Royal Caribbean Extends Current Health Protocols
Royal Caribbean has extended its current health protocols through at least April 14 for cruises from Puerto Rico, Barbados, and U.S. homeports.
This includes requirements for vaccines for all guests ages 12 and older, testing, and mask use in select indoor locations on the ship. Various ship venues will also continue to be for vaccinated guests only, as well as My Time Dining.
In an email to travel advisors, Royal said that it may add new protocols — such as the booster shot and lower vaccination age requirements — in the near future.
230 Cruise Ships Scheduled to Sail This Month
64 cruise lines are scheduled to operate vessels this month as the cruise industry continues to bring ships back online.
The five cruise lines with the most ships sailing this month are Royal Caribbean and Carnival with 19 each, MSC with 13, and Norwegian and AIDA Cruises with 10 each. Together, these five lines account for almost half the total number of ships in service in February — 105 out of 230.
In addition, the average capacity per ship has grown from 1,793 to 1,829 as compared to January.
Silver Explorer Bought by New Expedition Cruise Line
Silversea’s oldest ship Silver Explorer will be leaving the fleet in September 2023 to head to a new cruise line.
New cruise line Exploris, launched by the co-founder of French expedition line Ponant, has purchased the vessel. The 1989-built Silver Explorer is scheduled to begin sailing for Exploris in December 2023.
Explorer was Silversea’s first ice-class ship, and began offering expedition cruises for the line in 2008.
