Royal Caribbean Will Sail Two Ships from Alaska This Summer

The passing of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act through both the House and the Senate will provide temporary relief from the Passenger Vessel Services Act. This will allow cruises to return to the Last Frontier as early as July! 

After more than a year with cruising on pause and the significant impact it’s had on the Alaskan communities, travelers can now book a summer 2021 Alaska cruise on Serenade and Ovation of the Seas.

“Any traveler who visits Alaska immediately understands how special it is, given its natural beauty, the welcoming locals, and the culture carefully preserved over centuries,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The past year has been a challenging time for us all, and the Alaskan communities heavily reliant on cruise tourism have felt it deeply. To see the communities, industry and government successfully pass a solution that will help bring these communities back to life shows the great progress and clear paths we can make together. We are confident this is just the first part of our return to cruising from the U.S.”

The brand will return to Alaska with two ships sailing roundtrip itineraries from Seattle. Serenade of the Seas will begin her Alaska cruises on July 19, 2021. Then, the biggest ship in the region, Ovation of the Seas, will return August 13, 2021.

Serenade will begin cruising in July, sailing roundtrip from Seattle – a change from its previously scheduled homeport in Vancouver. On board, the ship will deliver awe-inspiring views from its signature ocean-facing glass elevators and floor-to-ceiling windows. The week-long itinerary features a lineup of popular ports of call. These include Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Icy Strait Point, as well as Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.

Ovation follows suit in August for a different take on Alaskan adventure. This ship will pair the region’s natural wonders with a thrilling lineup of experiences on board. From the North Star glass observation capsule to the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, vacationers can get their adrenaline pumping as they take in the scenery from new heights, such as Glacier National Park, the Inside Passage, Juneau, and Skagway.

All crew members and guests 16 years of age or older must be fully vaccinated to sail. After August 1st, this applies to everyone 12 years of age or older. Those underage will receive a test prior to sailing.

These measures are part of the cruise line’s Royal Promise 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. Royal Caribbean will continue to work closely with local health officials on specific measures outlined for the region.

In conjunction, Royal Caribbean announced cancellations to the following sailings:

Guests on these cruises have a few options. They can transfer to a new sailing in Alaska this summer, with the cruise fare protected at the rate paid or prevailing fares, whichever is lower.

Guests can also choose to Lift & Shift their reservation to a qualifying Alaska cruise in 2022 on the same ship, sail date, and stateroom category. Or, they can choose a 125% FCC or a 100% refund.

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