Tag Archives: Celebrity Cruises

Royal Caribbean Group Restart: Eight Additional Ships Resuming Service Soon

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Royal Caribbeans Anthem of the Seas photo credit Spacejunkie2

As the winter approaches, the Royal Caribbean Group brands are expanding their restart plans, adding destinations and new homeports.

In November, eight more ships are resuming service for the corporation, bringing its brands back to Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, Antarctica, the Middle East and more.

Here are the latest plans, brand by brand:

Royal Caribbean International
Status: 14 ships currently in service; three more set to follow by Dec. 1
Ships: Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas currently in service; Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas set to follow in November
Regions: Asia, Caribbean, Bahamas, Mediterranean, United Kingdom and West Coast

With 14 cruise ships in service, Royal Caribbean International currently has the most capacity back in the market.

Sailing in North America, Europe and Asia, the brand is set to reactivate three additional vessels by Dec. 1, relaunching service in additional destinations.

Debuting on the West Coast, the Navigator of the Seas is welcoming guests back in Los Angeles on Nov. 19.

A few weeks earlier, on Nov. 7, the Explorer of the Seas is resuming service in San Juan, bringing the brand back to its Puerto Rico homeport.

Currently, in a European shipyard, the Adventure of the Seas is also returning to revenue operation soon. On Nov. 29, the ship is set to return to Galveston for a series of four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises.

While the balance of the Royal Caribbean fleet is poised to return to guest operations until May 2022, the brand has also resumed service from Hong Kong recently, launching a program of short cruises to nowhere from the Asian port.

Celebrity Cruises
Status: Eight ships currently in service; two more set to follow by Dec. 1
Ships: Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Xpedition currently in service; Celebrity Constellation and Celebrity Reflection set to follow in November
Regions: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bahamas, United Kingdom, Galapagos, West Coast and Panama Canal

In November, Celebrity Cruises is launching a new phase of its restart program. After several months with eight vessels sailing revenue cruises, the brand is adding two more ships into active service by Dec. 1.

Marking Celebrity’s return to Tampa, the Celebrity Constellation is set to welcome guests back on Nov. 7.

A day earlier, the Celebrity Reflection is resuming service after a 20-month operational pause, offering a series of Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades.

In October, Celebrity also returned to the West Coast and the Panama Canal with the Celebrity Millennium. After a season in Alaska, the vessel is offering a couple of California cruises from San Diego before crossing the Panama Canal on its way to the Caribbean.

TUI Cruises
Status: Six ships currently in service
Ships: Mein Schiff 1, Mein Schiff 2, Mein Schiff 3, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5 and Mein Schiff 6
Regions: Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Emirates

Based in Germany, TUI Cruises currently has six cruise ships sailing with guests in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

Preparing for the winter season, the brand is planning to expand its restart to new destinations over the next months.

While a season in Southeast Asia was recently cancelled, cruises to the Caribbean, the Canary Islands and the Emirates are on the plans through the end of the year.  

Silversea Cruises
Status: Four ships currently in service; three more sets to follow by Dec. 1
Ships: Silver Moon, Silver Origin, Silver Shadow and Silver Spirit currently in service; Silver Cloud, Silver Explorer and Silver Whisper set to follow in November
Region: Galapagos, Mediterranean, Western Europe, Atlantic, Caribbean and Antarctica  

After months of negotiation, Silversea Cruises is ready to relaunch its expedition sailings in Antarctica. With the Silver Cloud and the Silver Explorer, the brand is returning to the seventh continent in November, offering departures from Chile.

On Nov. 17, the Silver Whisper is also returning to revenue operations, offering Caribbean cruises from San Juan and Fort Lauderdale.

Currently, four Silversea ships are sailing with passengers, cruising in the Mediterranean, the Galapagos, Western Europe and more.

The luxury brand welcomed its passengers back in June with the inaugural cruises of two newbuilds, the Silver Moon and the Silver Origin.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
First sailing: Five ships in service
Ships: Europa 2, Europa, Hanseatic Nature, Hanseatic Inspiration and Hanseatic Spirit
Region: Mediterranean, Northern Europe and Atlantic

In November Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is completing yet another month with the entire five-ship fleet in service.

While, during the summer, the German brand sailed in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, new cruises are now being offered, including itineraries to the Atlantic Archipelagos and the Emirates.

U.S. Cruise Restart: Which Cruise Lines Require COVID-19 Vaccination?

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Several cruise lines are on their way back to U.S. homeports this summer. Cruise Industry News has studied some of the major players’ COVID-19 vaccine policies and restart plans.

Royal Caribbean International 
Ships: Freedom of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Independence of the Seas
First Cruise: July 2, 2021
Homeports: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Seattle, Bayonne and Galveston    
Region: Caribbean, Bahamas and Alaska
Vaccination required? Rules vary by ship

Restarting service in the United States with several ships, Royal Caribbean International has different rules regarding vaccination against COVID-19.

For Freedom, Odyssey, Allure, Symphony and Mariner sailing out of Florida ports in July and August, vaccines are “strongly recommended” for all eligible guests. Approximately 90 percent of the passengers are expected to be vaccinated, but those choosing not to be vaccinated or not willing to verify vaccination will be subject to testing and additional health protocols at their expense. 

