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Ourusualbeach
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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

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News from Celebrity.  

 

 

Dear Valued Travel Partners,

Today is a monumental day for Celebrity Cruises. After nearly a year without sailing, we are announcing our long-anticipated return to cruising today. Our revolutionized Celebrity Millennium will return us to the open ocean and homeport in the tropical paradise of St. Maarten beginning June 5, 2021.

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Plum Happy

Plum Happy

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2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

News from Celebrity.  

 

 

Dear Valued Travel Partners,

Today is a monumental day for Celebrity Cruises. After nearly a year without sailing, we are announcing our long-anticipated return to cruising today. Our revolutionized Celebrity Millennium will return us to the open ocean and homeport in the tropical paradise of St. Maarten beginning June 5, 2021.

I just saw this on Travel Weekly Twitter account.  So, which ship will Royal deploy there?

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orville99 "Live from...." Rare

orville99

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Just now, smokeybandit said:

So the news we've all been waiting for is another foreign homeport announcement?

The subtle undertone to the announcement is that St. Maarten will be open for cruising by June. That may provide a foreign port suitable for an Eastern Caribbean itinerary if/when U.S. ports open.

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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

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CELEBRITY CRUISES EMBRACES THE MAGIC OF ST. MAARTEN FOR JUNE CARIBBEAN COMEBACK - Revolutionized Celebrity Millennium to set sail on June 5 - Announcement is “such a significant moment’ for company, St. Maarten and the Caribbean MIAMI (March 19, 2021) – Celebrity Cruises announced its long-anticipated return to cruising today, as company President and CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo confirmed that the revolutionized Celebrity Millennium, the ship at the forefront of the fleet’s $500 million modernization program and featuring the exclusive open-air hideaway The Retreat®, will homeport in the tropical paradise of St. Maarten beginning June 5. Beginning March 25, eager travelers can turn their vacation dreams into a dream vacation when booking opens for new seven-night itineraries departing through August to some of the best-loved Caribbean island destinations. The ship will sail with vaccinated crew and will be available to vaccinated adult guests and children under the age of 18 with a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of embarkation. Guests can take advantage of special air and sea pricing offering exceptional savings on all Summer 2021 St. Maarten sailings starting at $1,999* per person for a veranda stateroom. The offer applies to new bookings and flights must be booked through Flights By Celebrity and prices include airfare and taxes. No promotional code is needed. Celebrity Cruises President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said, “Returning to the Caribbean after more than a year away is such a significant moment for us. It marks the measured beginning of the end of what has been a uniquely challenging time for everyone. We have been in constant contact with the leadership of St. Maarten these past months to support each other and share learnings and best practices. That we’re able to offer people the opportunity to safely vacation onboard the revolutionized Celebrity Millennium, is incredible, and that we will sail from the magical island of St. Maarten is very special. I am forever grateful for the support and collaboration of the St. Maarten government.” “Having a major cruise line such as Royal Caribbean Group’s Celebrity Cruises homeport here is a significant economic milestone for St. Maarten. It’s an historic agreement, the fruit of continuous dialogue and a testament to the strength of our longstanding relationship,” Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication (TEATT) Ludmila de Weever declared. “Celebrity Cruises homeporting here will help rejuvenate our economy and drive opportunities for our people. I would like to thank the management team at the Royal Caribbean Group for their commitment to St. Maarten and their confidence in the Ministry of TEATT as a reliable and responsible partner. I look forward to the successful re-launch of their Caribbean cruising,” Minister de Weever concluded. Cruising the Caribbean: Experience Highlights Celebrity’s new summer season of Caribbean cruises provides a week of indulgence on a luxury cruise ship with world-class dining experiences, thrilling shows and dreamy, stylish staterooms all while basking in the sun, culture and history of some of the most beautiful islands on the planet. Two different itinerary offerings include: - Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados - This trifecta of spectacular islands offers plenty of wonder from Aruba’s natural rock pools, caves and volcanic lava formations; to the colorful Dutchcolonial-style buildings and the Willemstad City Center UNESCO World Heritage Site in Curaçao; to snorkeling and catamaran sailings in the cool blue waters