As the summer winds down, most re-launching cruise ships are setting sail on Saturday and Sunday. We will be publishing our weekly updates on Fridays to alert you to which ships are debuting over the weekend.
Get all the details about ship launches and simulated voyages with Cruise.blog’s master list of 2021-2022 debut sailings.
Return to Cruise
The spotlight is on Royal Caribbean this weekend, as the popular Oasis of the Seas returns to cruising out of Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ, on September 5.
The ship recently completed a successful test cruise for the CDC, so it can welcome unvaccinated children onboard. Oasis will sail seven-night cruises to Orlando, CocoCay, and Nassau.
Policy Updates
Carnival has updated its health protocols and procedures. All guests must now wear masks indoors in public areas.
In addition, passengers sailing on November and December sailings must show proof of vaccination and negative results from a Covid-19 test in order to board their ships (with a limited number of exemptions offered to kids and travelers unable to be vaccinated). As of September 13, pre-cruise testing must take place two days prior to boarding.
To assist with Covid testing for vaccinated cruisers, Carnival is arranging for rapid tests to be administered at all of its U.S.-based homeports.
Itinerary Announcements
Carnival Glory was supposed to make its 2021 cruise debut this weekend in New Orleans, but due to Hurricane Ida, that sailing has been canceled. Currently, Carnival Glory is expected to return to cruising one week later on September 12.
In addition, the line announced return-to-cruise dates for Carnival Valor, Radiance, and Legend, and adjusted launch dates for Carnival Conquest and Sensation. It also announced further cruise cancellations, especially for its Australia-based ships.
Disney Cruise Line announced that Disney Wonder will once again welcome passengers onboard for Mexico cruises out of San Diego beginning October 1. The ship will sail three- and four-night cruises to Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas. The news means that the ship’s previously scheduled September cruises are now cancelled.
Disney Wonder’s 14-night Panama Canal repositioning cruise, departing November 5, now requires all guests to be fully vaccinated. No exemptions are being made for children, and booked families who now need to cancel can receive a full refund or switch to an alternative sailing and receive a 25 percent discount on a future Disney cruise.
Erica Silverstein
Erica Silverstein is a cruise and family travel expert, who has been covering the industry for more than 15 years. Her articles have appeared on Cruise Critic, Porthole, TravelAge West, and USA Today. A staunch advocate of cruising as an ideal family vacation, she has, on occasion, banned her own children from cruising with her.
