Both Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line restarted sailing from US ports over the weekend, with ships destined for their private islands in The Bahamas and at least one cruise calling on Nassau, according to statements from both companies.
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas is the company’s first ship to sail from a US port in 16 months and left from Miami’s cruise port yesterday.
Freedom of the Seas will visit the company’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau on three- and four-night voyages.
Carnival, which had been barred from sailing for the same 16-month period, sailed its Carnival Horizon out of Miami’s port yesterday, destined for its private island in The Bahamas, Half Moon Cay and the Dominican Republic.
The day before, the Carnival Vista was Carnival’s first ship to sail from a US port, departing from Galveston, Texas.
Cruise lines were restricted from sailing by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crystal Cruises made history over the weekend, sailing its all-Bahamas, seven-night voyage out of Nassau’s cruise port on Saturday.
Carnival noted in its statement that its return marked a boost to the Miami economy.
“Carnival’s resumption of service in Miami provides guests with a much-anticipated vacation and is a further boost to the economy, both locally and throughout the state,” the statement pointed out.
“Florida is number one in the nation in cruise embarkations, with the cruise industry contributing more than $9 billion in direct purchases and responsible for over 159,000 jobs.
“In Miami-Dade alone, cruise activity generates approximately $7 billion of spend and 40,000 jobs annually. Of the 437,000 cruise industry-supported jobs in the USA, nearly 37 percent are in Florida.”
Royal Caribbean noted in its statement that its ship sailed with 93 percent of those onboard fully vaccinated.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Bayley said in Royal Caribbean’s statement that the company has a lot to celebrate after more than a year with no business from US ports.
““For a moment as meaningful as Fourth of July weekend, it couldn’t be more appropriate that Freedom of the Seas is the first ship to ring in our return to cruising in the US and deliver the memorable and safe vacations Royal Caribbean is known for,” Bayley said.
“Summer family vacations are back and we are just getting started.”
Carnival’s newest ship, the Mardi Gras, is expected to set sail from Port Canaveral on July 31, while other ships are scheduled to begin service in August.
The post Carnival, Royal Caribbean sailing out of US ports again appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/carnival-royal-caribbean-sailing-out-of-us-ports-again/
No comments:
Post a Comment