Cruise lines unveil plans for US restart from July


Travel Weekly reporters


The world’s biggest cruise lines have announced plans to resume US sailings from July. Six Royal Caribbean International


ships will restart next month at reduced capacity and with 95% of passengers vaccinated. Freedom of the Seas will depart


Miami on July 2 on a weekend sailing to private island Perfect Day at CocoCay and new ship Odyssey of the Seas will sail from Fort Lauderdale from July 3 on six and eight-night Caribbean cruises. Allure, Symphony, Independence


and Mariner of the Seas will follow from ports in Florida and Texas, the line said, adding that its full global deployment will be revealed “in the next few weeks”. Royal also announced Harmony of


the Seas will sail seven-night western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona from August 15. Carnival Cruise Line confirmed


plans to resume operations for guests with both vaccine doses from Galveston, Texas, with Carnival Vista beginning cruises from July 3 and Carnival Breeze from July 15. Plans for the line’s August sailings were due to be revealed as Travel Weekly went to press.


Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas


Lines have had to contend with


conflicting Covid-19 regulations from the state of Florida and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Florida prohibits companies from requiring proof of vaccination from customers, but the CDC requires 95% of passengers and crew to be vaccinated. Carnival president Christine


Duffy said Florida’s vaccine stance “will make it very difficult to deliver the experience our guests expect”, adding: “Our alternative is to operate our ships from the US during July [only] with vaccinated guests.” MSC Cruises plans to resume its US operations on MSC Meraviglia


Hurtigruten cancels trio of ex-UK sailings this summer


Hurtigruten has cancelled a string of expedition cruises including ex-UK voyages this summer due to international travel restrictions. The line pulled last Sunday’s Norwegian Fjords and Arctic sailing from Dover at the last minute, as well as two British Isles voyages scheduled to depart on July 4 and July 18 on Maud. Affected passengers can rebook cruises for later in the season or ask for a full refund.


8 10 JUNE 2021


from August 2, with three and four-night cruises from Miami to the Bahamas, including calls at the line’s private island Ocean Cay. Meraviglia will switch to seven-


night cruises from September 18, while MSC Divina will resume Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral on September 16. Norwegian Cruise Line has added


extra sailings from New York, Los Angeles, Port Canaveral and Miami. It has also confirmed the debut


of its newest ship, Norwegian Encore, which will replace Norwegian Bliss on Alaska itineraries from Seattle from


August 7. i News You Can Use, page 16


Hays gains 70 homeworkers with Explorer Travel purchase


Hays Travel has bolstered its homeworking division with the acquisition of franchise company Explorer Travel for an undisclosed sum. Explorer’s 70 franchisees switched to Hays Travel last week, joining 350 homeworkers already affiliated to Hays. Explorer owner Steve Wood is leaving the travel industry to pursue other interests.


Fundraising target set in memory of Victoria Critchlow


The trade is being urged to raise funds for the family of former Destinology product manager Victoria Critchlow, who recently lost her battle with cancer. Critchlow (pictured), who was


37, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and told it was incurable two years later. She recovered from Covid during the pandemic but died on May 15. She is survived by husband


David and nine-year-old twins Amy and Beth, who were adopted when they were three. Friend and former colleague


Joanne Lowery, senior long-haul contracts manager at On the Beach, has launched a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise £10,000 to help support the family and the girls’ future. By Tuesday, more than £3,400 had been pledged. Lowery, who worked at Gold


Medal with Victoria, said: “Her girls idolised her and were her world. Her husband is heart- broken; he has had to go part-time so this money is for their future, to


make life a little easier.” i To donate, visit the GoFundMe page at: bit.ly/VictoriaCritchlow


Classic brands appoint Shipman and promote Bull in restructure


Former Travelsphere key account manager Phil Shipman (pictured) has joined Classic Collection and Classic Package Holidays as strategic account director for consortia and new business. Shipman had spent the past year working for Ikos and Sani Resorts. Classic has also promoted Ali Bull to strategic account manager for homeworkers after seven years as northeast account manager.


travelweekly.co.uk


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