Which Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Have Resumed Operations?

Now that Royal Caribbean has resumed operations from different homeports across different countries, let’s find out which cruise ships have restarted so far. The cruise line is working hard on a safe return by firstly completing simulated sailings and following the guidelines set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over the coming months, more Royal Caribbean cruise ships will begin sailing with paying passengers on board.

19 Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Currently Sailing

Before each cruise ship restarts with passengers on board, all crew members are fully vaccinated. Royal Caribbean is also making sure there are strict protocols in place with different specifics depending on where ships are sailing from. So far, 19 ships have already resumed operations which is more than half the fleet, and there are many more on the way and some have already changed homeports since first returning to service.

Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship has become the second in the fleet to operate sailings out of Port Tampa Bay in Florida. Brilliance of the Seas started cruises from the port on December 16, 2021. It’s also the first time the ship has returned to guest operations since the start of the industry-wide pause in Spring 2020.

The vessel resumed with a four-day voyage to Costa Maya in Mexico. The Royal Caribbean cruise ship will continue to offer four- and five-night voyages to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean.

Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles

Following more than a 10-year absence, Royal Caribbean finally made a return to Los Angeles in California with the Navigator of the Seas cruise ship. The vessel departed LA on November 19, 2021, and became the 17th ship in the fleet to resume operations since the industry-wide pause first started in 2020. It followed a special two-night preview voyage that departed the Port of Los Angeles on November 17, 2021

Navigator of the Seas is sailing 3-, 4-, 5-, and 7-day cruises year-round to Southern California and Baja California, Mexico. The voyager-class Navigator of the Seas will remain in LA year-round.

Explorer of the Seas from San Juan

Explorer of the Seas became the first cruise ship to officially begin embarkation cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 7. Following a simulated sailing to stress test protocols, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship resumed service with seven-night voyages from the Caribbean island.

The first sailing included a call at Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, St Maarten, St Lucia, Barbados, and St Kitts. Other opportunities include a very Dutch cruise, calling at St Maarten, Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, all in the Dutch Antilles. Explorer of the Seas will continue to sail week-long Southern Caribbean cruises into Spring 2022.

• Resumed Cruises: November 7, 2021
• Homeport: San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Cruise Offerings: 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruises

Spectrum of the Seas from Hong Kong

The Quantum-ultra class vessel has not had a smooth restart after delays on restarting out of Hong Kong. The ship was eventually allowed to resume guest operations on October 14 following 21 days of suspended operations by the authorities.

The sailings on Spectrum of the Seas are for Hong Kong residents only and the ship is only offering cruises to nowhere. However, in January 2022, the ship will begin international cruises with cruises to Japan.

Liberty of the Seas from Galveston

On October 3, 2021, Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas became the second ship in the fleet to restart operations from the Port of Galveston in Texas. The vessel’s first voyage was a seven-day sailing that included visits to Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Roatan in Honduras.

Liberty of the Seas will continue to offer week-long sailings from Galveston in Texas. She joins Independence of the Seas, which was the first in the fleet to resume from the port on August 15. The Royal Caribbean vessel is also sailing week-long itineraries.

• Resumed Cruises: October 3, 2021
• Homeport: Port of Galveston, Texas
• Cruise Offerings: 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruises

Oasis of the Seas From New Jersey

Now that we’re into a new month, Royal Caribbean continues to move forward with its phased-in return to service, and Oasis of the Seas became the first ship in the fleet to restart in September.

The large Oasis-class cruise ship restarted from the Cape Liberty Cruise Port in New Jersey on September 5. It’s the first time the ship homeports at Cape Liberty and it’s thanks to a successful six-day test cruise that departed on August 22.

Oasis of the Seas is now sailing seven-night Bahamas cruises but starting in November, the ship will shift to begin seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from the cruise capital of the world, PortMimai in Florida.

