walkable towns, and a Canadian finale after dark. Each port suits a different travel style, so decide which day will be structured and which day you will keep loose. The weather can shift across a week. Layers mean you can adapt in minutes rather than losing time to outfit changes.
Juneau concentrates variety into a compact area. Many guests aim for Mendenhall Glacier, while the tram and short trails give a quicker blend of views and movement. Coffee culture has grown, so warming up well is easy between stops.
Decide early whether this is your glacier day or your meander day, then keep the pace friendly. A simple loop, tram to the viewpoint, short walk, late coffee, and a relaxed return to the pier often feels just right.
Skagway’s narrow-gauge railway pairs big mountain drama with engaging history, which suits families and first-timers. If you prefer to walk, the grid makes browsing effortless, and the local museum rewards a slow hour. Railway departures are popular across fleets, so book early and choose a time that lines up with your energy. Those who want something quieter can look for a guided town walk with a local who loves the place. The stories tend to linger.
Sitka blends wildlife watching with deep cultural threads. Small-boat tours can be the wildlife highlight of your week if the seas are kind. In town, a cultural centre visit and an easy coastal walk make a satisfying pair.
This is a good port to schedule as your unhurried day, particularly if your Juneau or Skagway plans are more structured. Save ten minutes for a bakery stop on the way back. It is a simple ritual that makes the afternoon feel complete.
Evening calls shift the mood in a lovely way. Stroll the Inner Harbour, take photos in soft light, and pick a dinner spot that suits your pace. Families can keep it short and sweet with a gelato and a harbour loop. Adults might linger a bit longer, then head back with time to spare. Watch the all-aboard, twilight slips by quickly when the harbour is glowing.
A few light-touch decisions now will keep the cruise easy. Open the app each morning, claim key times, and give yourself one backup per slot. Pair active hours with quieter ones, and you will avoid the midweek energy dip many travellers feel. Think of this as curating your own tempo rather than filling every minute.
Alaska is all about layers. Start with a breathable base, add a warm mid-layer, and top with a waterproof shell. Gloves and a beanie earn their space even in September. Shoes with a grip handle damp piers and short trails, and a small umbrella helps during brief showers. A compact day pack with a dry bag keeps cameras and phones safe.
The app is your daily control room. Check it before breakfast, reserve a couple of anchors, and leave white space to catch spontaneous openings. Arrive at venues five to ten minutes early to avoid queues. On port days, allow a buffer for shuttles and crowds so the afternoon stays relaxed. A little margin is the difference between busy and stressful.
Since your tunnel booking is being refunded, note the amount, the card used, and your expected credit date. If the refund has not appeared by the fifteenth business day, visit Guest Services with your reference number. Consider reallocating that spend to a small-group shore tour or a specialty dinner. Turning a change into a treat is the easiest win of the week. Simple, visible budgeting removes friction and keeps decisions light.
If the wind tunnel is your must-do, you still have options on other sailings and ships. Royal Caribbean runs the experience across multiple Quantum-class vessels, so you can plan ahead to catch it when schedules and weather suit you better. A quick look across regions will usually reveal a workable match.
You can try the simulator on Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas. That coverage spans Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and North America at different times of the year. If you are Sydney-based, Ovation often makes it easy to fly less and still get your session. Pick itineraries with forgiving sea days for the best chance of smooth operations.
Once reservations open, book early, then keep your schedule flexible in case weather prompts a reshuffle. Wear snug clothing under the flight suit, remove jewellery, and pay attention to the hand signals during the briefing. The focus is on coaching, not bravado, which is why first-timers enjoy it. When RipCord by iFly reopens, you will be stepping into freshly tuned equipment.
After Alaska, Anthem is scheduled to debut in Australia for the 2025-26 season. Expect a familiar Quantum-class mix with something for families, couples, and friends who like a balance of sea days and ports. If the tunnel was on your list, this could be your chance to try it closer to home. Watch early releases if you are targeting school holidays.
Before you lock dates, it helps to see what is sailing where. Our Cruise Finder collects ships, routes, and seasons in one view so you can compare Alaska, Australia, and beyond without juggling tabs. Explore options that match your timing and style.
Already know your month. Use the filters to narrow by ship class, length, and ports that matter to you, then weigh evening calls, glacier days, and sea-day time for your favourite onboard activities.
If a favourite activity is offline this week, your cruise can still be everything you wanted with a few smart swaps. We can help map sea-day alternatives, fine-tune your Alaska port plans, and line up a future voyage that includes the skydiving session when it suits you. When you are ready, send our cruise specialist a message and we will shape an itinerary that works for travellers joining from Australia and from overseas.