Thinking Of A Cruise Vacation This Year? Here Is An Update

With Spring Break and warmer weather upon us, many are asking “When can we go on a cruise again?”.

I’m a cruise lover, having been on 7 in the US and one in Europe. Amazingly fun and would love to do it again someday. But when is that day going to be here?

According to the CDC, “all people” should avoid going on a cruise, which remains effective until November 2021.

Additionally, when cruises are operational again, the CDC will require face coverings, lab testing for all passengers and cruise staff when they embark and disembark the ship and continuous sanitation of all areas.

Business Insider says US based Crystal Cruises is going to start cruising to the Bahamas again in July. They have 32 trips planned to Bimini and five other destinations. The cruise costs $2,000 per person. All guests will have to be fully vaccinated 14 days before the cruise leaves. Cruisers must also wear masks and socially distance

From CNN TRAVEL:

Princess Cruises has said its longer cruises departing the UK are canceled until the end of September, and instead will launch a series of “new short cruises” departing from the UK port of Southampton on its Regal Princess and Sky Princess vessels. P&O and Cunard have also announced plans for “staycation sailings” departing from the UK.

Australia, which has adopted a hardline on arrivals throughout the pandemic, has a cruise ship ban in place until June 17, 2021. Canada, meanwhile, has extended its cruise ship veto until February 2022.

Roger Frizzell, a spokesman for Carnival Corporation — which own Princess Cruises alongside Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises, Cunard, Princess and Holland America — told CNN Travel the cruise company will take “a staggered approach” to returning “with a limited number of our ships cruising initially.”

“In the US, we do not yet have dates for when our brands will be able to begin cruising again. We are waiting on additional technical specifications from the CDC that are expected soon,” said Frizzell.

He added Carnival was “hopeful that all of our fleet will be sailing again by the end of the year.”

Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Lines have halted most of their sailings until May 31, 2021.

Are you ready for this type of vacation if on-board face coverings, hand hygiene and social distancing was required every time you embark and disembark the ship? That has been one proposal by the CDC.

Susan Saunders 3/16/21