Crystal Serenity will be the first ocean vessel to sail from the Americas since March 2020
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Crystal Cruises is to resume cruising with a series of seven-night roundtrips from Nassau and Bimini this July, making it the first cruise line to homeport in The Bahamas since the cruise industry paused operations in March 2020.
The 32 ‘Bahamas Escapes’ cruises will be offered onboard Crystal Serenity, which will operate with reduced capacity and be the first ocean vessel to sail from the Americas since March 2020.
“Like our guests, we have been eagerly looking forward to the day we can welcome them back onboard, and we’re thrilled that this day will come in The Bahamas,” said Jack Anderson, Crystal’s interim president and CEO. “The new Bahamas Escapes cruises will allow travellers to enjoy luxury cruising now, as well as bring much-needed benefits to the local workforce, airlines, restaurants, retailers and hotels for pre- and post-cruise stays. The launch of these cruises will also drive economic growth to The Bahamas, which, like other destinations around the world, has been negatively affected by the global pandemic.”
After departing from either Nassau or Bimini, guests will be able to visit four Bahamian destinations that are typically only visited by private yachts and are not included on other cruise itineraries. They include Harbour Island, Great Exuma, San Salvador Island and Long Island. Guests can also benefit from Crystal’s Extended Land and Hotel Programs offering, which allows them to book pre- or post-cruise hotel stays with Crystal’s partners in Nassau and Bimini.
Crystal has implemented comprehensive Crystal Clean+ 4.0 measures, which include reduced onboard capacity, social distancing, a “nimble” mask policy, health screening questionnaires and the requirement for all guests and crew to test negative for Covid-19 before boarding. Crystal has also mandated that all guests and crew must have received a complete Covid-19 vaccine at least 14 days before boarding.
“We can offer these cruises with mutual confidence, thanks to the meticulous planning and health and safety protocols that both Crystal Cruises and The Bahamas have put in place, which Crystal Cruises’ sister cruise line, Dream Cruises, has successfully implemented in Taiwan and Singapore for over seven months with no incidents onboard,” said Anderson. “The all-Bahamas itineraries allow us to sail without risk of border closures, and our North American guests to sail as close to home as possible.”
Speaking at a virtual press conference announcing the new itineraries, Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation for The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, said: “The Bahamas is ready and delighted to welcome cruise visitors back to the islands and to partner with Crystal Cruises in the effort to restore and help re-activate our tourism industry and protect jobs and businesses.
“Crystal Cruises will go on record as the only cruise line offering Bahamas-only voyages that highlight the signature features and experiences travellers can find here in our islands, and the support that these cruises will bring to multiple communities within the country will be tremendous. We have worked tirelessly to ensure a safe and healthy stay for all travellers, enhancing the innately spacious and outdoor-focused experience the islands provide. Guests will find ample room to roam and a warm welcome from the people of this unique destination.”