Celebrity Cruises first cruise line to get CDC approval for US cruise restart

Celebrity Cruises has become the first cruise line to receive approval from the CDC to resume cruises from a US port.

The CDC has given Celebrity Cruises the go-ahead for its ship Celebrity Edge to resume cruises from Port Everglades on June 26th, making it the first ship in more than a year to cruise from a US port.

RELATED: Celebrity Cruises lays keel for third Edge-class ship Celebrity Beyond

RELATED: Celebrity Cruises’ new Celebrity Apex completes first set of sea trials

“Someday is here,” Celebrity Cruises CEO and President Lisa Lutoff-Perlo announced on Twitter, before elaborating in a press statement.

“For the past 15 months our conversations with friends and loved ones about seeing the world have been accompanied by the phrase ‘someday.’ I’m beyond proud and excited to say that day has arrived,” she said.

“Today’s exciting news is the result of a collaboration with the CDC, our elected officials at the local, state and national levels and our industry partners at CLIA,” added Richard Fain, Chairman of Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruises.

“We’ve consulted with the brightest minds in the health industry to ensure that our passengers and crew feel safe and comfortable on our ships while enjoying the uncompromised experience they know and love,” he said.

Captain Kate McCue, the first and still the only American female cruise ship Captain, will be in command of Celebrity Edge. She will lead the Celebrity fleet – and the wider US cruise industry – back into operation.

RELATED: Celebrity Beyond preview reveals new dining and entertainment aboard larger ship

RELATED: Celebrity Cruises works from home with virtual delivery of new ship Celebrity Apex

Celebrity Edge was given the green light by the CDC to be the first ship back in the water, having met all new standards for providing a healthy cruise experience for its guests and crew.

She will sail 7-night cruises to the Caribbean, alternating between Eastern and Western itineraries that are now on sale.

The announcement of Celebrity Edge’s imminent cruise resumption brings to 8 the total number of cruise ships that Celebrity Cruises plans to bring back into service in 2021.

Celebrity’s Caribbean restart

First announced in March 2021, Celebrity Millennium will be not only the first in the fleet to sail with guests again, but the first ship in the industry to sail the Caribbean when she makes her return to service in St Maarten on June 5th.

Celebrity’s Greek Isles and British Isles cruises

In April, Celebrity Cruises announced its return to European waters with Celebrity Apex, the newest addition to the fleet.

Celebrity Apex will make her world debut in Athens on June 19th, with 7-night sailings to the Greek Isles. The cruise marks a historic return to Greece for the company, which was founded there 33 years ago.

Celebrity Cruises has also announced that Celebrity Silhouette will spend the summer in Southampton, offering UK residents specially designed cruises of the British Isles.

Celebrity Cruises summer Alaska season

Celebrity Cruises announced last week its long-awaited return to the incomparable natural wonders and wildlife of Alaska beginning July 23rd.