The cruise ship industry is gradually returning to normal with another milestone scheduled to be met in September, according to the Cruise Industry News. That month, more than 200 ships are scheduled to be in service, about half of how many are regularly operating during non-pandemic times.
One of the most significant developments to occur this month is the relaunch of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas boat. It sails out of the Cape Liberty Cruise Port, which is located in Bayonne, N.J., a 20-minute drive from New York City.
Meanwhile, cruise ship enthusiasts who are in or near Florida will now be able to head to Port Canaveral, which is on Florida’s east coast, an hour’s drive from Orlando, and board MSC Cruises’ Divina ship.
Those two cruise lines and Carnival Cruise Line will be, in order, the three most extensive operators of the month.
Three of Carnival’s most noteworthy ships to newly take to the water in September include its Dream, Glory and Pride boats. All of those are operated out of various American ports.
However, it is not just the United States that will be home to returning cruise ships. For example, Costa Cruises’ Diadema and Fascinosa will start sailing from Savona, Italy, which is situated a two-hour drive from both the Italian city of Milan and the French city of Nice.
Those who want to take advantage of these offerings should make sure to first check on what vaccination and other COVID-19-related requirements may need to be met in order to be allowed to board.
For example, cruise ship lines in the U.S. are generally requiring that nearly all of their passengers be vaccinated against the virus. This includes those boarding ships that are departing Florida, a new development that was sparked by the Bahamas requiring, starting on Friday, passengers on ships entering its ports be vaccinated.
Partially as a result of this vaccination requirement, cruise ships have been “literally one of the safest places on the planet.” That is according to Royal Caribbean International CEO and President Michael Bayley. He said that in August while also revealing that one or two passengers out of more than 1,000 tend to test positive for the COVID-19 virus, and those who do generally experience no to minor symptoms.