Royal Caribbean to resume select services for vaccinated guests in June

The return ends a year-long hiatus brought on by pandemic

Royal Caribbean cruise ship 'Adventure of the Seas'. The company is to resume a number of services for vaccinated travellers in June. Courtesy Royal Caribbean

A number of Royal Caribbean Group cruises will resume sailing in the Caribbean in June with vaccinated adult guests, ending a year-long hiatus brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Adventure of the Seas and Celebrity Millennium ships will also have vaccinated crews and accept children under the age of 18 with a negative Covid-19 test, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises said on Friday.

"Returning to the Caribbean ... marks the measured beginning of the end of what has been a uniquely challenging time for everyone," said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, chief executive of Celebrity Cruises, a division of Royal Caribbean.

Adventure of the Seas will homeport in Nassau, The Bahamas, with the itinerary also including stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Royal Caribbean's own private island. Celebrity Millennium will homeport in the Caribbean island St Martin.

Governments of The Bahamas and St Martin said the return to sailing could help boost their economies.

"The vaccines are clearly a game changer for all of us," Royal Caribbean International chief executive Michael Bayley said.