Start your engines

Cruise is slowly resuming globally, with sailings from England and Captain Kate McCue helming the first cruise from an American port in more than a year.

When MSC Virtuosa departed from the English port of Southampton in May, it did not just signal the official return of cruising around the world, but also shone as a beacon of hope. While MSC sailed on and off from Italy from August 2020, the departure of MSC Virtuosa was a symbolic stride towards normalcy, and the start of green shoots for the rest of the cruise industry.

Then in June, the marvellous Celebrity Edge was the first ship to sail out of an American port in 15 months. Celebrity Cruises said at least 95 per cent of those boarding Celebrity Edge had been vaccinated against coronavirus, in line with the health requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The US$1 billion vessel was helmed by Captain Kate McCue, who in 2015 became the first American woman to captain a cruise ship. She has since drawn a following of more than two million on TikTok and 280,000 on Instagram.

Some of the excited passengers boarding Celebrity Edge even donned special T-shirts for the occasion.

“I ordered them because we needed to make a statement,” passenger Cynthia Mitchell told CNN, wearing matching ‘Straight Outta Vaccination’ shirts with her husband, James.

“I know we have all been through huge trauma, and everybody knows people who we have lost through this situation. I think it’s good that Celebrity has got their folks back to working and ready to sail. I’m excited.”

There are more positive signs of American ocean cruising returning to normal. There are plans for an Alaska cruise season, with RCI announcing it’ll send the Serenade of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas to cruise the Last Frontier.

While Alaskan itineraries were typically around 14 days in the past, the lines have committed to seven-night sailings that will bring in tourism to towns such as Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point.

Across the world, the major lines are relocating their elegant seafaring vessels and organising new itineraries to comply with government standards.

Australian cruisers have a while to wait, however. The battle continues to convince the federal and state governments to hand down a framework that will allow Australians to sail.

Already, two of Australia’s biggest operators, P&O Australia and Princess, have announced they would not be sailing until at least December 17. Royal Caribbean cancelled its blockbuster 2021 Australian season, with the first ships now due in April 2022.

The main beneficiary has been Asia, which was the first region to see cruise. Dream Cruises’ World Dream started in late 2020 with short round-trip cruises from Singapore. Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas soon followed in December, with Spectrum of the Seas sailing out of Hong Kong from July.

And at the beginning of 2021, Dream Cruises revealed it would send Explorer Dream to Taiwan for two- and three-night islandhopping itineraries calling at Penghu, Matsu and Kinmen islands.

But all eyes have been on the northern hemisphere, with cruise lines scrambling to salvage the summer season. With the first ships off the docks, and more to come, it seems that cruising has had a successful start.

“Across the world, the major lines are relocating their elegant seafaring vessels and organising new itineraries to comply with government standards.”

Celebrity Cruises’ Captain Kate McCue piloted the first American cruise ship to resume sailing in 2021.

The UK summer 2021 program has seen a number of lines offering short ‘staycation’ cruises, with lines like Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages, Princess and Viking slowly restarting.

Viking Venus, the newest ship from the deluxe cruise line, embarked on her first voyage in May. Aside from offering trips from Southampton, Viking is looking to restart its operations in northern Europe and Scandinavia later this year.

There are also voyages now starting in the Mediterranean. With its balmy weather, it’s a popular destination for the local market and fly-cruisers. RCI’s Jewel of the Seas has started operating seven-night itineraries to the Greek isles, where it will homeport at the idyllic island of Cyprus. Jewel will visit Athens, Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos and Santorini.

And Norwegian Cruise Line also returned to the Greek islands, with Norwegian Jade offering new seven-day itineraries from Athens. This will be followed by Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Gem in the Caribbean in August. Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are also expected to restart sailings in September.

P&O Cruises UK’s new 40-night winter-sun Caribbean cruise on the Aurora sold out in just six hours. And 80 per cent of cabins on Aurora’s 12-night Portugal & the Canary Islands itinerary, which went on sale on July 6, sold on the first day of booking.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “This is an exceptional response which clearly demonstrates the desire from our guests for international cruising.

“Just over a week ago, Britannia started the series of UK coastal breaks, which has received superb feedback from our guests, while excitement continues to build ahead of Iona’s maiden voyage in a month’s time.

“This, coupled with the overwhelming sales for Aurora’s new 2022 winter sun holidays, underpins the incredible demand for travel we are seeing as normality returns.”