06/20/2021
Major Cruise Line Ships - 2021 Sail Dates on the Horizon
Carnival Cruise Line: July 3, 2021 - Carnival Cruise Line plans to resume its cruises in July. As of right now, the line will require travelers to be fully vaccinated to embark on its first two voyages out of Galveston, Texas, in early and mid-July. The cruise line has confirmed that passengers looking to set sail on a Carnival ship should expect standard guidelines backed by the CDC and other experts, including the use of face masks, social distancing and testing before boarding. Check back here for further updates or see Carnival Cruise Line's website for more information.
Celebrity Cruises: Cruising as of June 5, 2021 - Celebrity Cruises deployed its first cruise ship for a weeklong sailing through the Caribbean on June 5, 2021, with 500 passengers on board representing a 95% vaccination rate. The line aims to continue offering Caribbean and Greek island sailings through the rest of the month with more robust itinerary offerings planned for July, August and beyond. The cruise line will require all travelers 18 and older to be fully vaccinated 14 days prior to embarkation. Guests will also need to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result acquired within 72 hours of the sail date. Celebrity’s panel of 11 health experts – including doctors and scientists – advised the line to implement policies like temperature screenings, enhanced ventilation on board, sanitation stations and more. For more information, head to Celebrity Cruises' website.
Crystal Cruises: July 3, 2021 - On Crystal Cruises' two ships – Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony – future travelers will be protected during all parts of their journey by the Crystal Clean+ program. The initiative includes COVID-19 testing and temperature screenings during check-in, numerous health questionnaires, face mask policies, social distancing and reduced capacities, high-tech cleaning methods, hospital-grade disinfectants, new fresh-air ventilation systems, contactless dining protocols and more. Travelers must also be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to cruising. Visit Crystal Cruises' website to see its full list of enhanced policies.
Cunard Line: September 10, 2021 - Select Cunard Line cruises are scheduled to restart in September 2021. On Cunard sailings, travelers can expect policies like pre-boarding COVID-19 testing and screenings, upgraded cleaning efforts in public areas and guest rooms, hand-sanitizer stations dispersed throughout each ship, improved air filtration on board, and up-to-date guidelines on face masks and social distancing. At this time, Cunard Line cannot welcome guests with certain medical conditions – such as those requiring dialysis or supplementary oxygen – or who have been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 within 14 days of embarkation. See Cunard's website for more information.
Disney Cruise Line: August 2, 2021 - Disney Cruise Line aims to resume special "staycation" voyages for United Kingdom residents in July, but it will not restart sailings for Americans until at least early August. The cruise company plans to comply with CDC guidance by requiring COVID-19 testing and health screenings, denying boarding to passengers exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, mandating the use of face masks and more. On top of that, itineraries that last longer than seven days have been canceled until further notice. For more information, head to Disney Cruise Line's website.
Holland America Line: July 24, 2021 - Holland America Line plans to restart its Alaska sailings at the end of July and some of its Greece sailings in August. Guests can plan on coronavirus safety protocols like pre-embarkation health screenings (and ongoing checks throughout each cruise), rapid response and contact tracing on board should cases arise, extensive sanitation of all ship areas, social distancing through reduced capacities and staggered event times, mandatory face masks, additional medical staff on each ship and more. Visit Holland America Line's website for more information.
MSC Cruises: July 2, 2021 - Although MSC Cruises is currently allowing residents of select European countries on its Mediterranean routes, most voyages will not resume until at least early July 2021. Cruisers who embark on MSC's upcoming voyages will experience policies like pre-boarding health checks (and denied entry for anyone exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms), daily temperature screenings, adapted buffets (staff will serve guests), reduced capacities for activities and theaters, increased medical personnel on board and more. Masks will be required in public areas when social distancing is not possible. To read more about MSC's full list of coronavirus safety measures, see its website.
Norwegian Cruise Line: July 2021 - Norwegian Cruise Line is preparing to welcome guests again in July and August aboard select ships. Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will require passengers to be fully vaccinated two weeks prior to embarking on a voyage. Crew members must also be fully vaccinated before sailing. Earlier this spring, Norwegian stopped accepting bookings for its 2021 Alaska cruising season, but it has not yet canceled these itineraries. All ships now feature medical-grade air filters, and public and private spaces will be frequently sanitized with powerful disinfectants. Travelers should expect contactless temperature checks at multiple points during their cruise, including before boarding, before dining, before activities in public areas and before getting off of the ship at ports of call. Social distancing will be encouraged on board, and a bevy of medical supplies will be available should any guests fall ill during their vacation. Check Norwegian Cruise Line's website for further details.
