BREAKING NEWS – Starting this June, cruises will be returning to the waters for a few of our popular AAA Travel partners. On March 19, both Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean made announcements regarding their summer 2021 return.  

Celebrity Cruises 

Scheduled to set sail on June 5, Celebrity Cruises is making a Caribbean comeback as they prepare to welcome guests onboard in St. Maarten. This long-anticipated return is paired with their revolutionized ship, the Celebrity Millennium, that will make its debut at the forefront of the fleet’s $500 million modernization program.  

Eager travelers can fulfill their vacation dreams with Celebrity by booking one of the new seven-night itineraries departing through August en-route to top islands in the Caribbean. These offerings will be available to vaccinated adult guests and children under the age of 18 with a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of embarkation. The ship will sail with a fully vaccinated crew, and feature an exclusive open-air hideaway known as, “The Retreat.” 

Onboard cruisers can expect world-class dining, thrilling shows and stylish staterooms, along with opportunities to immerse themselves in the cultures of their arrival destinations. In St. Maarten specifically, guests will delve into the Dutch, French and Caribbean roots, opt-for once-in-a-lifetime activities and bask on stunning beaches.  

At each port of call, curated tours are available for all interests and budgets, along with opportunities for Small Group Discovery Tours and Private Journeys.  

Celebrity Cruises has also recently reimagined and simplified the luxury vacation experience with their, “Always Included” program that provides included Wi-Fi, drinks and tips onboard every Celebrity cruise. Additionally, the “Cruise with Confidence” program provides flexible cancellations and best price guarantees. 

Royal Caribbean 

On June 12, Royal Caribbean International will return to cruising with seven-night roundtrip sailings from Nassau, The Bahamas. These offerings will be available to adults who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and those under 18 who possess negative test results. The entire crew onboard will also be vaccinated. 

The popular Royal Caribbean private island, CocoCay, will be a featured two-day destination stop, along with the Grand Bahama Island and Cozumel, Mexico.  

These tropical cruises will run through August and make a “gradual and safe” comeback according to Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. The availability and increased accessibility to vaccines has provided vaccinated passengers with an opportunity to travel again. These requirements and other measures will be expected aboard cruises, and will evolve as the industry opens back up.  

Royal Caribbean shared specific details of health and safety on board will be announced later. These guidelines will be formulated by the expert advice of Royal’s Healthy Sail Panel, a combined initiative of Royal Caribbean’s head of public health and chief medical officer, with local government and health authorities.  

All vacationers will be required to follow these protocols, as well as meet the travel advisories of The Bahamas. Currently, the country requires a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 5 days before arrival, along with an application for the Bahamas Travel Health Visa.  

From their onboard enhancements to improve overall health and safety, along with initiatives to improve cruise experiences, contact a AAA Travel advisor to learn more and save on your sailing with Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean. A reality that is now, if you choose, sooner than you think.