Royal Caribbean has said it will resume some cruises in the Caribbean this summer with vaccinated adult passengers, after a year-long hiatus.
The US-listed cruise giant has announced a series of seven-night cruises on board the 138,00-gt Adventure of the Seas (built 2001) sailing out of the Bahamas.
“The new itineraries departing through August, which will sail with vaccinated crew, will be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and those under the age of 18 with negative test results,” the cruise line said.
“We are excited to get back to delivering ... vacations in the Caribbean, gradually and safely,” Royal Caribbean International chief executive Michael Bayley said.
“The vaccines are clearly a game changer for all of us, and with the number of vaccinations and their impact growing rapidly, we believe starting with cruises for vaccinated adult guests and crew is the right choice.
“As we move forward, we expect this requirement and other measures will inevitably evolve over time.”
Royal Caribbean said the new Adventure of the Seas sailings continue the cruise line's “measured and safe return to cruising” following successful sailings with the 169,000-dwt Quantum of the Seas (built 2014) in Singapore and the recent announcement of the 169,000-gt Odyssey of the Seas (built 2020) cruise from Israel.
Separately, Royal Caribbean subsidiary Celebrity Cruises announced that it would also be resuming cruises in the Caribbean from the beginning of June.
The 91,000-gt Celebrity Millennium (built 2000) will be based out of St Maarten for a short season of seven-day cruises running until the end of August.
As with the Adventure of the Seas, all passengers above the age of 18 will need to have been vaccinated, while the crew will also have been vaccinated.
“Returning to the Caribbean after more than a year away is such a significant moment for us,” Celebrity Cruises chief executive Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said.
“It marks the measured beginning of the end of what has been a uniquely challenging time for everyone.”