For the Serenade and Ovation from Seattle, the Independence from Galveston and the Oasis from Bayonne, guests will need to be fully vaccinated with the exemption only for children under 12. Children under 12 will need to be tested and subject to health protocols, with no additional charges for any testing.

Carnival Cruise Line
Ships: Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Miracle
First Cruise: July 3, 2021
Homeports: Galveston, Miami and Seattle 
Region: Caribbean, Bahamas and Alaska
Vaccination required? Yes – for 95% of the guests in July

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed its plans to restart service in July, initially with four ships sailing in the Caribbean and Alaska.

Carnival said 95 percent of guests will need to have had their final approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to sailing and will be required to present proof of vaccination at the time of check-in. 

The company noted, however, that it will be able to accommodate a “small number” of unvaccinated guests (children under 12) and allow a small number of exemptions.

Recently, Carnival confirmed additional plans to reactivate more vessels in August. Vaccination requirements, however, are still to be announced.

Norwegian Cruise Line   
Ships: Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Breakaway     
First Cruise: August 7, 2021
Homeports: Seattle, Miami and New York       
Region: Alaska, Caribbean and Bermuda
Vaccination required? Yes, initially  

Norwegian Cruise Line will deploy three ships in the United States until September. With the new Norwegian Encore sailing to Alaska, the company is also planning to offer cruises to the Caribbean with the Norwegian Gem and to Bermuda with the Norwegian Breakaway.

All initial voyages will operate with fully vaccinated guests and crew.

Celebrity Cruises  
Ships: Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Equinox  
First Cruise: June 26, 2021
Homeports: Fort Lauderdale and Seattle    
Region: Alaska and Caribbean
Vaccination required? Yes – guests over 16

With three ships entering service in the United States by late July, Celebrity will require passengers to be inoculated.

According to the company’s website, all guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing.  As of August 1, 2021, all guests aged 12 and older will need to be fully vaccinated.

MSC Cruises
Ships: MSC Meraviglia and MSC Divina
First Cruise: August 2, 2021
Homeports: Miami and Port Canaveral
Region: Caribbean and Bahamas
Vaccination required? No

MSC Cruises has confirmed its restart plans for two ships cruising from U.S. ports beginning this August. The MSC Meraviglia will kick off the restart on Aug. 2, followed by the MSC Divina on Sept. 18. Both ships will offer cruises from Florida to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

According to MSC, the new itineraries will welcome both vaccinated and non-vaccinated guests. Those who are not vaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be subject to requirements such as additional testing, as well as restrictions, which are still to be announced.

Princess Cruises
Ships: Majestic Princess
First Cruise: July 25, 2021
Homeports: Seattle
Region: Alaska
Vaccination required? Yes

Princess Cruises is resuming its U.S. operations in Alaska with the Majestic Princess. The vessel will welcome passengers back on July 25, ahead of a series of ten sailings from Seattle.

The cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination.

Holland America Line
Ships: Nieuw Amsterdam
First Cruise: July 24, 2021
Homeports: Seattle
Region: Alaska
Vaccination required? Yes

Welcoming the passengers back in Alaska, Holland America Line will return to service on July 24. On that day, the Nieuw Amsterdam will sail from Seattle for the first of 10 Saturday departures that will operate through Oct. 2.

Guests will be required to have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation and have proof of vaccination.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line
Ships: Grand Classica
First Cruise: July 2, 2021
Homeports: Palm Beach
Region: Bahamas
Vaccination required? No

Bahamas Paradise will be one of the first cruise lines to resume service in the United States. After receiving a green light from the CDC to conduct a simulated sailing in June, the company plans to welcome the guests back next month. On July 2, the Grand Classica will restart its regular program of short cruises between Palm Beach and Freeport.

According to Bahamas Paradise website, guests will not need to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding, while the crew will be fully vaccinated.

Silversea Cruises
Ships: Silver Muse 
First Cruise: July 29, 2021
Homeports: Seattle
Region: Alaska
Vaccination required? Yes

The Silver Muse will resume round-trip sailings from Seattle starting on July 29, making Silversea the first luxury cruise line to operate in Alaska this summer.

According to the company, one of the measures to guarantee the health and safety of the operation, is making sure that all guests and crew are vaccinated against COVID-19.  

NCL LATEST LINE TO ANNOUNCE ALASKA RESTART PLANS

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Norwegian Cruise Line has become the latest brand to announce plans to restart activities in Alaska this summer.

The line will resume itineraries with Norwegian Bliss offering week-long voyages from Seattle from 7 August to 16 October.

NCL joins a number of companies – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Holland America Line – in announcing their intentions to return to the region.

The developments follow the US House of Representatives approving a bill temporarily waiving Canada’s Passenger Vessel Services Act, which requires ships to either start itineraries in Canada or stop in a Canadian port during them.

Alaska is currently the first destination in the US to green-light cruising since the pandemic.

All lines are still subject to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) rules, which have not yet allowed sailings to return.

Lines are anticipating the CDC allowing sailings to restart from July.

As part of its programme, NCL will offer seven to 13 hours of port time in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point in Alaska – guests can also benefit from the opening of a second cruise pier in Icy Strait Point.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean will also offer seven-night cruises, round-trip from Seattle, on Serenade of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, beginning 19 July and 13 August.

Celebrity will deploy Celebrity Summit in Seattle in July offering nine seven-day sailings through to mid-September.