Royal Caribbean announced on Friday that US cruises are coming back in July.
After being unable to sail for 16 months, Royal Caribbean announced that it would resume cruises from the United States on select cruise lines in July.
Royal Caribbean begins on July 2nd with a departure from Miami on the Freedom of the Seas for a short cruise to the Bahama, punctually on July 4th.
By the end of August, 12 Royal Caribbean ships will be cruising the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe again.
Royal Caribbean said their approach to a restart will “remain very deliberate and methodical”.
Your roll-out plan will extend over the “next few months”.
No doubt today’s announcement raises many questions, and Royal Caribbean says a subsequent notice about the protocols and embarkation requirements passengers can expect for US-based ships will be released at a later date.
The shipping company said it had received instructions from the Healthy Sail Panel, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and various government and health agencies to make this possible.
Royal Caribbean already has it announced plans to require the Covid-19 vaccine for all adults and some teenagers.
Vacationers departing from Seattle or the Bahamas who are 16 years or older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and those 12 or older must be fully vaccinated by August 1.
Guests are strongly advised to set sail fully vaccinated if they are authorized to do so. Those who are not vaccinated or cannot verify vaccination will need to undergo tests and follow other protocols, which will be announced at a later date. Additional measures for travelers wishing to cruise with Royal Caribbean include:
- Vacationers traveling to Alaska who are 16 years of age or older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and those 12 and older by August 1st.
- When departing from an international port, guests must comply with the travel regulations of their home and country of departure. You can find the latest guidelines online on the tourism pages of the individual countries.
The new cruises in the US and Europe add to Royal Caribbean’s previously announced plans to return to sailing, including Adventure of the Seas from the Bahamas on June 12, Anthem of the Seas from the UK and Jewel of the Seas from Cyprus in July .
Short cruises (3-5 nights)
Freedom of the Seas from Miami Florida, starting July 2, 2021
Now open and on sale
Mariner of the Seas departures from Port Canaveral, Florida on August 23, 2021
Now open and on sale
7 night cruises
Odyssey of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, premiered July 3, 2021
Now open and on sale
Allure of the Seas departing Port Canaveral, Florida, starting August 8, 2021
Now open and on sale
Symphony of the Seas from Miami, Florida, starting August 14, 2021
Now open and on sale
Independence of the Seas from Galveston, starting August 15, 2021
Will go on sale June 8, 2021
Serenade of the Seas from Seattle, starting July 19
Now open and on sale
Ovation of the Seas from Seattle, starting August 13th
Now open and on sale
TO UPDATE: Guests who have booked on Independence of the Seas from Miami from July 3 to October 23, 2021 will be relocated to a similar crossing on the Odyssey of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale. Should guests no longer wish to sail due to this change, refunds can be requested until June 18, 2021.
Europe
Harmony of the Seas from Barcelona and Rome, from August 15, 2021
Now open and on sale
Further cancellations
While Royal Caribbean can resume operations on 7 ships this summer, a number of other ships are now being canceled as their restart will take longer.
Cruises outside of the cruises announced today will be canceled until the end of August.
- Allure of the Seas from Port Canaveral: July 4th, August 1st, 2021
- Brilliance of the Seas departs Tampa: July 3rd-August 28th, 2021
- Enchantment of the Seas is leaving Baltimore: July 1 to August 26, 2021
- Explorer of the Seas from Galveston: July 5th, September 22nd & October 25th, 2021
- Freedom of the Seas from Bayonne: July 3, October 23, 2021
- Harmony of the Seas from Barcelona & Rome: July 4th, August 12th 2021
- Harmony of the Seas from Rome: August 19 & 26, 2021
- Liberty of the Seas from Galveston: July 4th-August 8th, 2021
- Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral: July 2 – August 20, 2021
- Oasis of the Seas from Bayonne: July 2nd – August 29th 2021
- Rhapsody of the Seas from Ravenna / Venice: July 3 to November 30, 2021
- Symphony of the Seas from Miami: July 3, August 7, 2021
Guests on the canceled cruises are entitled to a full refund, 125% credit for future cruises, or a modified lift & shift.
The modified Lift & Shift is an option that allows you to move your existing booking to a trip in the next year on the same itinerary]trip length, port of embarkation, cabin category and within 2 weeks before or after the date of your original cruise.
What about the CDC?
These plans are exciting, but Royal Caribbean’s plans actually need to be approved by the CDC.
According to Royal Caribbean, they are in “ongoing discussions with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several state, local and port authorities in the US and various target communities about the various requirements for upcoming crossings.”
The current process requires each ship to complete a simulation voyage before being allowed to sail again from US ports.
The applications for simulation cruises are continuously checked and approved. The advances made as a result of ongoing collaboration with and support at the state, local and federal levels continue to set the stage for Royal Caribbean to return to sailing as planned this summer.
The shipping company will inform guests and travel advisors about current measures before they leave.
Celebration of a return
As you can imagine, Royal Caribbean looks forward to the return of cruises as much as cruise fans do.
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley welcomed the important announcement: “That’s it. Vacationers can finally plan to take their precious time this summer and really get away from it all after a challenging time.”
“I would like to sincerely thank our guests and travel partners for their incredible patience and understanding during this very difficult time. Not least thanks to the successful introduction of vaccines, the adventure world is beginning to open up, and we are all excited to offer our guests, who have told us more and more frequently that they are getting vaccinated, a great vacation. “
“As of today, 90% of all vacationers who book with Royal Caribbean are either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise.”