• Resumed Cruises: September 5, 2021
• Homeport: Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne, New Jersey
• Cruise Offerings: 7-Night Bahamas Cruises

Mariner of the Seas From Port Canaveral

Mariner of the Seas became the final Royal Caribbean cruise ship to resume operations in August. The vessel closed out a busy month for the cruise line and restarted its sailings out of Port Canaveral in Florida on August 23, 2021. It comes after the vessel completed its simulated sailing which departed Port Canaveral on August 11.

The ship is now sailing three- and four-night itineraries to the Bahamas which includes the cruise line’s private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay. Cruises also include a visit to Nassau in the Bahamas.

With the island nation recently announcing an update to its protocols for cruise ship visitors and changes by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Guests aged 12 and over must be fully vaccinated. Royal Caribbean will also shift to pre-cruise testing from three days to two days from September 13.

• Resumed Cruises: August 23, 2021
• Homeport: Port Canaveral, Florida
• Cruise Offerings: 3- and 4-Night Bahamas Cruises

Harmony of the Seas From Barcelona & Rome

Harmony of the Seas became the third Oasis-class cruise ship to resume cruise operations. The ship restarted in Europe and is offering departures out of Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia, Italy. The first voyage also includes calls at Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Marseille, France; Florence, Italy; and Naples, Italy.

• Resumed Cruises: August 15, 2021
• Homeport: Barcelona and Civitavecchia
• First Cruise Back: 7-Night Western Mediterranean Cruise

Independence of the Seas From Galveston

Independence of the Seas became the first in the fleet to restart operations out of Galveston, Texas on August 15, 2021, and continued a bust resumption weekend for Royal Caribbean. The ship departed on a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise which includes visits to Roatan in Honduras along with Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.

The ship will continue to sail week-long sailings from the Port of Galveston and it comes after the Freedom-class vessel successfully completed its simulated sailing which departed the port on August 1. With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) providing the Conditional Sailing Certificate, Independence of the Seas was allowed to offer safe cruises from Texas.

• Resumed Cruises: August 15, 2021
• Homeport: Galveston, Texas
• First Cruise Back: 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise

Symphony of the Seas From Miami

The world’s largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas marked a very busy weekend for Royal Caribbean with a total of three additional vessels resuming cruise operations. The ship restarted out of the cruise capital of the world, PortMiami in Florida on August 14 and becoming the tenth ship in the fleet to restart.

Symphony of the Seas’ first comeback cruise was a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary including calls at Costa Maya in Mexico, Roatan in Honduras, Cozumel in Mexico, and the private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. However, during the first cruise and due to Hurricane Grace, the scheduled call at Cozumel was canceled.

The ship will continue to offer seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami into 2022. Royal Caribbean does have its health protocols in place but for sailings to St. Thomas, the vessel can only visit the U.S. Virgin Islands port if all guests 12 and older are fully vaccinated.

• Resumed Cruises: August 14, 2021
• Homeport: Miami, Florida
• First Cruise Back: 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise

Ovation of the Seas From Seattle

Ovation of the Seas became the ninth ship in the fleet to restart operations and the second in the fleet to kickstart Alaska sailings. The Quantum-class vessel first departed from the Port of Seattle, Washington on a seven-night Alaska Glacier voyage on August 13, 2021.

The first comeback cruise and all sailings through October 8 will be seven-night itineraries including calls at Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Endicott Arm, and Daves Glacier along with views of Alaska Inside Passage.

Ovation of the Seas also marked a major milestone during her first voyage when she made a call in Sitka. This also marked the expansion of the Sound Cruise Terminal dock.

• Resumed Cruises: August 13, 2021
• Homeport: Seattle, Washington
• First Cruise Back: 7-Night Alaska Cruise

Allure of the Seas From Port Canaveral

On August 8, Allure of the Seas became the eighth Royal Caribbean cruise ship to resume operations and the first in the Oasis-class. The large vessel departed Port Canaveral in Florida with guests onboard and making a busy weekend of operations for the port with three cruise ships.

