The CDC has authorized Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to begin trial cruises with volunteer passengers aboard its ships. These operations will allow the company to test its COVID-19 protocols from PortMiami aboard the Freedom of the Seas starting in June.
The CDC approval is a step forward for the cruise industry, which has not been allowed to operate in US ports since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, and Royal Caribbean is the first cruise company whose sailing plans have been approved by the CDC.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said: “After 15 months of hard work and collaboration, the approval of our simulated cruises aboard Freedom of the Seas in June is the latest promising step on our path to resuming sailing in the United States.”
