The cruise industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but many cruise lines are now beginning to resume operations. From Carnival Sensation to Viking Orion, here is everything you need to know about when cruise lines will be back up and running. The Carnival Sensation is scheduled to launch from Mobile, Alabama, while the Crystal and Olympia have already begun cruises to the Greek Islands from Piraeus, Greece in June. National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture launched Alaska cruises on June 5 and 6, respectively.
The National Geographic Resolution was named after rapid ice in November, and the Insignia began sailing in December. The Sirena will sail starting in January, and the Nautica will return on April 1 with a Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome). The new enchanted princess will launch in November, while the Crown Princess will return in February. The Island Princess will return on March 6, carrying out a series of cruises to the Southern, Eastern and Western Caribbean.
The Princess Royal will return on April 8 with cruises along the California coast from Vancouver. Seven Seas Splendor launched the service in September, followed by Seven Seas Explorer in October and Seven Seas Mariner in December. Seven Seas Navigator is set to be released in January. The Seabourn Encore returns to work in February, while the Silver Muse returned on July 29 sailing on Alaska cruises.
The Silver Spirit returned in September, followed by Silver Explorer in November and Silver Cloud on an Antarctic cruise in November. The Silver Wind left Puerto Arenas, Chile, in November. Viking Orion launched trips to Bermuda from Hamilton in June, and Viking Sky started cruises to Iceland from Reykjavik also in June. Viking Venus, Viking Sea and Viking Star launched cruises from Valletta, Malta last July, followed by Wind Surf launching in August. Starting August 15th, a Spinx-class ship will be deployed with the first four-day short cruise ship to Gdynia, followed by a three-day cruise to Gothenburg. Crystal Cruises plans to resume cruises on July 3 with one of its two largest ocean ships, Crystal Serenity, which will sail from Nassau, Bahamas on trips to all of the Bahamas.
The line has also announced plans to resume cruises to Alaska from Seattle on July 27 with the Carnival Miracle and expects to resume cruises from Miami with the Carnival Horizon also in July. Norwegian Cruise Line plans to resume cruises with one of its ships (Norwegian Encore) for Alaska and another (Norwegian Gem) for Caribbean cruises both in August. American Cruise Lines resumed inland waterway cruises in Georgia and South Carolina on March 13 with one ship, the 100-passenger Independence, and has since added trips on the Mississippi River and several other U. S. rivers. Virgin Voyages has not yet started regular cruises with its first and currently only Scarlet Lady cruise ship.
On March 1st, Carnival Cruise Line changed its safety regulations while Norwegian Cruise Line lifted its mandate to wear masks on board also on March 1st; passengers no longer need to be tested for COVID-19 before sailing. Disney Cruise Line has one of the first temporary trips available on a 3-night cruise to the Bahamas starting August 15th. Regent Seven Seas Cruises said Jan 4th that it would not operate a 120-day round-the-world cruise ship on the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner due to begin Wednesday in San Francisco. Serenade of the Seas will begin sailing to Alaska in July and Ovation of the Seas will begin sailing to Alaska in August both from Seattle, Washington. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours plans to resume river cruises in Europe on July 30th with departures on the Douro River in Portugal. With so many changes happening across different cruise lines around the world due to COVID-19 restrictions it can be difficult keeping track of them all. However, with this guide you can stay up-to-date with all of the latest information about when cruise lines will resume their trips and which ones have already started.
