Today, June 26, Celebrity Cruises will restart voyages on Celebrity Edge, the first cruise ship to set sail from U.S. port with paying guests. As agreed with CDC, at least 95% of passengers need to be fully vaccinated on the ship. According to Celebrity Cruises, 100% of the crew onboard Celebrity Edge are already fully vaccinated. 

While not every guest boarding the first cruise is vaccinated against COVID-19 – only two adults and 24 kids, about 1% of the total passenger count are unvaccinated – the cruise line has implemented extra health and safety protocols to ensure everything goes according to plan.

Guests who are unvaccinated will be subject to additional restrictions and need to follow strict protocols onboard including requirement to wear masks at all times, except when eating or drinking. All vaccinated guests are not required to wear face masks onboard and they will be identified with a wristband.

The key restrictions placed on unvaccinated guests sailing on Celebrity Edge will include:

~ Wearing face masks and socially distance at all times onboard unless eating or drinking 

~ Not be wearing a wristband & will have a hole punched in their sea-pass card to identify them 

~ Sit in designated areas in venues such as the theatre, bars, restaurants, lounges, casino and open deck areas. 

~ Be required to take curated shore excursions 

~ Have to present a negative PCR test 72hours prior to boarding and will be antigen tested 3 times during their cruise at their own expense.

According to the crew guide, all guests will be screened for COVID-19 before boarding and need to complete a health questionnaire. Unvaccinated passengers under the age of 16 will take a complimentary Antigen test at the terminal. An additional test will be administered onboard, free of charge, the day before arriving back to Home Port 

All over 16 unvaccinated guests will need: 

1) PCR test pre cruise, 

2) Antigen test in Fort Lauderdale before boarding, 

3) Antigen test on day 4 

4) Antigen test on last day of the cruise.

What happens when there is a positive case found onboard? 

If any of the guests or crew test positive for Covid-19, the company has a response plan in place that has been developed with local authorities and public health experts. Celebrity Cruises have partnered with local authorities to ensure a swift and safe journey home should guests or crew become ill. There’s also a rapid technology-enabled contact tracing to notify in the event of extended contact with a known case.

Shore Excursions

Can guests go ashore without purchasing a Celebrity shore excursion? 

Independent tours are available unless locally restricted. In Costa Maya & Cozumel, the company allows only curated tours or tours with approved local taxis. There is a free flow in Nassau.

What are the mask wearing requirements in ports?

Fort Lauderdale - Only required inside the terminal building. 

Costa Maya - Mandatory in all indoor public places and crowded areas. 

Cozumel - Mandatory in all indoor public places and crowded areas. 

Nassau - Must be worn at all times. (except when eating & drinking) 

St. Thomas - Only required inside the terminal building. 

St. Maarten - Mandatory in all indoor public places and crowded areas.

What are the cleaning protocols onboard? 

In compliance with the strict protocols set by US Public Health and company sanitation standards, Royal Caribbean Group have enhanced their already rigorous cleaning regimens to meet medical grade standards. All ships are cleaned and sanitized consistently with EPA-certified, alcohol-based, scent-less and safe chemicals. High-traffic areas are cleaned frequently during busy times and staterooms are cleaned daily when guests are not inside. 

How is the air quality on the ship? 

The HVAC system continuously supplies and filters 100% fresh, filtered air to all spaces. This powerful system has multiple layers of protection to make the transmission of aerosol particles between spaces extremely low to virtually impossible.

Celebrity Cruises have increased the number of hand washing and hand sanitizer stations located throughout the ship by 75% and introduced Purell sanitizer wipe stations in high-touch areas.