Heading to the Last Frontier

Inside Passage Cruising

Round-trip Seattle 

 With the passing of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, cruise lines are announcing their return to Alaska this summer.   Normally, cruises would have already started in Alaska, but there was a major roadblock, which was lifted by the passing of this legislation.   Read More

Carnival Corporation

Carnival Corporation (Carnival, Holland America, and Princess Cruises) has announced 7-day Inside Passage voyages from Seattle beginning in July, 2021.

Carnival Cruise Line

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Carnival Miracle Sailings

Carnival Miracle will sail weekly departures starting Tuesday July 27, 2021 through September 14. There are seven 7-day cruises featuring calls in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, as well as scenic cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord. The September 14 departure is an 8-day cruise with an additional stop in Icy Strait Point. 

The cruises will be open to guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the cruise; proof of vaccination is required.

Holland America Line

 

Holland Nieuw Amsterdam Sailings 

Holland America Line will resume operations to Alaska with seven-day itineraries aboard Nieuw Amsterdam, calling at Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan, with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and Stephens Passage. The first cruise for the brand is scheduled to depart July 24, with 11 Saturday departures that will operate through Oct. 2.

The cruises will be open to guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the cruise; proof of vaccination is required.

Princess Cruises

Majestic Princess will sail 7-day Inside Passage voyages which include ports of call in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay National Park.  The ship will depart on Sundays starting July 25 - September 26.

In a briefing we attended yesterday from Princess Cruises, we learned that not all the protocols have been finalized.  Passengers will need to be fully vaccinated 14 days prior to sailing.  

According to Princess, passengers will be able to disembark the ship on Princess shore excursions or on their own.  They are waiting for CDC guidelines regarding masks and capacity limits, among other safety protocols which will need to be followed.   Princess Cruises will continue to update the trade, so it is best to work with a professional travel advisor so that you have the latest information.

Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group (Celebrity and Royal Caribbean) has announced 7-day Inside Passage voyages from Seattle beginning in July, 2021.

Royal Caribbean

Serenade & Ovation Sailings

Royal Caribbean® returns to Alaska with two fan favorites sailing from Seattle. Adventures on Serenade of the Seas® begin July 19, 2021 from her new homeport of Seattle, and the biggest ship in the region, Ovation of the Seas®, returns August 13, 2021. It’s time to take on the untamed thrills of the Last Frontier..

Plan your Alaska cruise with peace of mind knowing that all crew members and vacationers 16 years of age or older will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and everyone 12 or older after August 1, 2021  will receive a test prior to sailing. These measures are part of Royal Caribbean's commitment to the health and safety of every guest, crew member and community visited. The measures will be evaluated and updated as public health circumstances evolve. 

No matter which itinerary you choose, get ready for fjord flightseeing in Juneau, glacier gazing in Alaska’s Inside Passage, and peak seeking in Endicott Arm and Tracy Arm Fjord.

Celebrity Cruises 

 

Celebrity Summit Sailings

Starting on July 23, you’ll be able to discover the wild beauty of Alaska once again aboard the fully revolutionized Celebrity Summit. This 7-night cruise will set sail from Seattle and will visit stunning destinations including Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway. 

During your journey, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with towering glaciers, watch whales as they breach the water, and admire the rugged landscapes of the Last Frontier from the comfort of this award-winning ship.

The same health and safety protocols will be implemented on Celebrity Summit.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Bliss Sailings

 Norwegian Bliss will sail Alaska itineraries out of Seattle starting August 7, 2021 through October 16, 2021. The itineraries include stops in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Icy Strait Point. Each stop offers between 7 and 13 hours of port time. 

 Just like the other cruise lines, all adult guests will need to be fully vaccinated to be onboard.

Contact us to book your Alaska adventure today. 

There are many choices when it comes to sailing to Alaska this summer and next year. Alaska is often a once in a lifetime experience, so you want to get it right. As Alaska specialists, we can advise you on the cruise ship that is right for you and your guests. 

In addition, the health and safety protocols continue to evolve, and there is no need for you to concern yourself about understanding them - we will take care of that for you.

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CDC Committed to Summer Cruising

 

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Updated May 5, 2021

CDC Issues Phases 2B and 3 of the Conditional Sailing Order (Read CDC release including Technical Instructions for phases)

Below is a high level summary of the update.  Note that cruise lines can speed up the process by sailing with crew 98% vaccinated and passengers 95% vaccinated (which basically means children under 18 aren't vaccinated but adults are).

CDC Committed to Cruise Resumption in Summertime

In today's trade briefing with Celebrity Cruises, we were told about the latest update from the CDC regarding the resumption of cruises out of the United States.  The news is very promising.

In a letter to the cruise industry, CDC on Wednesday covered five parts of the phased approach to the safe resumption of cruises out of the U.S.  

Test Cruises

The phased Conditional Sail Order (CSO) had provisions for "test cruises" before a cruise line could begin revenue sailings.  The cruise line would submit plans and results of their test cruises and the CDC would respond in 30/60 days.   They have reduced the requirement to a 5 day response and furthermore removed the need for test cruises if the following vaccination policy is in place.

Vaccinations

While the CDC can't mandate vaccinations, they are highly recommended and the cruise lines plan to implement the requirement in order to speed up the process of resumption of cruising.  The requirements shown in the chart above are for 98% of the crew to be vaccinated and 95% of the guests.  In Celebrity Cruises case, the crew will be 100% vaccinated and they will be requiring guests 18 or over be vaccinated, so they will be able to meet the 95% requirement.

Crew Travel

There is a color code in the CSO which comes into play for crew embarking on a vessel.  We won't go into details here since this is internal to cruise line operations and not of concern to passengers. The new rules makes it easier for cruise line operations.