Allure of the Seas’ first sailing back was a week-long Eastern Caribbean cruise which includes calls at St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. The vessel will continue to offer seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises into 2022.

Even though the vessel is now sailings, there are still protocols in place to make sure guests and crew remain safe which also includes at the ports. St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands does require all guests 12 and older to be fully vaccinated onboard in order for Allure of the Seas to be allowed entry into the port. This will impact departures through October 31, 2021.

• Resumed Cruises: August 8, 2021
• Homeport: Port Canaveral, Florida
• First Cruise Back: 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise

Odyssey of the Seas From Fort Lauderdale

The new Royal Caribbean cruise ship departed on its maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 31, 2021. It comes after the ship has gone through several delays including the cancellation of its season out of Isreal.

The ship departed on an eight-night Southern Caribbean itinerary which includes two days at sea then a port of call in Oranjestad, Aruba; a call in Willemstad, Curacao, two more days at sea, and then finally a visit at the cruise line’s private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. The ship is offering six and eight-night Southern and Western Caribbean cruises.

Odyssey of the Seas is 167,704 gross tons and has a guest capacity of 4,198 at double occupancy along with 1,550 crew members. She a Quantum Ultra-class vessel, an evolution of the popular Quantum-class ships.

• Resumed Cruises: July 31, 2021
• Homeport: Fort Luaderdale, Florida
• First Cruise Back: 8-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise

Serenade of the Seas From Seattle

Serenade of the Seas is the sixth Royal Caribbean cruise ship to resume operations and the first to restarts the Alaska cruise season. The vessel departed Seattle, Washington, on the first official cruise on July 19 on the first of a series of seven-night sailings.

Ports of call include Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Icy Strait Point, Alaska, as well as the jaw-dropping Endicott Armfjord and Dawes Glacier. This came after Serenade of the Seas successfully completed a simulated sailing and was given the green light by the CDC to resume cruises safely.

Alaska has been heavily hit by the suspensions of cruise operations not just in the U.S. but the cruise ban in Canada. Cruise tourism in the state would usually generate upwards of $3 billion for the economy each year.

The ship is sailing with fully vaccinated crew members and passengers who are eligible for the vaccine. there are also strict protocols during the voyage to make sure guests and crew remain protected.

• Resumed Cruises: July 19, 2021
• Homeport: Seattle, Washington
• First Cruise Back: 7-Night Alaska Cruise

Anthem of the Seas From Southampton

Since the UK cruise industry reopened in May, many cruise ships have been redeployed to take advantage, including Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. The Quantum-class cruise ship is the first in the fleet to restart from the UK on July 7, 2021, out of the Port of Southampton.

She is now sailing four-night ocean getaways and five- to eight-night British Isles sailings. These coastal cruises offer UK residents the chance to enjoy the summer views out of Liverpool in England, Belfast in Northern Ireland, and Kirkwall in Scotland. During these sailings, Anthem of the Seas will also have 999 emergency workers on board as a thank you for all their hard work.

She’s sailing with fully vaccinated crew members and with UK residents 18 years and over who are also fully vaccinated. Guests under the age of 18 have to show a negative test result to be allowed to cruise.

• Resumed Cruises: July 7, 2021
• Homeport: Southampton, UK
• First Cruise Back: UK Domestic Cruise

Jewel of the Seas From Limassol

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship relaunched cruises in the Mediterranean and is the first ship in the fleet to do so in over a year. Jewel of the Seas started with a two-night preview sailing out of Limassol, Cyprus, before the official inaugural sailing that departed on July 10, 2021.

The vessel is now sailing seven-night cruises to the Greek Isles, including Athens, Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini, Greece. Jewel of the Seas is sailing with fully vaccinated crew and guests 18 years and older. Kids under the age of 18 can also cruise who are ineligible for the vaccine. Those between the ages of 12 and 18 do have to prove a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of arrival in Cyprus.

