Royal Caribbean will begin Bahamas cruises for vaccinated passengers starting in June

MIAMI — Vacationers longing for a cruise will get their chance starting in June.

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Royal Caribbean International announced that its ship, Adventure of the Seas, will resume sailing from the Bahamas for seven-night excursions, the cruise line announced in a news release on Friday.

Adult passengers will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and passengers under the age of 18 will only be allowed on the ship if they have a negative coronavirus test result, according to the release.

Crew members will also be required to have vaccinations, Royal Caribbean said.

The cruises aboard Adventure of the Seas will originate in Nassau, and will visit Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay island, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico, according to the release.

The cruises will begin on June 12 and will run through August. Tickets for the cruises will be available beginning Wednesday.

“We are excited to get back to delivering memorable vacations in the Caribbean, gradually and safely,” Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “The vaccines are clearly a game-changer for all of us, and with the number of vaccinations and their impact growing rapidly, we believe starting with cruises for vaccinated adult guests and crew is the right choice.

“As we move forward, we expect this requirement and other measures will inevitably evolve over time,” Bayley said. “The opportunity to homeport in The Bahamas is a testament to the tremendous partners the government and the people of the island nation have been to us for more than 50 years. We are grateful for the confidence that they have in us and our commitment to a healthy and happy return to sailing.”

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