A Celebrity Cruises ship was poised to leave the coast of Florida on Saturday, becoming the first revenue-earning cruise to depart from the U.S. after a pandemic-induced hiatus.
Guests on Celebrity Edge, operated under the broader Royal Caribbean Group umbrella, flashed their vaccinations cards as they filed through lines. The company says 99% of guests are vaccinated, and the ship will sail at about 40% of its normal capacity of about 2,900. Health surveys were filled out digitally before boarding.
After a pause of more than 15 months, the departure marks the industry’s biggest step yet in returning to a business hit hard since the start of the outbreak. As guests check in at designated times at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale to limit crowds, there’s a sense of optimism on what this journey brings to the future of cruises.