Royal Caribbean will debut seven-night cruises on Adventure of the Seas departing from Nassau in June, while Genting Hong Kong subsidiary Crystal Cruises will offer 16 itineraries sailing from Nassau or Bimini on Crystal Serenity from July.
Royal Caribbean International will launch sailings departing from Nassau in the Bahamas this June. The seven-night cruises on Adventure of the Seas will be open to adult passengers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and passengers under 18 with a negative coronavirus test.
Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said in a statement that the company anticipates returning to the Caribbean “gradually and safely”.
“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,” he stated.
Royal Caribbean said that it also would implement its Healthy Sail Panel Recommendations on Adventure of the Seas, including face coverings, temperature checks and testing.
This marks the first time the cruise line will board cruises for sailings beginning in the Bahamas. “We are grateful for the confidence that they have in us and our commitment to a healthy and happy return to sailing,” Bayley said.
The Bahamas itineraries will feature island hopping with two days spent back to back at Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay along with time spent in Grand Bahama Island and Cozumel, Mexico.
“I am especially pleased that Royal Caribbean, with whom we have had a long and mutually beneficial relationship for more than 50 years, selected The Bahamas as a homeport when sailing resumes,” said the Bahamas prime minister Hubert Minnis. “This is truly a new day for tourism. It should inspire many small-to-medium-sized businesses, tour operators, taxi drivers, restaurants and retailers to prepare for brighter days ahead.”
Meanwhile, Crystal Cruises, owned by Genting Hong Kong, has opened sales for 16 itineraries that sail exclusively around the Bahamas a week at a time, starting in July.
As with Royal Caribbean, the trips will only be available to fully inoculated travellers, who must show their vaccine cards before boarding. They will sail from Nassau or Bimini to Great Exuma and several other islands on the 980-passenger Crystal Serenity.
“After a long, arduous year, the partnership with Crystal Cruises is an exceptionally positive and exciting development and was met with great celebration,” Dionisio D’Aguilar, Bahamas minister of tourism and aviation. “This is the first of many steps in getting our vital tourism sector booming again.”
