Celebrity Cruises has announced a return to the Caribbean

Celebrity Cruises has announced that it will resume cruising in June with a series of Caribbean itineraries.

After a $500 million “modernisation” programme, the Celebrity Millennium will dock in St. Maarten on June 5, 2021. The cruises will be available to vaccinated adult passengers and children under the age of 18 with a negative test result within 72 hours of embarkation. All crew working aboard the ship will also be vaccinated.

Celebrity Millennium will operate two routes: one to Tortola, St. Lucia, and Barbados and the other to Aruba, Curaçao, and Barbados. Guests will have the option to spend time in St Maarten on either side through a variety of “curated tours.”

The cruise line will start accepting reservations from 25th March 2021.

“Returning to the Caribbean after more than a year away is such a significant moment for us,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, president and chief executive of Celebrity Cruises.

“It marks the measured beginning of the end of what has been a uniquely challenging time for everyone. We have been in constant contact with the leadership of St. Maarten these past months to support each other and share learnings and best practices.

“That we’re able to offer people the opportunity to safely holiday onboard the revolutionised Celebrity Millennium, is incredible, and that we will sail from the magical island of St. Maarten is very special. I am forever grateful for the support and collaboration of the St. Maarten government.”

St Maarten’s minister for tourism, Ludmila de Weever, said: “Having a major cruise line such as Royal Caribbean Group’s Celebrity Cruises homeport here is a significant economic milestone for St. Maarten. It’s an historic agreement, the fruit of continuous dialogue and a testament to the strength of our longstanding relationship.

“Celebrity Cruises homeporting here will help rejuvenate our economy and drive opportunities for our people.”