Celebrity Cruises CEO and President Lisa Lutoff-Perlo issued a simple, three-word tweet: “Someday is here,” in announcing the landmark, definitive return to cruising in the U.S.
Celebrity Edge is the first ship approved by the CDC to sail for a revenue departure from a U.S. port.
The acclaimed Edge will set sail from Ft. Lauderdale on 26JUN on a 7-night itinerary in Eastern and Western Caribbean - and at the helm, according to the company press release, will be “the first - and still only - American female captain, Captain Kate McCue.”
Celebrity Edge was given the green light by the CDC to be the first ship back in the water, having met all new standards for providing a healthy cruise experience for its guests and crew
“Great hope for a strong finish to 2021”
“Today’s announcement is an amazing step forward for our brand and the entire travel industry. We have worked incredibly hard to get to this place and we are very proud to be leading way back to a healthy return to cruising,” Allan Brooks, Director of Market Sales in Canada told Open Jaw.
“Canadian travelers and travel professionals continue to be faced with several restrictions, but we are working together to get through; what will hopefully be the last month of these hurdles. Most of our focus had been on 2022 sailings that are booking quickly, but today’s news gives us great hope for a strong finish to 2021.”
“For the past 15 months our conversations with friends and loved ones about seeing the world have been accompanied by the phrase ‘someday.’ I’m beyond proud and excited to say that day has arrived,” said Celebrity Cruises CEO and President Lisa Lutoff-Perlo in a press relase. “We’ve been preparing for this day for months and, on behalf of all of us at Celebrity Cruises, we’re ready and we can’t wait to welcome our guests aboard once again!”
“Today’s exciting news is the result of a collaboration with the CDC, our elected officials at the local, state and national levels and our industry partners at CLIA,” said Richard Fain, Chairman of Royal Caribbean Group, parent company of Celebrity Cruises. “We’ve consulted with the brightest minds in the health industry to ensure that our passengers and crew feel safe and comfortable on our ships while enjoying the uncompromised experience they know and love."
Bookings have now opened for Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries this summer.
With the announcement, eight of the 15 ships within the Celebrity Cruises’ fleet now have plans to return to cruising this year in global destinations including the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska and the Galapagos.
Offshore Caribbean Comeback: 05JUN
Celebrity Millennium will be the first in the fleet to sail with guests again, and will also be the first ship in the industry to sail the Caribbean when she makes her return to service in St Maarten on 05JUN, sailing to Aruba, Curacao & Barbados over seven nights.
Europe: Greek Isles + British Isles: 19JUN
Celebrity Apex, the newest addition to the fleet, makes her world debut in Athens on 19JUN, with seven-night sailings to the Greek Isles.
Celebrity Silhouette summers in Southampton, offering UK residents bubble cruises of the British Isles.
The Galapagos: 04JUL
Beginning July 4, Celebrity’s purpose-built mega-yacht, Celebrity Flora, will resume sailing the Galapagos Islands. She will be followed soon after by the award-winning Celebrity Xpedition and intimate 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration on 24JUL, and 18SEP, respectively.
Alaska:23JUL
Just last week, Celebrity Cruises announced its long-awaited return to the natural wonders and wildlife of Alaska beginning July 23.
Further announcements on the line’s remaining vessels will be made in the coming weeks.
