MIAMI, July 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It's official,
Royal Caribbean International is back in the U.S. and delivering
the long overdue cruise vacations that families and travelers of
all ages have missed. A nearly 16-month journey led up to the
moment yesterday when Freedom of the Seas became the
first Royal Caribbean ship in the U.S. to welcome guests and the
first cruise ship to do so from PortMiami, the cruise capital of
the world. Sailing with 93% of the onboard community fully
vaccinated and just in time for Fourth of July weekend,
Freedom set off on the first cruise of a summer-long series
of 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday getaways to Perfect Day
at CocoCay – the cruise line's top-rated private island
destination – and Nassau, The
Bahamas.
"We have a lot to celebrate. Families and loved ones can finally
come together after more than a year apart, and we're now welcoming
them back on board to make up for that lost time," said
Michael Bayley, president and CEO,
Royal Caribbean International. "For a moment as meaningful as
Fourth of July weekend, it couldn't be more appropriate that
Freedom of the Seas be the first ship to ring in our return
to cruising in the U.S. and delivering the memorable and safe
vacations Royal Caribbean is known for. Summer family vacations are
back, and we are just getting started."
Marking the most celebratory Fourth of July weekend yet, the
eagerly awaited comeback of the world's largest cruise line has
only just begun. Royal Caribbean
is planning for nine more award-winning ships to return through
August, including Anthem of the Seas in the U.K.,
Serenade and Ovation of the Seas in Alaska, and the brand-new Odyssey of
the Seas in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida. In the coming weeks, the cruise line will announce
plans to reintroduce its full fleet around the globe by year's end.
The complete 2021 lineup to date is available here.
Showcasing its $116 million
transformation from March 2020,
Freedom has a lineup of new features and amenities in store
for guests of all ages, including The Perfect
Storm duo of high-speed waterslides, a
vibrant, resort-style Caribbean poolscape; the cruise line's
first Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and new,
dedicated spaces for kids and teens. The amplified ship offers
an all-around tropical escape from ship to shore, sailing to
Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay,
The Bahamas. At Royal Caribbean's
game-changing private island destination, there are next-level
thrills and ways to chill, from the tallest waterslide in
North America to the largest
freshwater pool in the Caribbean,
Oasis Lagoon; to the first floating cabanas in The Bahamas at Coco Beach Club. Between the
decked-out experience on board and island hopping from one tropical
destination to the next, Freedom's 3-night weekend and
4-night weekday summer cruises from Miami are the perfect short getaways for
families to maximize every moment of their precious vacation
time.
Health and Safety Measures for Freedom of the
Seas
Vacationers sailing on Freedom can cruise with peace
of mind, knowing Royal Caribbean has ensured that all crew members
on board are fully vaccinated and additional layers of health and
safety measures are in place for their well-being. A full list of
protocols for Freedom's July cruises are
available here, which includes the cruise line's vaccination
policies.
Specific to Royal Caribbean cruises departing from Florida, it is strongly recommended that
guests 16 years of age and older (age 12 and older for sailings
departing on or after Aug. 1) be
fully vaccinated. Vacationers eligible but unvaccinated or unable
to show proof of vaccination are required to undergo testing,
follow additional health protocols and obtain travel insurance that
covers medical and other costs related to COVID-19 at their own
expense. Children ineligible for vaccines will be subject to
complimentary testing and other protocols. The vaccine policy is
one of the multiple measures, including the robust onboard
ventilation system and enhanced cleaning and sanitization, that
safeguard the health and safety of all guests, crew members and the
communities at each port of call.
Made possible in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as state and local
authorities, Freedom is the cruise industry's first ship to
have successfully completed a simulated sailing and receive a
Conditional Sailing Certificate from the CDC. The certificate
confirms the health and safety measures that Royal Caribbean has in
place fulfill the CDC's guidance and requirements.
About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International has been delivering
innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of
ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology
and guest experiences for today's adventurous traveler. The cruise
line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to more
than 270 destinations in 72 countries on six continents, including
Royal Caribbean's private island destination in The
Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect
Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted "Best Cruise
Line Overall" for 18 consecutive years in
the Travel Weekly Readers' Choice
Awards.
Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on
Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional
information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their
travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800)
ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.
Royal Caribbean International is applying the recommendations of
its Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific experts to
provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation on all of its
sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions
and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based
on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government
requirements. U.S. cruises and guests: For more information on the
latest health and travel alerts, U.S. government travel advisories,
please
visit www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates or
consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to
cruise travel on applicable government websites.
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SOURCE Royal Caribbean International