<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Cruises: What to expect when heading to the sea for vacation"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Royal Caribbean International is getting <a target="_blank" href="/story/travel/cruises/2021/05/19/norwegian-cruise-line-resumes-alaska-cruise-bookings/5167889001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">ready to sail</a> from Texas and Florida once again this summer.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The cruise line plans to begin sailing six ships from ports in the southern states this July and August, starting with Freedom of the Seas in Miami on July 2. The company had <a target="_blank" href="/story/travel/cruises/2021/05/19/norwegian-cruise-line-resumes-alaska-cruise-bookings/5167889001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">already announced plans</a> to sail from Seattle to Alaska on round-trip itineraries starting in July.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“This is it. Vacationers can finally plan to take their precious time off this summer and truly get away after what has been a challenging time for everyone,” Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley said in a Friday news release. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Summer cruises are available to book, according to the release. The company plans to reintroduce its full global fleet by the end of the year and said more details will be made available in the coming weeks. </p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:372px" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/05/26/USAT/f2534e41-0d49-4a39-8c38-8262a6f57322-VPC_CRUISES_RETURN_COURTESY_Royal_Caribbean_International_WIDE.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/05/26/USAT/f2534e41-0d49-4a39-8c38-8262a6f57322-VPC_CRUISES_RETURN_COURTESY_Royal_Caribbean_International_WIDE.jpg?width=1320&height=744&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="Royal Caribbean is set to begin sailing six ships from ports in Texas and Florida this July and August."/></figure><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_h2">Do you have to be vaccinated to sail on a cruise? </h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Royal Caribbean <a target="_blank" href="/story/travel/cruises/2021/05/19/norwegian-cruise-line-resumes-alaska-cruise-bookings/5167889001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">announced last month</a> plans to resume cruising this summer.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">All crew members will be vaccinated against COVID-19, while passengers are “strongly recommended” to be fully vaccinated, according to the release. Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify their vaccinations will need to undergo testing and follow other protocols, although Royal Caribbean has not laid out all of its policies yet.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">Cruises return:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/travel/cruises/2021/05/19/norwegian-cruise-line-resumes-alaska-cruise-bookings/5167889001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Cruise lines announce plans to resume cruising this summer in Alaska, Florida, Texas</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">Back to business:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/travel/cruises/2021/05/25/royal-caribbean-cruise-gets-cdc-approval-us-test-cruise/7438465002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Royal Caribbean is first cruise line to receive CDC approval for a test sailing in...</a></p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2021/06/04/cruise-royal-caribbean-sail-ships-florida-texas-august-july-summer/7552623002/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
