Curious and eager to see what cruising is like after a 20-month break away from my favorite kind of vacation, I jumped at the opportunity to get on a 3-day cruise out of Miami on the Celebrity Summit. What I found was a grateful crew that was thrilled to welcome guests back! Here are some of the experiences I had and some tips I learned along the way. We also had other employees share their recent cruise experiences and you can read their testimonials below.
Embarkation
We arrived at the Port of Miami at our designated check-in time of 11 a.m. Don’t arrive earlier than your designated time, or you may experience some delays. Immediately upon entering the terminal, we were asked to present your cruise documents, passports, Covid Vaccination Cards and negative Covid test results. The required Antigen or PCR test must be taken within 2 days of boarding. A helpful tip is to make sure you register your full legal name on your Covid test exactly as it appears on your passport and cruise line documents. I regrettably left the suffix off from my last name and it caused an unnecessary delay. Thankfully, the Agent cleared me to board after a nervous minute. All of these documents are checked at a few different checkpoints, so keep them handy as you move through the terminal and security. From parking garage to stepping on the ship, it took just under 30 minutes!
On Board Experience
Our SeaPass cards were waiting for us at our stateroom which was immediately ready, so we were able to drop off our luggage and start having fun! In the stateroom we watched the short safety video before proceeding to our muster station to complete the mandatory safety drill, which must be completed by all guests before the ship departs. Upon arrival at our muster station, we were greeted by two crew members who scanned our SeaPass cards and gave us a private demonstration on how to properly put on a lifejacket, and then we were done! This was my favorite new and improved experience of cruising in this Covid-19 world, and I hope this timesaving and hassle-free muster drill system becomes permanent. Lastly, all crew members were wearing masks and all guests (regardless of vaccination status) are required to wear masks at all times indoors except while eating or drinking.
Now we were free to begin our vacation! This was my first time cruising with Celebrity since they implemented the Always Included benefits of Drinks, Tips and Wi-Fi. It was so nice to order drinks and not have to sign a receipt every time, it truly felt like an all-inclusive vacation. I did choose to upgrade my beverage package from the Classic to the Premium package for a reasonable per day rate. You can do this with any of the bartenders. The Wi-Fi performance was less than desirable, and I found it difficult to even get an iMessage to go through. We ate dinner with friends we made from Canada the first night at the main dining venue, the Cosmopolitan restaurant, where I had the delicious prime rib. Helpful tip: Make sure to bring your cell phones with you to scan the QR code to access the menu!
The next two days were a half day in Nassau followed by a sea day. We discovered that the ship was sailing with just under 20% occupancy, or approximately 350 guests, which meant we didn’t have to fight for a lounge chair or hot tub spots on the usually congested pool deck, which was a wonderful surprise. In fact, throughout the cruise we enjoyed a crowd-free environment and with almost a 3-to-1 ratio of crew to guests, there was always a friendly crew member happy to assist. During lunch in the buffet we were offered 30% off the Le Petite Chef dinner experience at Qsine and we jumped at the opportunity. It was such a fun experience to watch the projections on your table of the little chefs preparing your meal. We also ate lunch at Sushi on Five, which is one of my favorite restaurants on all Celebrity ships because the sushi never disappoints. We did partake in other activities other than eating, like watching both production shows in the theater, watching a few NFL football games at the casino bar, tried our luck at the slot machines in the casino on the last evening, and my travel companion even made it to the fitness center for a few workouts.
Debarkation
Sadly, we had to debark when Monday morning arrived. With a line of cruise officers and the Cruise Director waving goodbye and thanking us at the gangway, we stepped off the Celebrity Summit. Traveling through customs was a piece of cake with the new facial recognition technology which compares the facial identities of guests debarking with the identities of passengers who boarded the ship at the start of a cruise, matching against images by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. No images are saved or stored by Celebrity or CBP after the cruise to ensure privacy. We were in our car in the parking garage moments later.
All-in-all it was a thrill to be back on a cruise ship after such a long hiatus! I felt spoiled sailing with such few guests, as if it were a private cruise just for us. The crew could not have been more willing to help anyone they came across. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to cruise before the industry came roaring back. I highly recommend getting your next cruise vacation booked as soon as possible! Just stay up to date on the everchanging Covid protocols put forth by the cruise line before you sail, and you will be all set for a remarkable vacation experience!
