Celebrity Cruises Begins Caribbean Comeback With First Sailing From St. Maarten

Rhea-AI Summary

Celebrity Cruises has successfully launched its first cruise since the pandemic, setting sail from St. Maarten on the Celebrity Millennium. This marks a significant milestone as it's the first cruise from North America to resume operations. The seven-night itinerary includes stops at Aruba, Barbados, and Curacao, welcoming passengers after a 15-month hiatus. Enhanced health protocols are in place, including vaccinated crew and guests, along with staggered arrivals. Celebrity plans to restart operations for eight ships this summer, reflecting a positive outlook for the cruise industry.

Positive

• First cruise from North America to resume operations post-pandemic.
• Successful launch with significant fanfare, reflecting strong consumer interest.
• Enhanced health measures providing assurance for guests.
• Plans to sail eight of fourteen ships by the summer, indicating robust recovery efforts.

Negative

• None.

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten, June 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With celebration and fanfare, Celebrity Cruises' much-anticipated return to cruising became a reality today, as the new-luxury Celebrity Millennium set sail from the picturesque Caribbean port of Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Both a first for the industry in North America and the first of Celebrity's fleet to return to sailing, Celebrity Millennium embarks on a seven-night itinerary visiting the treasured islands of Aruba, Barbados and Curacao, thrilling guests who have waited 15 months to experience the wonders of the world by sea.

The sailing also represents the first time Celebrity Cruises has homeported in St. Maarten, one of the most beautiful and vibrant Caribbean islands, where the cruise line now begins sailing Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries through August.

"Today, we sail, again! This is such a significant moment for our company, our industry and the Caribbean. That this day has finally arrived for our guests and our crew is truly special – beyond words, really," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. "I am so happy to have our crew back onboard doing what they love and providing amazing vacations and service to our guests. I also am extremely grateful to the leadership of the St. Maarten government for their vision and support to make this moment happen. What an honor to now be the first to enthusiastically say, once again – 'Welcome Aboard!'"

"We couldn't be more excited to welcome our guests back to relax and start enjoying the travel experiences they've been craving all this time. Once onboard, they will discover reimagined accommodation, spa and entertainment offerings, along with considered and thoughtful health and safety measures," said Celebrity Cruises Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations Brian Abel.  "The end result of all that we have implemented will make cruises one of the safest ways to explore the world, while enjoying a wonderful and uncompromised vacation experience."

Celebrity Millennium Captain Theodoros Zakkas added, "For the past several months, I had the privilege of maintaining this beautiful ship with a small 75-person crew. Today, with a full crew who were all smiles as we welcomed our guests onboard once again, has been very emotional for me. It has been a beautiful and historic homecoming, one that everyone involved – guests and crew - will never forget."

Healthy at Sea

Celebrity Millennium sails with enhanced health and safety standards that are the culmination of more than a year of diligent work with public health authorities, government agencies and its Healthy Sail Panel of scientific, medical and public health leaders.

In addition to launching its phased restart with reduced capacity to allow for more natural spacing, Celebrity has leveraged technology to create new arrival, departure and muster safety drill procedures; and updated onboard and shoreside experiences to reflect new standard health and safety practices; all with the well-being of guests, crew and the communities visited by Celebrity ships at the forefront of the planning process.

With the new measures, guests return to experiencing all of the distinctive touches they have come to love and expect from a Celebrity cruise: industry-leading ship design with impeccably stylish accommodations and remarkable outdoor spaces; unparalleled culinary experiences in captivating environments; impeccable hospitality elevating personal, friendly service to an art form; and a penchant for wellbeing woven into every aspect of the onboard experience.

