Royal Caribbean just got the green light to depart on its first ticketed cruise from the U.S. since the pandemic started.
Following a successful test voyage, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas is set to leave Miami on Friday for a Fourth of July weekend cruise to the Bahamas. The ship is scheduled to stop in Nassau and at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.
“This is exciting progress, and we look forward to welcoming our guests on board,” Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley said in announcing the development on Facebook.
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas recently completed a three-day, two-night test voyage from Miami with 650 employees on board — a gauge of its ability to operate safely during an ongoing pandemic.
Video: Vaccines Will Now Be Optional on Most Royal Caribbean Cruises (Travel + Leisure)
Soak in Natural Mineral Water and Sleep Under the Stars at This Hot Spring Oasis in the Ut
Travel + Leisure
UK Plans to Ease Quarantine Rules for Travel to U.S., EU for Vaccinated Travelers
Travel + Leisure
Sweden Will Welcome American Travelers Starting June 30
Travel + Leisure
Travelocity Is Giving Away $10,000 Vacations Based on Your Kids Drawings
Travel + Leisure
NYC's Party Scene Is Getting a Tropical Upgrade That Includes Stunning Views and Rooftop P
Travel + Leisure
This Renovated, 19th-century House in Hudson, New York, Is the Charming Town's Newest Hote
Travel + Leisure
The Best Place to Watch a Rocket Launch in the U.S. Might Surprise You
Travel + Leisure
The Netherlands Has Reopened Its Border to American Travelers
Travel + Leisure
This Boutique Hotel in Portugal Is a Design Lover's Paradise Tucked Away by the Ocean
Travel + Leisure
The Montage Big Sky Is Opening Just in Time for a Winter Vacation
Travel + Leisure
Want Absolute Luxury in the Maldives? Rent This Island for $1 Million a Night
Travel + Leisure
Disney World Is Celebrating Its 50th Anniversary by Giving Away Free Trips to the Park
Travel + Leisure
Nearly 50 Million Americans Are Expected to Travel for Fourth of July Holiday Weekend
Travel + Leisure
Tide Teams up With NASA to Help Astronauts Do Laundry in Space
Travel + Leisure
The Savannah College of Art and Design Is Helping Tell Fashion History in France This Summer
Travel + Leisure
Even the Host of Netflix's 'World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals' Learned a Lot About Traveling While Filming
Travel + Leisure
Soak in Natural Mineral Water and Sleep Under the Stars at This Hot Spring Oasis in the Ut
It's time this remote Utah destination was put on the map.
Travel + Leisure
UK Plans to Ease Quarantine Rules for Travel to U.S., EU for Vaccinated Travelers
The new policy will likely go into effect in phases later this summer.
Travel + Leisure
Sweden Will Welcome American Travelers Starting June 30
Sweden plans to reopen to Americans just in time for summer travel.
Travel + Leisure
Royal Caribbean said all crew members expected to be on board the Freedom of the Seas have been vaccinated. The cruise line also noted that “the majority of guests” have been fully vaccinated, though it declined to provide specific numbers.
Load Error
Many of the ship’s unvaccinated guests are children and will have to participate in COVID-19 testing and other safety measures, Bayley said on Facebook.
Vaccinated guests will also have access to all areas on board, including restaurants, bars, pools, shops, and entertainment venues, while unvaccinated passengers will be restricted in certain places. You can find a full list here.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said it would allow cruise ships to sail as long as 95% of its crew members and guests are vaccinated. Royal Caribbean is requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for guests traveling from some ports. Due to local regulations, the cruise line is mandating unvaccinated passengers in Florida to carry COVID-19 insurance.
Another U.S. cruise line, Celebrity Cruises, has also returned to the water. Its Celebrity Edge ship became the first vessel back to commercial sailing since the pandemic began when it departed Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.
The Celebrity Edge is scheduled to stop in the Bahamas and Mexico. That ship is sailing with 1,200 passengers, just over a third of its normal volume.
Meena Thiruvengadam is a Travel + Leisure contributor who has visited 50 countries on six continents and 47 U.S. states. She loves historic plaques, wandering new streets and walking on beaches. Find her on Facebook and Instagram.
Source: Read Full Article