LET FREEDOM RING: ROYAL CARIBBEAN MAKES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED US RETURN
Freedom of the SeasΒ Kicks off an Adventure-packed Summer of Family Vacations withΒ Fourth of July Weekend Cruise from Miami
MIAMI, July 3, 2021Β β Itβs official, Royal Caribbean International is back in the U.S. and delivering the long overdue cruise vacations that families and travelers of all ages have missed. A nearly 16-month journey led up to the moment yesterday whenΒ Freedom of the SeasΒ became the first Royal Caribbean ship in the U.S. to welcome guests and the first cruise ship to do so from PortMiami, the cruise capital of the world. Sailing with 93% of the onboard community fully vaccinated and just in time for Fourth of July weekend,Β FreedomΒ set off on the first cruise of a summer-long series of 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday getaways toΒ Perfect Day at CocoCayΒ β the cruise lineβs top-rated private island destination β and Nassau, The Bahamas.
βWe have a lot to celebrate. Families and loved ones can finally come together after more than a year apart, and weβre now welcoming them back on board to make up for that lost time,β said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. βFor a moment as meaningful as Fourth of July weekend, it couldnβt be more appropriate thatΒ Freedom of the SeasΒ be the first ship to ring in our return to cruising in the U.S. and delivering the memorable and safe vacations Royal Caribbean is known for. Summer family vacations are back, and we are just getting started.β
Marking the most celebratory Fourth of July weekend yet, the eagerly awaited comeback of the worldβs largest cruise line has only just begun. Royal Caribbean is planning for nine more award-winning ships to return through August, includingΒ Anthem of the SeasΒ in the U.K., SerenadeΒ andΒ Ovation of the SeasΒ in Alaska,Β and the brand-newΒ Odyssey of the SeasΒ in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In the coming weeks, the cruise line will announce plans to reintroduce its full fleet around the globe by yearβs end. The complete 2021 lineup to date is availableΒ here.
Showcasing its $116 million transformation from March 2020,Β FreedomΒ has a lineup of new features and amenities in store for guests of all ages, includingΒ The Perfect StormΒ duo of high-speed waterslides, a vibrant,Β resort-styleΒ Caribbean poolscape; the cruise lineβs firstΒ Giovanniβs Italian KitchenΒ andΒ new, dedicated spaces for kids and teens. The amplified ship offers an all-around tropical escape from ship to shore, sailing to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas. At Royal Caribbeanβs game-changing private island destination, there are next-level thrills and ways to chill, from the tallest waterslide in North America to the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean, Oasis Lagoon; to the first floating cabanas in The Bahamas at Coco Beach Club. Between the decked-out experience on board and island hopping from one tropical destination to the next,Β FreedomβsΒ 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday summer cruises from Miami are the perfect short getaways for families to maximize every moment of their precious vacation time.
Health and Safety Measures forΒ Freedom of the SeasΒ
Vacationers sailing onΒ FreedomΒ can cruise with peace of mind, knowing Royal Caribbean has ensured that all crew members on board are fully vaccinated and additional layers of health and safety measures are in place for their well-being. A full list of protocols forΒ FreedomβsΒ JulyΒ cruisesΒ are availableΒ here, which includes the cruise lineβs vaccination policies.
Specific to Royal Caribbean cruises departing from Florida, it is strongly recommended that guests 16 years of age and older (age 12 and older for sailings departing on or after Aug. 1) be fully vaccinated. Vacationers eligible but unvaccinated or unable to show proof of vaccination are required to undergo testing, follow additional health protocols and obtain travel insurance that covers medical and other costs related to COVID-19 at their own expense. Children ineligible for vaccines will be subject to complimentary testing and other protocols. The vaccine policy is one of the multiple measures, including the robust onboard ventilation system and enhanced cleaning and sanitization, that safeguard the health and safety of all guests, crew members and the communities at each port of call.
Made possible in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as state and local authorities,Β FreedomΒ is the cruise industryβs first ship to have successfully completed a simulated sailing and receive a Conditional Sailing Certificate from the CDC. The certificate confirms the health and safety measures that Royal Caribbean has in place fulfill the CDCβs guidance and requirements.
SOURCE Royal Caribbean International
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