After 18 months of waiting, cruising is finally returning to service. I was really starting to think this day would never come! Slowly, but surely, the cruise lines are setting sail, mostly on shorter itineraries at reduced capacity. We were lucky enough to be chosen to be among the first guests to sail from a US port since the pandemic shut down the entire cruise industry in March of 2020.
The CDC has given the cruise lines two ways that they can return to service. The first option is to require that 95% of all passengers and crew onboard have been fully vaccinated. This is the route that Celebrity Cruises picked and they are back at sea. Because Royal Caribbean caters to families and current vaccination recommendations do not apply to children under 12, they have opted to conduct “simulation sailings” prior to opening up to the public to ensure that they are compliant with all of the CDC’s requirements and guidelines.
My daughter and I are flying to Orlando today to participate in a 2 day “simulation sailing” onboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it! This will be a fully operating cruise at a reduced capacity with a stop to enjoy a Perfect Day at CocoCay. Everyone on the simulation cruise must be fully vaccinated, so I think there has never been a safer time to sail!
Have I told you lately how good it is to be me?
Watch for updates and lots of pictures as we mojito our way through the high seas.