Also Read: Must-Know Things About Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas

The ship is the first in the fleet to begin cruising in Europe, and it’s first from Cyprus for the cruise line. Jewel of the Seas is 90,090 gross tons with a guest capacity of 2,191. However, it’s unlikely the ship is sailing a full capacity.

• Resumed Cruises: July 10, 2021
• Homeport: Limassol, Cyprus
• First Cruise Back: 7-Night Greek Isles Cruise

Freedom of the Seas From Miami

The situation in the US has remained tricky for the past year, but finally, after working with the US Centers for Disease Control, Royal Caribbean has resumed sailings with Freedom of the Seas out of the US.

The ship departed on her simulated sailing on June 20 to stress test protocols with 600 volunteer passengers on board. On June 29, Freedom of the Seas received her Conditional Sailing Certificate from the CDC. This allowed the ship to restart operations out of Miami, Florida, on July 2 after 16 months on hold.

The Royal Caribbean vessel departed the cruise capital of the world with 93% fully vaccinated guests and made a call to the private island of Perfect Day at Cococay and in Nassau, Bahamas.

She will continue to sail through the summer with three-night weekend and four-night weekday getaways. The 156,271 gross ton vessel kicked off the return of cruising from the US, and more ships are following in the coming months.

• Resumed Cruises: July 2, 2021
• Homeport: Miami, Florida
• First Cruise Back: Short Bahamas Cruise

Adventure of the Seas From Nassau

Adventure of the Seas became the first ship in the fleet to restart cruises in North America and the first to homeport in Nassau, Bahamas. The vessel departed on June 12 on a seven-night cruise which included a return to the popular cruise port of Cozumel in Mexico, Freeport on Grand Bahamas Island, and Royal Caribbean’s own private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

This was a huge step forward for the cruise line, especially out of Nassau for the first time. The first Adventure of the Seas sailing had over 1,000 passengers on board, with 94% of guests 16 years of age and older fully vaccinated. All crew members were also fully vaccinated.

• Resumed Cruises: June 12, 2021
• Homeport: Nassau, Bahamas
• First Cruise Back: 7-Night Caribbean Cruise

Quantum of the Seas From Singapore

In recent weeks, all the focus has been on the cruise line restarting in the Bahamas and the U.S., and it’s very easy to forget that Quantum of the Seas has already been sailing out of Singapore for months!

The first Quantum-class vessel was initially suspended just like the rest of the fleet in March 2020. However, in December 2020, The Singapore government allowed the cruise line to resume operations with cruises to nowhere. In July 2021, that season was extended for a third time through February 2022.

Also Read: Ways to Enjoy Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas

Quantum of the Seas is sailing three- and four-night ocean getaways with strict health protocols in place for Singapore residents only. Royal Caribbean is working closely with the authorities.

In the coming months, the cruise line anticipates that it will begin sailing with fully vaccinated crew members and guests age 12 and older alongside children’s not yet eligible for the vaccine. The ship is currently sailing at 50% capacity.

Which Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Will Restart Next?

With more than half the Royal Caribbean fleet back in service already, the cruise line is well underway on making a full comeback. More ships will resume through the remainder of the year and into 2022 including Serande of the Seas repositioning to Tampa, Florida after already resuming to Alaska from Seattle:

• Liberty of the Seas – October 3, 2021 from Galveston, Texas
• Serenade of the Seas – October 16, 2021 from Tampa, Florida
• Explorer of the Seas – November 7, 2021 from San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Navigator of the Seas – November 19 from Los Angeles, California
• Grandeur of the Seas – December 5, 2021 from Bridgetown, Barbados
• Ovation of the Seas – December 13, 2021 from Sydney, Australia
• Brilliance of the Seas – December 16, 2021 from Tampa, Florida
• Enchantment of the Seas – December 23, 2021 from Baltimore, Maryland
• Vision of the Seas – January 24, 2022 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Voyager of the Seas – April 15, 2022 from Barcelona, Spain
• Radiance of the Seas – April 29, 2022 from Vancouver, Canada
• Rhapsody of the Seas – May 23, 2022 from Rome, Italy