The test cruises and ship debuts are slowing down as the summer winds down, but cruise fans still have cause for return-to-cruise celebrations across the country this week. Carnival and Royal Caribbean are the headline-makers with launches and simulated voyages.

Get all the details about ship launches and simulated voyages with Cruise.blog’s master list of test cruises and 2021 debut sailings.

First time cruisers often ask if they need a passport to go on a cruise. The answer is that you generally need a passport to travel to a foreign country, but select itineraries sailing roundtrip from U.S. homeports do not require passports as travel documents.

Here, we answer the most common questions about passports for cruises. Remember: It’s always the traveler’s responsibility to make sure they have the correct identification and documentation for your cruise. Otherwise, you could get turned away at the cruise port without a refund. 

Cruise travelers who sail roundtrip from a U.S. homeport to the Caribbean, Mexico, or Canada have a choice many international travelers do not: They can travel with or without a passport.

The passport exemption is part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) that allows cruisers on a “closed-loop” sailing (one that begins and ends at the same U.S. port) to substitute alternative forms of identification, such as a driver’s license and birth certificate, for a pricey passport. 

It’s a good week for cruise fans with lots of ships returning to cruising out of Florida, Texas, and Washington. We’ve got the news on restarts and test cruises, as well as all the latest policy and itinerary updates.

Get all the details about ship launches and simulated voyages with Cruise.blog’s master list of test cruises and 2021 debut sailings.

The cruising comeback has reached full force.  

But this story all started early in the summer when a handful of lines put ships back in the water, embarking from ports in the Caribbean and Greece. 

I was onboard a few of the first cruise lines to get going again, sailing on Celebrity Millennium from St. Maarten, then Celebrity Apex, Celestyal Crystal and Silversea’s new Silver Moon from Athens. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. has won the first battle in its fight against the state of Florida over Covid-19 vaccine requirements for cruise passengers. 

A United States district judge has granted the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas an injunction, meaning that the cruise lines can require that cruisers show proof of Covid vaccination in order to board their cruise ship, even when sailing from Florida.

If you want to hop on a cruise ship soon, add a negative Covid-19 test to your pre-cruise list of things to do.

Princess Cruises and Holland America Line became the latest cruise lines to require its passengers to get a negative Covid-19 test, in addition to new mask requirements.

It’s now two against one in the fight to free the cruise industry from the CDC’s control. 

In response to the Delta variant and increasing U.S. cases of Covid-19, Carnival has updated its mask and Covid testing policies for vaccinated guests, effective August 7 and 14, respectively.

In an email sent to booked travelers and travel agents, Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, says, “These new requirements are being implemented to protect our guests and crew while on board…. We expect these requirements will be temporary and we appreciate your cooperation and look forward to welcoming you aboard.”