of Barbados. - Tortola, St. Lucia and Barbados – In addition to the many water adventure offerings in Barbados, this itinerary adds in St. Lucia’s lush green landscape and relaxing Sugar Beach; along with one of the British Virgin Islands’ treasures, Tortola, with its mountainous landscape and beautiful sandy coves that are enough to make any beach lover swoon. With cruise vacations beginning and ending in St. Maarten, guests have plenty of time to experience this island’s fusion of Dutch, French and Caribbean culinary classics, stunning beaches and renowned snorkeling and diving options. Celebrity will offer a range of curated tours for all interests and price points at every port of call. Private Journeys and Small Group Discovery Tours will also be available for those guests preferring to explore the destinations with only members of their family or traveling companions. The Celebrity Revolution From bow to stern, Celebrity Millennium has undergone one of the largest re-imaginings in history to ensure an unparalleled new luxury experience for guests. The ship now boasts brand new staterooms, freshly appointed restaurants and lounges; and a redesigned spa offering guests unparalleled ways to relax and recharge. At the all-exclusive The Retreat, guests enjoy a private sundeck and redesigned lounge offering complimentary beverages, gourmet bites, live entertainment, and around-the-clock butler and concierge service. Some of the additional onboard enhancements include: ● Completely redesigned, contemporary staterooms and suites inspired by award-winning British interior designer Kelly Hoppen’s designs for Celebrity Edge and featuring Celebrity’s eXhale bedding with its luxurious Cashmere™ mattresses; ● Stunningly reimagined restaurants, bars, and lounges where guests can enjoy unparalleled culinary experiences in captivating environments; ● New boutiques featuring the hottest designer names; ● Celebrity’s Advanced RFID lock technology with digital key access to every stateroom door. Healthy at Sea The company’s first priority is the health and safety of guests, crew, and the people in the places that its ships visit. Celebrity Millennium will sail with comprehensive, multilayered health and safety measures developed with expert guidance from parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s Healthy Sail Panel and Global Head of Public Health and Chief Medical Officer; and local health and government authorities. These measures, including vaccination requirements, will evolve in keeping with current public health standards. Details on all health and safety measures across the entire Celebrity Cruises vacation experience can be found at https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea. In addition, guests must meet St. Maarten’s travel requirements, which currently include presenting a negative PCR test taken within 72-hours of arrival to the island. Simplifying the luxury vacation experience, Wi-Fi, drinks and tips are now ‘Always IncludedSM’ on every Celebrity cruise. And, Celebrity’s “Cruise with Confidence” program provides flexible cancellations and best price guarantees. For more information on Celebrity Cruises’ new St. Maarten cruise offerings, guests and travel advisors should visit https://www.celebritycruises.com/cruise-deals/caribbean-cruises-from-st-maarten-2021. *For the pricing specified herein, taxes, fees and port excursions are additional and apply to each guest. ### About Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of a fleet of 14 award-winning ships redefining luxury cruise travel with cool, contemporary design and accommodation; dining, spa and entertainment experiences for modern tastes; and culturally rich and diverse destination experiences, all complemented by warm, personalized service. Celebrity has pioneered many industry firsts at sea, including: the first use of solar panels on a cruise ship; the first to eliminate use of plastic water bottles; the first American female Captain of a cruise ship; the first-ever all-female bridge and officer team sailing; the first West African woman to work on the bridge of a cruise ship; and one of the first legal same-sex weddings performed at sea. Driven by wanderlust and a passion for opening the world, Celebrity journeys to all seven continents, visiting nearly 300 destinations in more than 70 countries. Celebrity Cruises is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group. (NYSE: RCL). Celebrity Cruises is applying the recommendations of the Healthy Sail Panel of public health and scientific experts to provide a safer and healthier cruise vacation on all of its sailings. Health and safety protocols, regional travel restrictions and clearance to visit ports of call, are subject to change based on ongoing evaluation, public health standards, and government requirements. U.S. cruises and guests: For more information on the latest health and travel alerts, U.S. government travel advisories, please visit https://www.celebritycruises.com/travel-alert or consult travel advisories, warnings or recommendations relating to cruise travel on applicable government websites.

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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

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3 minutes ago, Plum Happy said:

I just saw this on Travel Weekly Twitter account.  So, which ship will Royal deploy there?

That may have been the announcement that Royal was going to make on Wednesday.