As guests and crew work together to promote onboard health and safety, some of the new measures include:

• Vaccinated Sailings – Celebrity will sail in the Caribbean with a vaccinated crew and at least 95% vaccinated guests.
• Staggered Arrivals and Departures – Terminal arrivals and departures will be staggered by appointment, with guests having the ability to select their preferred times based on travel plans.
• Contactless Transactions – Celebrity's digitally advanced mobile app* transforms the decades-old large-group-gathering Muster safety drill into a personal eMuster experience that guests can complete on their mobile device or interactive stateroom TV, avoiding large group gatherings. The app also expedites the boarding process; and allows guests to read menus and book dining reservations and shore excursions via their smartphone.
• Appropriate Face Coverings – During the Terminal check-in and check-out process, all guests 2 years of age and older will be required to wear an appropriate face covering. Once onboard, and unless otherwise stipulated by local governments, masks will not be required in accordance with recent CDC guidance for sailings with vaccinated crew and guests.

Celebrity's new measures may evolve in keeping with current public health standards and may vary in accordance with local guidance in the destinations visited. Guests are encouraged to regularly check the guidance on all health and safety measures across the entire Celebrity Cruises vacation experience at CelebrityCruises.com/healthy-at-sea.

Cruise with Confidence
Providing travel flexibility, Celebrity's Cruise with Confidence policy allows guests who have booked by July 31, 2021 to cancel for any reason up to 48 hours before departure on sailings through Sept. 30, 2022 and receive a 100% credit for a future cruise.

Celebrity Millennium guests are also the first to experience Celebrity's new 'Always Included^SM' approach where Wi-Fi, drinks and gratuities are always included in the cruise fare.

Sailing Forward
Celebrity Cruises has announced plans to sail eight of the 14 ships in its fleet as part of its phased restart. Celebrity Millennium will soon be joined by: Celebrity Apex – sailing the Aegean beginning June 19; Celebrity Edge – sailing the Caribbean from Ft. Lauderdale, FL on June 26; Celebrity Silhouette – sailing the UK coastline as of July 3; Celebrity Flora – returning to the extraordinary Galapagos islands as of July3, followed by the award-winning Celebrity Xpedition and intimate 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration on July 24, and September 18, respectively; and sailings to Alaska from Seattle begin July 23.  

For more information on all of the new sailings offered by Celebrity Cruises, visit CelebrityCruises.com/2021-2022-cruises.

About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of a fleet of 14 award-winning ships redefining luxury cruise travel with cool, contemporary design and accommodation; dining, spa, and entertainment experiences for modern tastes; and culturally rich and diverse destination experiences, all complemented by warm, personalized service. Celebrity has pioneered many industry firsts at sea, including the first use of solar panels on a cruise ship; the first to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles; the first American female captain of a cruise ship; the first-ever all-female bridge and officer team sailing; the first West African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship; and one of the first legal same-sex weddings performed at sea. Driven by wanderlust and a passion for opening the world, Celebrity journeys to all seven continents, visiting nearly 300 destinations in more than 70 countries. Celebrity Cruises is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group. (NYSE: RCL).

Celebrity Cruises is applying the recommendations of the 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 https://www.celebritycruises.com/travel-alert or consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to cruise travel on applicable government websites. 

*App Availability subject to device limitations and features and may vary by ship, device or service provider. Message and data rates may apply. Coverage not available everywhere. Guests under 18 need their parents' permission first.

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SOURCE Celebrity Cruises

FAQ

What is the significance of Celebrity Cruises' first sailing from St. Maarten?

The sailing marks the first cruise to resume operations from North America since the pandemic, setting a precedent for the industry.

What health measures are implemented on the Celebrity Millennium?

The ship operates with a fully vaccinated crew and at least 95% vaccinated guests, along with staggered arrivals and contactless transactions.

What destinations does the Celebrity Millennium cruise visit?

The cruise visits Aruba, Barbados, and Curacao during its seven-night itinerary.

When did Celebrity Cruises announce the restart of operations for its ships?

The announcement was made on June 5, 2021, coinciding with the first sailing of the Celebrity Millennium.

How many ships does Celebrity Cruises plan to have operational this summer?

Celebrity Cruises plans to sail eight of its fourteen ships as part of a phased restart.