Port Support

The CSO calls for the cruise lines to have contingency plans in place in the event there is an outbreak of cases onboard a ship, which is highly unlikely.  The update from the CDC allows nearby ports to work together to provide the necessary capacities that are required.

Returning Home

Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company for Celebrity Cruises, has already have 150,000 passengers sail successfully this year.  There were a total of 7 cases of COVID-19 among all those passengers.  There was no disruption, unlike the problems that happened in the early days of the pandemic before much was known about the disease.

What happens if a passenger tests positive for COVID-19 and must leave the ship?   How do they return home?

If they are local to the port, they can simply drive home.  If they need to fly home, the airline has rules which require quarantine.  They will be quarantined in a local hotel and then allowed to fly home after that period expires.   Your airline or travel professional can help you understand this requirement.

What Will Cruise Experience be Like

Celebrity Cruises (and others) are striving to make the cruise experience as good or better than pre-COVID-19.  The crew are very anxious to get back to work, and will go out of their way to make your voyage a great experience.   Here are just a few ways that this will occur:

• The ships will be operating at 50-60% capacity, while the crew is at 100%, meaning more crew to assist you
• Additional show performances will be added to allow for social distancing, meaning less crowds
• You'll still be able to enjoy a buffet meal, but the crew will serve you instead of you picking out the food yourself, meaning you won't have someone's grubby hands in your food
• Shore excursions may be limited to those offered by the cruise line (depending on the requirements imposed by the ports visited - this is still a work in progres)
• You'll still be able to relax in the spa and enjoy other ship amenities
• In accordance with CDC guidance, other safety measures, including COVID testing, mask use and social distancing will remain important on ships, regardless of whether passengers are vaccinated
• Any COVID-19 testing required onboard (embarkation / disembarkation) will be handled by the cruise line (rules may vary based on destination and cruise line - consult your travel professional).

Traveling This Summer & Beyond

Speaking of  "beyond".  Besides this exciting news from the CDC, Celebrity Cruises unveiled their newest Edge-class ship Celebrity Beyond which will begin sailing one year from now.  In addition, there are several options to sail out of non-U.S. ports of call starting this June.  

Celebrity Cruises Itineraries

Celebrity Cruises has partnered with medical and scientific advisors from their Healthy Sail Panel, Global Head of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer; and local health and government authorities to guide them in the development of their protocols. These measures include reduced capacities, enhanced cleaning and sanitation. and physical distancing. For more information see Announcing our Return to Sailing.

We are also committed to a safe resumption of travel, not just cruising.  We participate in weekly update calls with all our travel partners so that we can bring you the very latest information to help you plan you return to travel.  Please see our Travel Safety Program.

We will be conducting virtual information sessions.  If you'd like to be on our mailing list please contact us.

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More Royal Deployments

Jewel of the Seas Departures

We attended the 51st weekly update from Royal Caribbean today and there were more deployment announcements in addition to an update from CLIA regarding ongoing efforts to work with CDC to resume sailing (more on that in a separate post).

As of today, Royal Caribbean's  Summer / Fall 2021 Jewel of the Seas deployment from Cyprus, Greece is available for booking.   They have worked closely with the Greek government and health authorities to establish the necessary health and safety protocols to begin sailings.  As with other cruises which have already been announced, the initial sailings will operate at a reduced capacity.  

Probably the biggest news among recent deployment announcements was the return to the West Coast this Winter with sailings from Los Angeles on Navigator of the Seas.   These will be open for booking as early as next week, after some final arrangements have been made.  See the statements from Royal Caribbean below for more details about the impact of this reposition of Navigator of the Seas.

Navigator of the Seas Departures

Navigator of the Seas to Homeport in Los Angeles this Winter

 

Statement

After announcing our return to the west coast from Los Angeles, California, with Navigator of the Seas, we originally shared that cruises would open for sale as of March 31st, 2021; however, an opportunity presented itself to bring Navigator to Los Angeles even sooner! We’re thrilled to announce Navigator of the Seas will now be sailing from Los Angeles, California this winter – beginning November 2021.

 

What You Need to Know

• Ship: Navigator of the Seas
• New Homeport: Los Angeles, California 
• Season: Year-round beginning November 2021
• Booking Eligibility: Open to all markets | No limitations
• Open for Sale: Week of April 12, 2021 (subject to change)

 

Navigator of the Seas Cancels Short Caribbean Sailings

 

Statement

As a result of this new opportunity, we’ve made the decision to cancel Navigator’s short Caribbean sailings. The compensation options for the various sailing windows are included below for your reference. No action is needed on your end, as email notifications will be circulated to all affected guests and associated travel agencies today.  

What’s The Offer

Compensation for impacted guests:

• Oct 15, 2021 – Nov 1, 2021 – Cancelled and 125% FCC or request for refund
• Nov 5, 2021 – April 29, 2022 – FIT business will be automatically transferred directly to Freedom of the Seas on or before April 23, 2021
• Groups will likely take longer to transfer most likely by early May
• Sail date remains unchanged – embark port changes from FLL to MIA
• Itinerary ports of call remain unchanged
• Price protection or repriced to prevailing if rate is lower
• Dec 6, 2021 and Dec 10, 2021 – Cancelled and 125% FCC or request for refund
• Alternate sailing on Freedom does not exist
• NOTE: Deadline to request a refund is April 20, 2021

Note:  We've added links for both these ships itineraries, but they may not be updated in our system as of yet.  Please call or email if interested in these itineraries.   Initial sailings will be capacity controlled, so don't wait to book.

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I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.

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