 

It wouldn't surprise me to see it be the Grandeur as she has no sailings booked until December in Barbados.

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cured

cured

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I guess that answers the question on all the threads whether a vaccination is going to be required for adults 😁  Now they only need to answer the question on masks. 

 

Hoping the vaccination policy will persuade the CDC to open up cruising in the US!  Even if we are not going to sail this year, I am desperate to live vicariously through other's cruise vlogs and blogs. I think I have exhausted youtube on every.single vlog that has been posted for the past several years.

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Goodtime Cruizin

Goodtime Cruizin

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Wow... I once again re-read the announcement and it looks like drinks, wi-fi, and tips are included w/ the airfare and balcony for the $1995. That is a greeat deal actually for this itenerary. 

 

I clicked on the the safety protocal link and it was invalid. So no idea if masks are required but the announcement did say that the tours were by Celebrity and small group or private tours were available as well. 

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suzyluvs2cruise

suzyluvs2cruise

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20 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

I just saw this. Seems to be a stretch. 
 

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24591-cruising-in-the-u-s-in-may-biden-eyes-relaxing-travel-restrictions.html?fbclid=IwAR1b0TBWbOZgZwF6WuCOFIDoJF0Rn32gb9DmiG1lX7VnbdOpLOD_phX6-_c

 

20 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

I agree. I don’t see how they can start in May.

 

Key words in that story are "restrictions on trave MAY BE eased".  

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torpeedo

torpeedo

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19 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

An announcement by Royal is coming

Well I sincerely hope that sailing from another country is not the announcement.  Resuming sailing in the US should be a focus.  After all many here have a ton of cruises booked in the US and have no intentions of having to fly elsewhere.

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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

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8 minutes ago, torpeedo said:

Well I sincerely hope that sailing from another country is not the announcement.  Resuming sailing in the US should be a focus.  After all many here have a ton of cruises booked in the US and have no intentions of having to fly elsewhere.

My guess is that it will be similar to celebrity's announcement.

 

Kind of hard to do anything out of the US or make an announcement about that with the CDC dragging its heels.

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torpeedo

torpeedo

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2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

My guess is that it will be similar to celebrity's announcement.

 

Kind of hard to do anything out of the US or make an announcement about that with the CDC dragging its heels.

 

I get the CDC thing but Fain had a video a while ago indicating it was just days away from news on US sailings and it's been crickets since then.  I would love to know what steps Royal is taking to resume sailings in the US.  

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molly361

molly361

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You’re the first to hear the news. This June, we’re welcoming guests on board Adventure of the Seas for 7-night sailings from Nassau, Bahamas, featuring a two day stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, and visits to Cozumel and Grand Bahama Island. Get all the details

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Goodtime Cruizin

Goodtime Cruizin

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24 minutes ago, torpeedo said:

 

I get the CDC thing but Fain had a video a while ago indicating it was just days away from news on US sailings and it's been crickets since then.  I would love to know what steps Royal is taking to resume sailings in the US.  

 

Perhaps you should write to your elected officials. If you're hearing crickets, it isn't because of Fain. He can't do anything until the CDC releases him. I think at one point he actually thought a positive announcement was coming from the CDC... but it didn't happen. The entire cruise industry is at the mercy of their respective home port's governments.  The fact they've moved to a new caribbean homeport w/ sets of new iteneraries is very telling. imo. 

 

I recognize that these 'new' cruise port is difficult for Florida residents. They are accustom to the ease of driving to a port within a few hours or less and jumping on a ship. They are now subjected to flying much like the balance of the country that cruises in that they fly each time that get on a cruise ship. 

Edited by Goodtime Cruizin
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Goodtime Cruizin

Goodtime Cruizin

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2 minutes ago, molly361 said:

You’re the first to hear the news. This June, we’re welcoming guests on board Adventure of the Seas for 7-night sailings from Nassau, Bahamas, featuring a two day stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, and visits to Cozumel and Grand Bahama Island. Get all the details

 

I wish they'd have put Lady A down in St.Marteen. Much much better port stops. 

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molly361

molly361

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22 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

That’s exciting new news?  Asking for a friend. 😎

 

22 hours ago, molly361 said:

Some might think so.  Excitement is in the eye of the beholder

I don't find Royal sailing out of Nassau to be exciting news😃

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