The global cruise industry’s restart is continuing to move forward in May, as 347 cruise ships are expected to sail, according to the May edition of the Cruise Ships in Service Report by Cruise Industry News.
That is a big gain of ships from April, when 300 ships were in service, compared to 264 in March, and just 47 ships in May 2021.
Of the 347 ships set to cruise in April, they represent some 82 cruise brands and just over 550,000 berths.
Royal Caribbean International continues to be the biggest brand in service and will have 25 ships sailing in May, including welcoming back the Ovation of the Seas in Alaska and the Rhapsody of the Seas in the Mediterranean.
Carnival Cruise Line will complete its restart with its 23-ship fleet sailing, with the Splendor relaunching operations on May 2 for her 2022 summer program in Alaska.
Norwegian Cruise Line will welcome back the Sun, sailing out of Seattle to Alaska, and the Spirit, which is starting service as well on May 7.
Other highlights include the Royal and Crown Princess relaunching revenue sailings, and the AIDAaura, which cruises from Hamburg on May 7.
The program is recommended, and cruise lines have until Feb. 18 to opt-in.
There will continue to be a colour status system for COVID-19 cases on ships, which will be frowned upon by the industry.
Cruise lines choosing to opt in to this program will be required to follow all recommendations and guidance as a condition of their participation in the program (i.e., they will not be able to pick and choose which recommendations they follow).
Cruise lines must again have detailed COVID-19 response plans, and port agreements, plus continued onboard testing for passengers and crew, and must continue to have other policies and procedures in place.
Through August, seven cruise lines and eight modern vessels are set to resume service at the Last Frontier, offering a total 83 voyages.
Here are the ships sailing in Alaska:
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International Ship: Serenade of the Seas Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,100 Built: 2003 Homeport: Seattle (United States) Itinerary: Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point; scenic cruising in Endicott Arm fjord and Dawes Glacier Length: 7 nights First Cruise: In service since July 19, 2021
Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises Ship: Celebrity Millennium Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,038 Built: 2000 Homeport: Seattle (United States) Itinerary: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway; scenic cruising in Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier Length: 7 nights First Cruise: July 23, 2021
Cruise Line: Holland America Line Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,100 Built: 2010 Homeport: Seattle (United States) Itinerary: Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan; scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and Stephens Passage Length: 7 nights First Cruise: July 24, 2021
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises Ship: Majestic Princess Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,600 Built: 2017 Homeport: Seattle (United States) Itinerary: Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan Length: 7 nights First Cruise: July 25, 2021
Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Line Ship: Carnival Miracle Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,100 Built: 2004 Homeport: Seattle (United States) Itinerary: Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan; scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord Length: 7 nights First Cruise: July 27, 2021
Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises Ship: Silver Muse Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 596 Built: 2017 Homeport: Seattle (United States) Itinerary: Ketchikan, Juneau, Wrangell, Skagway, Sitka and more; scenic cruising in Sawyer Glacier and Mendenhall Glacier Length: 10 and 11 nights First Cruise: July 29, 2021
Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line Ship: Norwegian Encore Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,200 Built: 2019 Homeport: Seattle (United States) Itinerary: Icy Strait Point, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan; scenic cruising in Endicott Arm Length: 7 nights First Cruise: August 7, 2021
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International Ship: Ovation of the Seas Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 4,100 Built: 2016 Homeport: Seattle (United States) Itinerary: Glacier Bay National Park, the Inside Passage, Juneau and Skagway Length: 7 nights First Cruise: August 13, 2021
In addition, a number of small operators with U.S.-flagged ships are operating in Alaska, including Lindblad Expeditions, American Cruise Lines, UnCruise and Alaskan Dream Cruises.
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