Oceania Cruises: August 29, 2021 - In partnership with its Healthy Sail Panel, Oceania Cruises has prepared its ships with the aim of sailing again in late August, starting with Oceania Marina. Departures aboard the line's other five vessels will be staggered between October 2021 to January 2022. The cruise line will require all guests and crew members to be fully immunized against COVID-19 at least two weeks before traveling. Other coronavirus safety protocols include continuous sanitization of all public and private spaces, upgraded hospital-grade air filtration systems, a dedicated health officer, touchless food service, health screenings, social distancing measures and more. See Oceania's website for more information on its health plan.
Paul Gauguin Cruises: August 21, 2021 - Sailings will resume in the South Pacific in Tahiti and French Polynesia. The line has also provided details about its new, extensive “COVID-Safe Protocol.”
Princess Cruises: July 25, 2021 - Travelers looking to embark on a Princess Cruises voyage once sailings resume will be met by elements of the line's CruiseHealth initiative. Highlights include health screenings at embarkation, touch-free boarding, enhanced ventilation systems, consistent sanitization of all areas and contactless mobile ordering for poolside food and drinks. Physical distancing will be enforced, and guests will be required to wear masks in areas where distancing is difficult. Additionally, staff in the onboard medical center are trained to handle any arising cases of COVID-19. To learn more, visit Princess Cruises' website.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: September 11, 2021 - Luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises is working with a panel of experts to restart sailings aboard its first ship in September. The line plans to have all of its ships back out to sea by February 2022. To board any Regent Seven Seas Cruises vessel, all crew members and vacationers must be fully vaccinated 14 days before their sail dates. Additionally, all guests must take a COVID-19 antigen test during the boarding process and receive a negative result to continue on their cruise. Protocols include enhanced cleaning policies, upgraded air filtration systems, health screenings prior to embarkation, touch-free food service, reduced capacities on board, social distancing measures and more. Each ship will have a dedicated public health officer to oversee that all expectations are met. For more information, see Regent Seven Seas Cruises' website.
Royal Caribbean International: July 2, 2021 - With the exception of a few sailings through the Bahamas in late June, Royal Caribbean International plans to resume select voyages in July. Royal Caribbean's recently updated vaccination guidelines state that ships leaving out of ports in Florida and Texas will not require proof of vaccination, while sailings departing from Seattle and the Bahamas will. Guests will be tested for COVID-19 prior to boarding, and other safety protocols must be followed. Visit Royal Caribbean's website for its full list of updates
Viking Ocean Cruises: July 2021 - Viking Ocean Cruises announced plans to introduce sailings through Bermuda and Iceland in July 2021 for fully vaccinated travelers. Guests (and staff) will also be tested for COVID-19 daily using PCR tests, and new air purification technology has been implemented on all ships. The line will also encourage face masks and social distancing measures, and public surfaces will be frequently disinfected. Although Viking will not require cruisers to get tested independently prior to their trip, it is highly recommended – especially for those experiencing symptoms. Should a traveler test positive during the voyage, Viking will isolate them on board, then disembark them from the ship and arrange lodging in the nearest port until it is safe for the cruiser to fly home. For Viking's full health plan, check its website.
Virgin Voyages: August 6, 2021 - Brand-new cruise line Virgin Voyages was originally set to debut its first ship, the Scarlet Lady, in April 2020. Due to the pandemic, the ship's inaugural sailing has been pushed several times. The line plans to debut the Scarlet Lady with a series of mini sailings in the U.K. starting in early August, followed by U.S. sailings (and other ship debuts) starting in September. On board, travelers can expect precautions like temperature checks and health screenings, staggered boarding, touchless technologies and lower occupancies – all part of the line's Voyage Well initiative. Virgin's ships were not designed with any buffet-style eateries, which may help reduce transmission risks while dining. Additionally, Virgin Voyages' guests and crew members must all be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before sailing. To keep up to date on Virgin Voyages news, see its website.
Windstar Cruises: June 19, 2021 - Windstar Cruises, which operates small-scale ships accommodating between 150 and 350 guests each, plans to resume its cruises in June. Windstar will require all crew and vacationers to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at least two weeks before traveling. The company will also administer an antigen test for each passenger during the boarding process; the result must come back negative in order to cruise. For an extra level of protection, Windstar is installing hospital-grade air filters on all yachts, using electrostatic sprayers to disinfect all surfaces on board and more. Visit Windstar Cruises' website to learn more.
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