Cruise Ships Planning Summer 2021 Voyages in the Caribbean

It's summertime, and cruises are returning in the Caribbean! Here's a selection of cruise ships that will operate, starting in June, from islands in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. And know that there likely will be more options this summer if the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) gives the greenlight. For example, Carnival Cruise Line has revealed plans to start up with three ships from Galveston and Miami as soon as it's allowed by the CDC. Keep in mind that the pandemic regulations and health protocols can still change, but here are numerous cruise programs currently on the schedule operating from overseas homeports.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which operates two-night getaways to Grand Bahama Island from the Port of Palm Beach, plans to resume operations on July 2 with the Grand Classica. Enhanced safety measures include spaced seating and sanitizing procedures for guest accommodations, common areas, recreational facilities and onboard dining.

The recently renovated Celebrity Millennium will begin sailing June 5 with seven-night itineraries round-trip from St. Maarten through August. Two itineraries are offered - one to Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados, and the other to Tortola, St. Lucia and Barbados. The ship will sail with a vaccinated crew and will be available to vaccinated adult guests and children under 18 with a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of embarkation.

Crystal Cruises plans to operate 15 Caribbean sailings starting Aug. 2 through December aboard Crystal Symphony. The 10-night cruises sail roundtrip from either Philipsburg, St. Maarten, or St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda. The cruises will visit Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Maarten, and the British Virgin Islands.

And, as announced in February, all guests must be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before boarding any Crystal ship.

Crystal also will operate Bahamas cruises on the Crystal Serenity, offering weekly departures from Nassau and Bimini to Harbour Island, Long Island and San Salvador. The new itineraries will operate July 3 through October 2021, for a total of 32 "Bahamas Escapes" voyages roundtrip from Nassau on Saturdays and from Bimini on Sundays. Guests must be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding any Crystal ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Joy will offer week-long itineraries from Montego Bay, Jamaica, starting Aug. 7. The cruises will visit Harvest Caye, the line's private destination in Belize; Roatán, in the Bay Islands of Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. All passengers and crew members on all of Norwegian's initial return sailings will be required to receive the full COVID-19 vaccination.

Also, the Norwegian Gem will sail from Punta Cana (La Romana), Dominican Republic, starting Aug. 15. The seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises will visit Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and Antigua.

Royal Caribbean International will return to cruising on June 12, with seven-night roundtrips from Nassau, The Bahamas, on Adventure of the Seas. The cruises are available to adults who have proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as those under age 18 with negative test results. The crew will be fully vaccinated. The cruises will visit Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, for two days, and also visit Grand Bahama Island and Cozumel, Mexico.

Seabourn plans to restart guest sailings with weekly roundtrip cruises from Bridgetown, Barbados, beginning on July 18. Seabourn Odyssey will operate Southern Caribbean cruises to ports including Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and St. Kitts. Guests can also choose a 14-day option, which combines the two different seven-day itineraries in the Caribbean Sea. The voyages are open to people that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Viking will operate the new eight-day "Bermuda Escape" itinerary from Hamilton, Bermuda, starting June 15. The Viking Orion will overnight in Hamilton and St. George's, then will visit King's Wharf. All of Viking's new "Welcome Back" require proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Windstar Cruises plans to restart on June 19 with the Star Breeze in the Caribbean. Star Breeze will operate seven-day "Beach Fun & Sun: A Remote Caribbean Getaway" voyages roundtrip from St. Maarten. Ports of call include St. Barth, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and Anguilla. Windstar Cruises will require proof of a current COVID-19 vaccination for all guests, until further notice.