Royal Caribbean International will base Jewel of the Seas in the Mediterranean for a season of summer 2021 cruises out of Cyprus, according to a press release.

Jewel of the Seas will sail 7-night itineraries from Limassol in Cyprus, visiting Cyprus, Greece and the Greek Isles between July and October.

Jewel of the Seas will sail from DP World’s Limassol Cruise Terminal in Cyprus

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“I’m delighted to announce our safe and gradual return to Europe,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “We know how eager our guests are to enjoy a getaway this summer, and these sailings, which include a mix of fantastic destinations and must-visit islands, make for the perfect getaway.”

“Cyprus is a beautiful island, and we are thankful to the Cypriot government for their support and enthusiasm in making these incredible itineraries possible,” he added.

Jewel of the Seas in Dubai in 2020

This will be the first time Jewel of the Seas has homeported in Cyprus and is a result of European authorities acceptance of cruise lines safe cruise protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Royal Caribbean will join MSC, Costa Cruises, AIDA and TUI as one of the cruise lines that have been able to resume operations in the Mediterranean.

Jewel of the Seas will sail to the “picturesque shores and ancient ruins” in Cyprus, Greece and the Greek Isles through October, Royal Caribbean said in a press release.

Deputy Minister of Tourism for Cyprus Savvas Perdios said Royal Caribbean’s decision to homeport in the island nation fulfils an ambition tourism authorities have had for many years.

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Guests will be able to visit a combination of culture-rich cities and idyllic islands, including Limassol, Athens, Greece and the Greek islands of Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos and Santorini.

Bookings for the 2021 summer itineraries will open on April 7th, but will initially only be available to adult guests who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those under the age of 18 with negative test results.

“These current health and safety measures, like others, may evolve as they are evaluated on an ongoing basis,” the cruise line said.

Deputy Minister of Tourism for Cyprus Savvas Perdios said Royal Caribbean’s decision to homeport in the island nation fulfils an ambition tourism authorities have had for many years.

“We are delighted that Royal Caribbean will call Limassol its homeport for the first time ever,” he said. “This has been an ambition of ours for many years, and we are thrilled that, finally, this dream has come to fruition.”

“We have every confidence that Royal Caribbean’s presence in Limassol will be beneficial to Cyprus and, similarly, we are very confident that as a homeport and as a country, Cyprus will live up to the expectations of Royal Caribbean and its guests,” he added.