Testimonials From Employees Who Also Recently Cruised
As soon as I stepped onboard the brand new Enchanted Princess, the crew did not simply welcome me onboard. No, no. They were dancing, clapping, do-si-do-ing and absolutely ecstatic to finally have guests back on board. The entire cruise had a special magic to it, as guests and crew alike shared in the joy of returning back to work, back to vacation, back to normal.
CHELSEA
While onboard the Scarlet Lady, it was such a relief to not worry about my mask, knowing that everyone on board (including myself) was not only fully vaccinated but had also been tested during embarkation. I don’t have that level of peace of mind back home, or anywhere else really.
Update: Per CDC recommendations, Virgin Voyages is now requiring Sailors to wear masks indoors when not eating or drinking, but only until February 13th.
nATALIE
Stepping on to the Viking Kadlin for a Danube River cruise was quite seamless and exceeded my expectation for this trip of a lifetime. I was extremely impressed with the way the staff onboard the Viking Kadlin handled the Healthy and Safety protocols for both the onboard experience and for each port of call. I am definitely looking forward to taking my next Viking River Cruise!
Leon
My 7-night Celebrity Edge cruise surpassed all my expectations! We felt so safe knowing everyone was vaccinated and tested negative; it was the closest and most relaxing return to normal in a while. With reduced capacity, social distancing was easy and there was never a wait for anything. I highly recommend cruising now – it was extremely comfortable and a great getaway.
Kristina
I recently sailed on the inaugural voyage of the Odyssey of the Seas last month and had a wonderful time! This was my first cruise post COVID and it definitely gave me peace of mind knowing the staff and passengers were all fully vaccinated and required to be tested before sailing. You could tell the crew was happy to be back to work and were so accommodating onboard. The ship was gorgeous and it was an amazing experience overall!
Emily
Sailing on the Celebrity Edge was a wonderful experience. The ship looks spectacular and modern. The Crew was delightful and they were extremely happy to see us. Eden is the best looking restaurant and bar I have seen at sea. Truly magnificent design of the whole ship. Loved the reduced capacity and knowing everyone tested negative before boarding.
aNNETTE
I was on the first return sailing of the Emerald Princess. The crew was so grateful to be working again. They were beyond accommodating. Since the ship was only half full, there were no lines for anything. The trip through the locks of the Panama Canal from Pacific to Atlantic was amazing with both passengers and crew on deck to view. The testing process before each port was effortless. The Princess medallion app is so well done. Making reservations for their awesome restaurants was a breeze. I am ready for my next cruise.
Ina
When I stepped onto the Odyssey of the Seas I felt like one of the first people to return from outer space. The staff clamored around all those who were boarding clapping and cheering. “Welcome, welcome, we’re so happy you’re here!” There was vibrant energy running through the air as people looked around, starstruck at the magnificence of the ship. The crowd was radiant as people quickly dove into activities and festivities. With all passengers vaccinated in conjunction with a negative Covid test, there was more peace of mind than many feel going to their local grocery store. I’m sure numerous people felt the same as I did, the first cruise back felt like coming home, back to the world of travel!
Megan
I had the pleasure of sailing on the Celebrity Summit for my first post-COVID cruise experience. The Celebrity crew went above and beyond in making this such a positive trip! From our Main Dining server to our Sunset Bar bartender to our cabin steward, everyone had such a friendly and happy attitude that it was contagious! You would have thought that they were the ones on vacation instead of working. I am grateful to them for a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable time on board.
Kathleen
I went on the new Celebrity Apex to Greece in September/October 2021. From embarkation through the end it felt so safe to travel! All guests had to be vaccinated. They also did a rapid test at the pier, a mid-cruise test which was very fast and a test at the end of the trip in order to come back to the US. The crew was so friendly and welcoming, food was great, live music etc. Shore excursions were well organized with approved providers checked by Celebrity. I would highly recommend traveling at this time. It felt like a VIP cruise and you got to know the other passengers too. Everything was very well organized.
Sabrina
