Grandeur of the Seas Itinerary Change: What the Bonaire Swap Means for Casino Players

If you've booked the January 23, 2027 sailing on Grandeur of the Seas out of Colon, Panama, you'll want to take a close look at your upcoming schedule. Royal Caribbean's adjusted the itinerary, dropping the popular port of Bonaire and adding a rare stop in Santa Marta, Colombia, instead. While losing a spot on the classic "ABC" island route might feel like a letdown, it's actually opening up some unique opportunities for your cruise.

According to updates sent to booked guests, the 7-night sailing's swapped its schedule around. On Day 3, instead of enjoying a relaxing day at sea, the ship'll dock in Santa Marta, Colombia, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The following day, which was originally slated for Kralendijk, Bonaire,'ll now become a full sea day. Fortunately, the rest of the itinerary—including stops in Cartagena, Curacao, and Aruba—remains completely unchanged. If you've already booked shore excursions for Bonaire through the cruise line, don't worry; they'll be automatically cancelled and refunded to your original payment method.

What This Means for Casino Royale Players

When you're sailing on a casino comp or trying to lock in your next tier status, itinerary shifts can definitely impact your onboard strategy. Here's how this change affects your cruise:

• Casino Hours Remain Steady: Since Royal Caribbean swapped a port day (Bonaire) for a sea day, and a sea day for a port day (Santa Marta), the total number of hours the Casino Royale's open won't change much. You'll still have the exact same amount of time to rack up your points on the slots and tables.
• A Shift in Your Play Schedule: You'll need to adjust your daily plans. Day 4's now a full sea day, meaning the casino'll be open all day long. It's the perfect time to settle in for a long session without worrying about rushing off the ship. On the flip side, Day 3's now a port day, so the casino'll be closed during the day while the ship's docked in Santa Marta.
• A Rare Port Experience: Santa Marta isn't a destination you'll see on most standard cruise paths. It's the second-oldest city in South America and offers incredible history. If you're looking to take a break from the slot machines, this's a fantastic, low-crowd port to explore.

Ultimately, while it's disappointing to miss out on Bonaire's world-class snorkeling, this change doesn't hurt your earning potential for Casino Royale tier points. It's just a quick shift in when you'll be spending your time at the tables.

Source: Royal Caribbean Ship Drops Bonaire, Adds Rare Colombia Port