The first cruise ship to leave a US port since the coronavirus pandemic brought the industry to a 15-month standstill sailed away on Saturday with nearly all vaccinated passengers on board.
Celebrity Edge departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 6pm with the number of passengers limited to about 40 per cent capacity, and with nearly all 1,100 passengers vaccinated against Covid-19.
Celebrity Cruises, one of Royal Caribbean Cruise’s brands, says 99 per cent of the passengers are vaccinated, well over the 95 per cent requirement imposed by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
A giant greeting was projected on a wall of one of the port buildings: “Someday is here. Welcome back.”
Passengers arrived with matching T-shirts that read phrases such as “straight outta vaccination” and “vaccinated and ready to cruise”.
“Words can’t describe how excited we are to be a part of this historic sailing today,” said Elizabeth Rosner, 28, who moved from Michigan to Orlando, Florida, in December 2019 with her fiancé just to be close to the cruise industry’s hub.
To comply with both the CDC’s requirement and a new Florida law banning businesses from requiring customers to show proof of vaccination, Celebrity Cruises asked guests if they would like to share their vaccination status. Those who did not show or say they are vaccinated face additional restrictions.
Saturday’s sailing kicks off the cruise lines’ return to business.
“This is an emotional day for me. When I stepped on board the ship, I was proud. It’s a beautiful ship,” said Royal Caribbean Cruises’ CEO Richard Fain.
Celebrity Cruises had unveiled the $1 billion boat in December 2018 — betting on luxury cruising, offering a giant spa and multi-floor suites. The seven-night cruise will sail for three days in the Western Caribbean waters before making stops in Costa Maya, Cozumel and Nassau.
The ship is led by Captain Kate McCue, the first American woman to captain a cruise ship.