Royal Caribbean has just announced that 6 of its ships will start sailing from the main US cruise ports in Florida and Texas in July and August.
The expected return of the shipping company from North American ports will be next July 2 in Miami, the cruise capital of the world, aboard the Freedom of the Seas , and making an itinerary during the festive weekend of July 4 sailing towards Perfect Day at CocoCay.
In addition to the deployment in the United States, departures in European ports have been revealed. Among them, the return to the port of Barcelona on August 15 stands out.
There will be 12 ships in the fleet this summer
By the end of August, 12 Royal Caribbean ships will once again be sailing in the Bahamas , the Caribbean , Alaska and Europe.
Immediately following the first cruise on Royal Caribbean’s long-awaited return to the US, the new Odyssey of the Seas will debut on July 3 from Fort Lauderdale with 6- and 8-night Caribbean cruises, soon to be followed by Allure, Symphony, Independence * and Mariner of the Seas .
In the coming weeks, the shipping company will announce its plans to reintroduce its entire fleet worldwide by the end of the year .
All 2021 summer cruises are available to book from today.
Michael Bayley , President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, stated during the announcement:
“ The time has finally come. Cruise passengers can finally plan what to do this summer and take a getaway after what has been a challenging time for everyone. I would like to sincerely thank our passengers and travel agents for their incredible patience and understanding during this difficult time.
Thanks in large part to the successful launch of vaccines, a world of adventure is beginning to open up and we are delighted to begin offering great vacations to our passengers, who have increasingly started to tell us that they are being vaccinated.
As of today, 90% of our passengers who have made their reservations with us are either vaccinated or are planning to get vaccinated in time for their cruise “
Cruises advertised by Royal Caribbean offer a range of itineraries that vary in duration and destination , ease and flexibility in booking, and convenient US ports of departure ensuring there is a cruise for every type of passenger.
Deployment of Royal Caribbean Ships and Cruises announced today:
Caribbean
Freedom of the Seas *: 3- and 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay sailings from Miami, starting July 2
Odyssey of the Seas *: 6- and 8-night South and Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, starting July 3
Serenade of the Seas: 7-night Alaska sailings from Seattle, starting July 19
Allure of the Seas: 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral , starting August 8
Ovation of the Seas: 7-night Alaska itineraries from Seattle, starting August 13
Symphony of the Seas :7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from Miami, beginning August 14
Independence of the Seas *: 7-night western Caribbean sailings from Galveston, Texas, beginning August 15
Mariner of the Seas: Departures 3 and 4 nights to the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay from Port Canaveral, starting August 23
Europe
But Royal Caribbean’s cruise announcement this summer has included European international ports such as Barcelona and Rome , with the Harmony of the Seas returning to Europe .
Starting August 15, the Oasis-class ship will set sail on 7-night itineraries around the western Mediterranean and will also visit other iconic destinations such as Palma de Mallorca, or Provence.
New US and European cruises expand Royal Caribbean’s previously announced plans to re-sail, including Adventure of the Seas departing from the Bahamas on June 12, as well as Anthem of the Seas sailing from the UK and Jewel. of the Seas from Cyprus in July.
* Note: The Summer 2021 itineraries of the Freedom, Odyssey and Independence of the Seas are those existing for the following ships: Navigator, Independence, Liberty and Explorer of the seas respectively. Passengers with reservations on those ships will be automatically transferred to the new ship.
Cruises outside of those announced today will be canceled until the end of August .
Passengers with reservations and affected travel agents will be contacted with more specific details of their trip, including the option to receive a full refund.
For added peace of mind, all passengers who booked before July 31 are covered by the Cruise with Confidence program.
US Health and Safety Measures
Travelers can plan their cruise with the peace of mind knowing that all crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19 .
Passengers are strongly advised to depart fully vaccinated, if eligible.
Those who are not vaccinated or who cannot show proof of vaccination will take a test and follow other protocols that will be announced in a few days.
Other measures in place for travelers cruising with Royal Caribbean include:
• Passengers traveling to Alaska 16 years of age or older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and those 12 years or older as of August 1.
• If departing from an international port, passengers must comply with the travel requirements of their country of origin and the country of departure. The most up-to-date policies can be found online on the tourism websites of each country.
Royal Caribbean is continuing discussions with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and with multiple state, local and port authorities about various additional measures for upcoming voyages.
The current process requires each ship to complete simulation cruises before receiving approval to resume sailing again in the US
Applications for simulation cruises are continually being reviewed and approved.
The progress made as a result of continued collaboration and support from the state, local and federal levels continues to set the stage for Royal Caribbean to return to sailing this summer as planned.
The company will share updates with passengers and travel advisers prior to the departure date.
